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Acetazolamide for alkalinisation of urine in patients receiving high-dose methotrexate

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  • Urinary Alkalinisation, Methotrexate
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Summary

Acetazolamide, 500 mg 6 hourly, has been used to alkalinise the urine in patients receiving high dose methotrexate. A urinary pH of >7.5 was achieved in every cycle (13 cycles in 10 patients). In 6 cycles a single supplementary dose of sodium bicarbonate was necessary. Plasma methotrexate levels fell satisfactorily at 24 and 48 h. Acetazolamide is a simple and effective method of achieving urinary alkalinisation with advantages over oral and intravenous bicarbonate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, 91 Riding House Street, W1P 8BTR, London, U.K.

    Jonathan Shamash, Helena Earl & Robert Souhami

Authors
  1. Jonathan Shamash
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  2. Helena Earl
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  3. Robert Souhami
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Shamash, J., Earl, H. & Souhami, R. Acetazolamide for alkalinisation of urine in patients receiving high-dose methotrexate. Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 28, 150–151 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00689708

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00689708

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