Pegaspargase (Systemic)
Brand Names : Oncaspar, PEG- L-asparaginase
Before Receiving This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor
will make. For pegaspargase, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to pegaspargase.
Pregnancy - Pegaspargase has not been studied in pregnant women
or animals; however, many cancer medicines may cause sterility that could
be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with pegaspargase,
the possibility of this effect in humans should be kept in mind. Cancer medicines
may also cause birth defects; therefore, use during pregnancy is not recommended. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor before receiving this
medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving
pegaspargase. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant
while receiving pegaspargase.
Breast-feeding - Because pegaspargase may cause serious side effects,
breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.
Children - Infants up to 1 year of age - Safety and efficacy
have not been established. Children 1 year of age and older - This medicine has been studied in
children 1 year of age and older and has not been shown to cause different
side effects or problems than it does in adults. In fact, the side effects
of this medicine seem to be less severe in children than in adults.
Older adults - There is no specific information 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.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your 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:
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Aspirin or
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Dipyridamole (e.g., Persantine) or
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Heparin or
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Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics or
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Warfarin (e.g., Coumadin) - Using any of these medicines together
with pegaspargase may increase the risk of bleeding
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Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
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Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
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Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
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Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
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Colchicine or
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Cyclophosphamide (e.g., Cytoxan) or
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Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
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Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
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Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
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Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol) or
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Methotrexate (e.g., Mexate) or
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Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
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Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) or
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If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medicines - Pegaspargase
may increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of pegaspargase. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
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Anticoagulant therapy (treatment with blood thinners) or
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Bleeding problems - The chance of bleeding may be increased
-
Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
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Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other
parts of the body
-
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) - The chance 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 medicine from the body
-
Pancreatitis - The chance of side effects may be increased
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