Do I need to stop any medications before Leukemia treatment

Medication Management Before Leukemia Treatment

This is an important question that requires a personalized discussion with your care team. Here's what you should know:

Why This Matters

Before starting leukemia treatment, your doctors need to understand all the medications you're taking because:

• Some medications can interact with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or other cancer treatments
• Certain supplements and over-the-counter drugs can affect how your body processes leukemia medications
• Your kidney and liver function (which process medications) may be affected by leukemia itself, changing how drugs work in your body

What Your Care Team Will Review

According to the NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, your medical history should include:

"Bring a list of old and new medicines and any over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, herbals, or supplements you take. Some supplements interact with and affect medicines that your care team may prescribe."

This means you should prepare a complete list including:

• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medications (pain relievers, cold medicines, etc.)
• Vitamins and supplements
• Herbal products
• Any medications from other doctors

What NOT to Do on Your Own

❌ Don't stop medications without asking your doctor first — some medications are critical to continue, even during cancer treatment

❌ Don't assume all supplements are safe — some can interfere with leukemia treatment

Questions to Ask Your Care Team

1. "Which of my current medications should I continue, and which should I stop before treatment starts?"
2. "Are there any over-the-counter medications or supplements I should avoid during treatment?"
3. "When should I make these medication changes — before my first treatment or at a specific time?"
4. "Will my treatment affect how my other medications work?"
5. "Should I bring my medication bottles to my appointments so you can review them?"

Next Steps

Bring your complete medication list to your next appointment with your oncology team. If you see multiple doctors, make sure your leukemia care team knows about all medications prescribed by other specialists.

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.