title: Use of uridine triacetate for the management of fluorouracil overdose.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of uridine triacetate for the management of fluorouracil toxicity is reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 55-year-old man with malignant neoplasm of the sigmoid colon (stage IIIC) was seen in an outpatient chemotherapy center for his first six-month regimen of leucovorin calcium, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin. Fluorouracil 2400 mg/m(2) i.v. was prescribed to be given over the next 46 hours at a home infusion center. Due to a medication error, a home infusion pharmacist incorrectly programmed the 46-hour infusion of fluorouracil to be administered over 4 hours. To manage the fluorouracil overdose, the physician decided to start the patient on uridine triacetate. The patient received his first dose of uridine triacetate 18 hours after the fluorouracil overdose. He was admitted to the hospital for observation and daily laboratory tests during treatment with uridine triacetate. He received ondansetron (as the hydrochloride salt) 8 mg orally 20 minutes before each dose of uridine triacetate to prevent nausea and vomiting. Uridine triacetate 11 g every 6 hours was administered orally for a total of 20 doses. It was mixed with applesauce at the time of administration and followed with 8 oz of water. The patient's laboratory values remained stable. The patient did not experience any nausea or vomiting during treatment. He was discharged from the hospital on day 5, with no clinical complications and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance score of 0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A patient with colon cancer who had received an overdose of fluorouracil was successfully treated with a five-day course of oral uridine triacetate.
authors.affiliation: BayHealth Medical Center, 640 South State Street, Dover, DE 19901, USA. margaret_mcevilly@bayhealth.org
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McEvilly
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Popelas
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tremmel
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000506:poisoning*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018718:Home Infusion Therapy; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014529:Uridine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D017294:Ondansetron; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D014529:Uridine