Oncaspar - Talk Medical

Generic Name: pegaspargase

Brands: Oncaspar

What is the most important information I should know about Oncaspar?

· Oncaspar should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

· Serious side effects have been reported with the use of Oncaspar including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection); liver problems; pancreas problems; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with Oncaspar.

· Oncaspar is highly toxic and both the powder and solution must be handled with care. Inhalation of dust or vapors and contact with skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose and mouth) must be avoided. Should accidental contact occur, rinse the area with water and seek emergency medical attention.

What is Oncaspar?

· Oncaspar is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Oncaspar interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

· Oncaspar is used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

· Oncaspar may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking peraspargase?

· Do not use Oncaspar without first talking to your doctor if you have ·a history of pancreas problems; ·bleeding or blood clotting problems; ·liver problems; ·an infection; ·had an allergic reaction, bleeding, or other serious side effects from previous treatment with asparaginase (Elspar) or Oncaspar.

· You may not be able to take Oncaspar, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

· Oncaspar is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Oncaspar will harm an unborn baby. Do not use Oncaspar without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

· It is not known whether Oncaspar passes into breast milk. Do not take Oncaspar without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.

How should I use Oncaspar?

· Oncaspar should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

· Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with Oncaspar depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.

· Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with Oncaspar to monitor progress and side effects.

· Your healthcare provider will store Oncaspar as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing Oncaspar at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.

What happens if I miss a dose?

· Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of Oncaspar.

What happens if I overdose?

· If for any reason an overdose of Oncaspar is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.

· Symptoms of a Oncaspar overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication, although often more severe.

What should I avoid while using Oncaspar?

· Oncaspar can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with Oncaspar. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.

What are the possible side effects of Oncaspar?

· If you experience any of the following serious side effects from Oncaspar, contact your doctor immediately: ·an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); ·decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection); ·unusual bleeding or bruising; ·liver problems (determined by blood tests); or ·pancreas problems (determined by blood tests).

· Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue taking Oncaspar and talk to your doctor if you experience: ·nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite; ·diarrhea; ·headache; ·muscle or joint pain; or ·blood sugar problems (increased hunger, thirst, or urination).

· Other side effects have also been reported. Discuss with your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with Oncaspar.

What other drugs will affect Oncaspar?

· Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with Oncaspar. Administration of a live vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with Oncaspar.

· Do not take Oncaspar without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: ·warfarin (Coumadin, others); ·heparin; ·ardeparin (Normiflo), dalteparin (Fragmin), danaparoid (Orgaran), enoxaparin (Lovenox), or tinzaparin (Innohep); ·dipyridamole (Persantine, Aggrenox); ·aspirin; or ·a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), indomethacin (Indocin), oxaprozin (Daypro), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), ketorolac (Toradol), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), nabumetone (Relafen), or piroxicam (Feldene).

· There may be an increased risk of bleeding if Oncaspar is taken with any of the medicines listed above.

· Also, tell your doctor if you are taking methotrexate (Folex PFS, Rheumatrex, Trexall, others). Oncaspar may interfere with the effects of methotrexate.

· Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Oncaspar. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with Oncaspar.

Where can I get more information?

· Your healthcare provider may have additional information about Oncaspar that you may read.

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