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Your doctor has ordered the drug leucovorin to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein or taken by mouth with tablets. Folinic acid is used: to prevent or treat the toxicities of medications known as folic acid antagonists such as methotrexate (MTX, Rheumatrex), trimetrexate (Neutrexin), trimethoprim (Proloprim, Trimpex), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra), pyrimethamine (Daraprim), and pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine (Fansider). to treat folate-deficient megaloblastic anemias. in combination with fluorouracil (Adrucil, 5-FU) for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Folinic acid is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Leucovorin is a vitamin derivative. When used in combination with fluorouracil, it enhances the ability of the chemotherapy to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells in your body. In diseases where the amount of folate is low, it can replace the body's supply of the vitamin. Leucovorin also can prevent or treat the toxicities associated with a group of drugs known as folate antagonists. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of disease you have.
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