Asparlas

Asparlas is a prescription medication used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients age 1 month to 21 years. It is usually given with other chemotherapy medications.

Asparlas belongs to a group of drugs called asparagine specifc enzymes, which halt a process required for cancer cells to mature. 
 
This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein by a healthcare professional.
 
Common side effects of Asparlas include elevated liver enzymes, pancreatitis, and abnormal clotting.

Asparlas is a prescription medication used with other medications to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients age 1 month to 21 years.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Asparlas. See the “Asparlas Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Asparlas include the following:

• Hypersensitivity reaction
• Pancreatic toxicity
• Thrombosis (clot formation)
• Hemorrhage
• Hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity)

This is not a complete list of Asparlas side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been determined by the manufacturer. However, tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with Asparlas including the following:

• Hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Serious reactions like lowered blood pressure, swelling, difficulty breathing, itch, and rash can occur. Because of the risk of serious allergic reactions Asparlas is administered in a clinic or hospital where the patient can be evaluated and treated for the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Labs will be taken regularly to assess the function of your pancreas. Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of pancreatic inflammation, which include the following:
  • upper abdominal pain
  • swollen or tender stomach
  • nausea, vomiting
  • fever
  • increased heart rate
• Development of blood clots (thrombosis). Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of clot formation, which include the following:
  • pain in one leg
  • swelling in the leg or arm
  • chest pain
  • numbness/weakness on one side of the body
  • coldness in the leg or arm
• Hemorrhage, or internal bleeding. Labs will be taken regularly to check the clotting ability of your blood.
• Damage to the liver. Labs will be taken regularly to assess the function of your liver. Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of liver damage, which include the following:
  • loss of appetite or start losing weight (anorexia)
  • nausea or vomiting
  • feel tired
  • stomach pain or tenderness
  • dark urine or light colored stools
  • yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes 
  • fever or rash

Do not receive Asparlas if you have a:

• History of serious hypersensitivity (allergic reaction) reactions to pegylated L asparaginase
• History of serious thrombosis (blood clot development) during L asparaginase therapy
• History of serious pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) related to previous L asparaginase treatment
• History of serious hemorrhagic (bleeding) events during previous L asparaginase therapy
• Severe liver disease

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Asparlas, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Asparlas, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Asparlas or to any of its ingredients
• have a history of bleeding abnormalities
• have a history of clot development
• have liver problems
• have pancreas problems
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. This medication could cause birth defects. You should not become pregnant or father a child while on this medication. Effective birth control is necessary during treatment and for at least 3 months after treatment.

This medication can interact with oral birth control pills. Talk to your doctor about other methods of birth control.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Asparlas crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, breastfeeding is not recommended during Asparlas therapy and for 3 months after the last dose.

Take Asparlas exactly as prescribed.
  
This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein by a healthcare professional.

The dose is based on your weight and how often you receive the medication will depend on your treatment plan. It is given in combination with other medications.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.
 
The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

The Asparlas dose you receive is based on your height and weight which is used to calculate your body surface area.

Recommended Dosage: 2,500 units/m2 intravenously no more frequently than every 21 days.

The medication may be withheld if serious side effects occur until they are resolved. The medication may be stopped entirely if severe adverse events occur.

Asparlas is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting. It is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests, usually once a week, to check your body's response to Asparlas.