Busulfex (Busulfan)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Busulfex Used For?
Busulfex is a specialized chemotherapy medication used to prepare your body for bone marrow or blood stem cell transplantation.
Primary Uses
Busulfex is used in adults, newborn infants, children and adolescents as part of a conditioning regimen prior to transplantation of either bone marrow or blood stem cells. It is used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs like cyclophosphamide, melphalan or fludarabine.
How It Works
Busulfex destroys your original bone marrow before the transplant, making room for the new healthy cells to grow and establish themselves in your body.
How to Take Busulfex
Busulfex is given only by qualified healthcare professionals in a hospital setting as an intravenous infusion through a central line.
Dosage Instructions
For adults: The dose is calculated based on your body weight, with a recommended dose of up to 3.2 mg per kg of body weight per day. For children and adolescents (0 to 17 years): The dose may be up to 4.8 mg/kg/day. Each infusion lasts 2 to 3 hours and is given 1 to 4 times a day for up to 4 days before your transplant. Before receiving Busulfex, you will be given medications to prevent seizures and vomiting.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Since Busulfex is given in a hospital under medical supervision, missed doses are not a concern for patients. Your healthcare team will ensure you receive the proper schedule of treatments.
Important: Blood samples may be taken during treatment to monitor Busulfex levels in your blood and ensure proper dosing.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- decrease in blood cells (red, white) and platelets
- infections, fever, chills
- sleeplessness, anxiety, dizziness, depression
- loss of appetite
- changes in blood minerals (magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphate)
- increased blood sugar
- heart rate changes, blood pressure changes
- shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, cough, hiccups, nosebleeds
- nausea, mouth inflammation, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn
- enlarged liver, jaundice
- rash, itching, hair loss
- back, muscle and joint pain
- urination discomfort, decreased urine output
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- severe confusion, hallucinations, seizures, brain hemorrhage
- liver toxicity including blocked liver veins
- graft versus host disease
- lung complications
- severe infections
- blood clots in major arteries
- decreased blood oxygen
- bleeding in stomach/gut
- febrile neutropenia (low white blood cells with high fever)
- severe bacterial, viral and fungal infections
- sepsis
Important Warnings
Busulfex has serious warnings and contraindications that must be carefully considered before treatment.
Who Should Not Take Busulfex
You must not receive Busulfex if you are allergic to busulfan or any ingredients in the medication. Signs of allergic reaction include shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of face/lips/tongue, rash, itching or hives. You also cannot receive this medication if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have or have had liver, kidney, heart or lung problems, a history of seizures, or if you take any other medications or have been taking other drugs.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Women should avoid becoming pregnant during treatment and for up to 6 months after treatment. Women must not breastfeed during treatment. It may no longer be possible to achieve pregnancy after busulfan treatment. Busulfex can cause menopause symptoms and in pre-adolescent girls may prevent puberty onset. Men should not father children during treatment and for up to 6 months after treatment.
Fertility Warning: Treatment with Busulfex may permanently affect your ability to have children. Discuss fertility concerns with your doctor before starting treatment.
Drug Interactions
Several medications can interfere with Busulfex and affect how it works, so it’s important to tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
Important: Your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain medicines before receiving Busulfex. Always check with your healthcare team about any medications, vitamins or supplements you’re taking.
- itraconazole/metronidazole (used for certain infections)
- ketobemidone (used to treat pain) – may increase side effects
- iron chelating agents (medicines to reduce iron levels)
- paracetamol – use with caution 72 hours before and during treatment
Alcohol & Driving
Busulfex can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol, so precautions are necessary.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol, as this information is important for your treatment plan.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines or tools until you know how Busulfex affects you. Busulfex may cause dizziness in some people.
Storage
Busulfex injection will be stored by the pharmacy at 2°C – 8°C in a refrigerator (do not freeze). Any unused medicine must be disposed of appropriately by medical staff. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
Overdose Information
Since Busulfex is given in a hospital under medical supervision, overdose is unlikely. However, if you experience any side effects after receiving Busulfex, immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort. Overdose symptoms are usually more severe versions of the normal side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Busulfex is given 1 to 4 times a day for up to 4 days prior to your transplant. Each infusion lasts 2 to 3 hours.
Yes, Busulfex is given by qualified healthcare professionals in a hospital setting through a central intravenous line under medical supervision.
Before receiving Busulfex, you will be given medications to prevent seizures (like phenytoin) and anti-nausea medications to prevent vomiting.
Busulfex may permanently affect fertility. Women should avoid pregnancy during treatment and for 6 months after. Men should not father children during treatment and for 6 months after. Discuss fertility concerns with your doctor before treatment.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using or have used Busulfex, as this information is important for your ongoing care.
Your doctor will monitor your blood counts and liver enzymes regularly, and blood samples may be taken to test Busulfex levels in your blood during treatment.
The most serious side effects include decreased blood cell counts, infections, liver disorders including blocked liver veins, graft versus host disease, and lung complications. Your medical team will closely monitor for these effects.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.