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6-MP

Mercaptopurine
Mercaptopurine.svg
Mercaptopurin ball-and-stick.png
Clinical data
Trade names Purinethol, others
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a682653
Pregnancy
category
  • D
Routes of
administration		 by mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 5 to 37%
Metabolism xanthine oxidase
Biological half-life 60 to 120 min., longer for its active metabolites
Excretion kidney
Identifiers
Synonyms 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.035
Chemical and physical data
Formula C5H4N4S
Molar mass 152.177 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)
  

Mercaptopurine (6-MP), sold under the brand name Purinethol among others, is a medication used for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Specifically it is used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. For ALL it is generally used with methotrexate. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include bone marrow suppression, liver toxicity, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Other serious side effects include an increased risk of future cancer and pancreatitis. Those with a genetic deficiency in thiopurine S-methyltransferase are at higher risk of side effects. Use is pregnancy may harm the baby. Mercaptopurine is in the thiopurine and antimetabolite family of medications.

Mercaptopurine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1953. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 18.42 to 200.16 USD a month. In the United Kingdom this costs the NHS about 121.13 pounds per month. In the United States the wholesale cost is about 99.16 USD per month as of 2016.

It is used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.


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