Raltitrexed
Last reviewed 01/2018
Raltitrexed is an inhibitor of thymidylate synthase. It is licensed for use as monotherapy when fluorouracil-based palliative therapy for colorectal cancer is inappropriate or not tolerated (1).
Adverse effects:
- raltitrexed is more likely than infused fluorouracil/folinic acid to cause severe nausea, diarrhoea, anorexia, lethargy, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia (1)
- if raltitrexed is used then monitoring of renal function is essential (dose should be adjusted if creatinine clearance is below 65 mL/minute) (1)
Reference:
- Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (2002), 40(7), 50-2.