Asparaginase Injection

Conditions Treated

Asparaginase is used with other chemotherapy drugs to treat a certain type of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL; a type of cancer of the white blood cells). Asparaginase is an enzyme that interferes with natural substances necessary for cancer cell growth. It works by killing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Asparaginase may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• tiredness
• fever
• chills
• headache
• dizziness

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• ongoing pain that begins in the stomach area, but may spread to the back
• seizures
• confusion
• hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• swelling of the face, arms, or legs
• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• dark colored urine
• frequent urination
• increased thirst

Asparaginase may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Asparaginase comes as a powder to be added to fluid and injected into a muscle or infused intravenously (into a vein) over 30 minutes by a doctor or nurse in a medical office or hospital outpatient clinic. It is usually given three times a week.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before taking asparaginase, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to asparaginase, pegaspargase (Oncaspar), or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. tell your doctor if you have or ever had pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas), blood clots, or severe bleeding, especially if these happened during an earlier treatment with asparaginase. Your doctor may not want you to receive asparaginase.