Pegaspargase : Before Using - Oncaspar, PEG- L-asparaginase

Pegaspargase - Systemic

Brand Names

Oncaspar, PEG- L-asparaginase Pegaspargase *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using This Medication

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For pegaspargase, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to pegaspargase.

Pregnancy care

Pegaspargase has not been studied in pregnant women or pets; however, many cancer medication may cause sterility that could be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with pegaspargase, the possibility of this effect must be kept in mind. Cancer medication may also cause birth defects; therefore, use during pregnancy is not recommended.

Be sure you have discussed this with your family doctor before receiving this drug. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving pegaspargase. Tell your family doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving pegaspargase.

Breast-feeding problem

Because pegaspargase may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.

Use for Children

Infants up to 1 year of age Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Children 1 year of age and older This drug has been studied in children 1 year of age and older and has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems than it does in adults. In fact, the side effects of this drug seem to be less severe in child than in adults.

Elderly care

There is no special info comparing the use of pegaspargase in the elderly with use in other age groups. Safety and efficacy of pegaspargase in the elderly have not been established.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking pegaspargase, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Aspirin
Dipyridamole - Persantine
Heparin
Inflammation or pain drug, except narcotics
Warfarin - Coumadin Using any of these medication together with pegaspargase may increase the risk of bleeding

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Azathioprine - Imuran
Chloramphenicol - Chloromycetin
Colchicine
Cyclophosphamide - Cytoxan
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Interferon - Intron A, Roferon-A
Mercaptopurine - Purinethol
Methotrexate - Mexate
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medication Pegaspargase may increase the side effects of medication or radiation therapy on the blood

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of pegaspargase. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Anticoagulant therapy - treat with blood thinners
Bleeding problems The risk of bleeding may be increased

Chickenpox - including recent exposure
Herpes zoster - shingles chance of severe disease effecting other parts of the body

Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes The risk of side effects may be increased

Infection Pegaspargase can decrease your body's ability to fight infection

Liver disease Effects of pegaspargase may be increased because of slower removal of this drug from the body

Pancreatitis The risk of side effects may be increased