Busulfan Injection

Generic name: Busulfan Injection [ byoo-SUL-fan ]
Brand name: Busulfex
Drug class: Alkylating agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 7, 2024.

Uses of Busulfan Injection:

• It is used before bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Busulfan Injection?

• If you have an allergy to busulfan or any other part of busulfan injection.
• If you are allergic to busulfan injection; any part of busulfan injection; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.

This medicine may interact with other drugs or health problems.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take busulfan injection with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Busulfan Injection?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take busulfan injection. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• Talk with your doctor before getting any vaccines. Use of some vaccines with busulfan injection may either raise the chance of an infection or make the vaccine not work as well.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• You may have more chance of getting an infection. Wash hands often. Stay away from people with infections, colds, or flu.
• Other types of cancer may rarely happen later in life.
• If you have upset stomach, throwing up, diarrhea, or are not hungry, talk with your doctor. There may be ways to lower these side effects.
• Chance of seizures may be higher. Talk with the doctor.
• Cataracts may rarely happen.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly heart problem has happened with some people taking busulfan injection. Most of the time, stomach pain and throwing up happened before the heart problem. Talk with the doctor.
• Some people have had lung problems with busulfan injection. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of lung problems like shortness of breath or other trouble breathing, cough that is new or worse, or fever.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly liver problems have happened with busulfan injection. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Females treated with busulfan injection may go through menopause at a younger age than normal. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may affect fertility. Fertility problems may lead to not being able to get pregnant or father a child. In both men and women, this may go back to normal but sometimes it may not. Talk with your doctor.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.
• Women must use birth control while taking busulfan injection and for some time after the last dose. Ask your doctor how long to use birth control. If you get pregnant, call your doctor right away.
• Men with a partner who may get pregnant must use birth control while taking busulfan injection and for some time after the last dose. Ask your doctor how long to use birth control. If your partner gets pregnant, call the doctor right away.

How is this medicine (Busulfan Injection) best taken?

Use busulfan injection as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as an infusion into a vein over a period of time.
• Other drugs may be given before busulfan injection to help avoid side effects.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

Related/similar drugs

fluconazole, Diflucan, hydroxyurea, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, Gleevec, filgrastim, Sprycel, Zarxio, Neupogen

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
• Signs of bleeding like throwing up or coughing up blood; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; abnormal vaginal bleeding; bruises without a cause or that get bigger; or bleeding you cannot stop.
• Very bad belly pain.
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Chest pain.
• Seizures.
• Change in eyesight.
• For women, no period.
• Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, seizures, not hungry, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
• Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
• Low mood (depression).
• A fast heartbeat.
• Swelling, warmth, numbness, change of color, or pain in a leg or arm.
• Swelling.

What are some other side effects of Busulfan Injection?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Dry mouth.
• Anxiety.
• Back pain.
• Flushing.
• Headache.
• Runny nose.
• Feeling dizzy, tired, or weak.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, upset stomach, throwing up, or feeling less hungry.
• Heartburn.
• Mouth irritation or mouth sores.
• Irritation or swelling where the shot was given.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Busulfan Injection?

• If you need to store busulfan injection at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about busulfan injection, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer