Search
levamisole (Ergamisole)
Indications:
1) adjuvant treatment in combination with fluorouracil for patient's with Duke's C colon cancer
2) used as an antihelmintic agent
* frequent contaminant of cocaine
Dosage: 50 mg PO every 8 hours for 3 days, repeated every 2 weeks
Tabs: 50 mg (as base).
Adverse effects:
1) common (> 10%)
- nausea (mild), diarrhea
2) less common (1-10%)
- stomatitis, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, constipation, leukopenia, dermatitis, alopecia, fatigue, fever, rigors, edema, infection, taste disturbance, arthralgia, myalgia, dizziness, headache, paresthesia, somnolence, depression, nervousness, insomnia
3) uncommon (< 1%)
- flatulence, dyspepsia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, granulocytopenia, epistaxis, pruritus, urticaria, chest pain, altered sense of smell, anxiety, abnormal tearing, blurred vision, conjunctivitis
4) other
- rash
- hallucinations
- flu-like syndrome
- purpuric skin lesions most often on extremities & ears [3]
Drug interactions:
1) levamisole may increase phenytoin levels
2) levamisole may increase anticoagulant effects of warfarin
3) frequent contaminant of cocaine
Laboratory:
- levamisole in tissue
- levamisole in body fluid
- levamisole in blood
- levamisole in serum/plasma
- levamisole in urine
Mechanism of action:
1) stimulates macrophages & T-lymphocytes
2) has some antitumor effect
Interactions
drug interactions
General
antihelmintic
antineoplastic agent (chemotherapeutic agent)
Properties
MISC-INFO: elimination route LIVER
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM correlations
References
- Drug Information & Medication Formulary, Veterans Affairs,
Central California Health Care System, 1st ed., Ravnan et al
eds, 1998 - not on National VA formulary
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Drug
Formulary, 1998
- NEJM Knowledge+ Psychiatry
Component-of
doramectin/levamisole