Elitek

Elitek reduces high uric acid levels caused by certain cancer therapies. If you have G6PD deficiency or are of African or Mediterranean descent, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests.

Elitek Overview

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Elitek is a prescription medication used to reduce high uric acid levels in adults and children with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving chemotherapy medications.

When cancer cells are destroyed by chemotherapy, certain substances are released. As the body breaks these substances down, uric acid levels increase and may be harmful. Elitek is in a class of medications called urate oxidase enzymes. It works by breaking down uric acid so that the body can eliminate it.

This medication comes in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) once daily for up to 5 days.

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and stomach pain.

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  • Other
  • Hyperuricemia
  • Tumor Lysis Syndrome

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  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
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Elitek Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautions

Uses of Elitek

Elitek is a prescription medication used for the initial management of plasma uric acid levels in pediatric and adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving anti-cancer therapy expected to result in elevation of plasma uric acid.

Limitation of use: Elitek is indicated only for a single course of treatment.

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

Manufacturer

Elitek Drug Class

Elitek is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Elitek

Common side effects include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • anxiety
  • stomach pain
  • mouth sores
  • throat pain
  • fever
  • headache
  • swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. 

These are not all the possible side effects with Elitek. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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

Elitek Interactions

No drug interactions have been studied. However, you should 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.

Elitek Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Elitek.

  • Elitek may cause a severe allergic reaction. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately: chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, faintness, or hives.
  • Elitek injection may cause serious blood problems. Tell your doctor if you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (an inherited blood disease). Your doctor will probably tell you that you cannot receive Elitek. Also tell your doctor if you are of African or Mediterranean descent. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately: headache; shortness of breath; lightheadedness; weakness; confusion; fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat; seizures; pale or blue-gray skin color; yellowing of the skin or eyes; chills; extreme tiredness; and dark urine.
  • Elitek can result in methemoglobinemia in some patients. This is a blood disorder in which an abnormal amount of methemoglobin (a protein in the blood) is made. This medication should be stopped if methemoglobinemia occurs. Signs of methemoglobinemia are a bluish coloring of the skin, headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, and lack of energy.

Do not take this medication if you:

  • are allergic to Elitek or to any of its ingredients
  • have developed blood disorders or methemoglobinemia while on Elitek 
  • have a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)

Elitek Food Interactions

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 this medication, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet.

Inform MD

Before receiving Elitek injection,

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Elitek, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in Elitek injection.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any medical condition.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving Elitek.

Elitek and Pregnancy

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

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. 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. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Elitek and Lactation

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

It is not known if Elitek 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, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using this medication.

Elitek Usage

Elitek comes as a solution (liquid) to be injected intravenously (into a vein) by a healthcare professional. It is usually given over a period of 30 minutes once a day for up to 5 days. This medication is given as a single course of treatment that will not be repeated.

Elitek Dosage

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 recommended dose is 0.2 mg/kg injected over 30 minutes daily for up to 5 days.

Elitek Overdose

Since this medication 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.
 

Other Requirements

Tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are receiving Elitek before having any laboratory test.

Elitek FDA Warning

WARNING: ANAPHYLAXIS, HEMOLYSIS, METHEMOGLOBINEMIA, AND INTERFERENCE WITH URIC ACID MEASUREMENTS

Anaphylaxis

Elitek can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis. Immediately and permanently discontinue Elitek in patients who experience a serious hypersensitivity reaction.

Hemolysis

Do not administer Elitek to patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Immediately and permanently discontinue Elitek in patients developing hemolysis. Screen patients at higher risk for G6PD deficiency (e.g., patients of African or Mediterranean ancestry) prior to starting Elitek.

Methemoglobinemia

Elitek can result in methemoglobinemia in some patients. Immediately and permanently discontinue Elitek in patients developing methemoglobinemia.

Interference with Uric Acid Measurements

Elitek enzymatically degrades uric acid in blood samples left at room temperature. Collect blood samples in pre-chilled tubes containing heparin and immediately immerse and maintain sample in an ice water bath. Assay plasma samples within 4 hours of collection.