Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi

Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi is prescription medication used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). ALL is a type of cancer of the white blood cells. Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi is an enzyme that interferes with natural substances necessary for cancer cell growth. It works by killing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi comes as a powder to be added to fluid and injected into a muscle (IM) or into the vein (IV) by a healthcare professional. It is usually given 3 times a week.

Common side effects include serious hypersensitivity reactions, nausea, and vomiting.

Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi is prescription medication used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). ALL is a type of cancer of the white blood cells. It is used in those who have had some types of allergic reactions to medications similar to asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi such as (asparaginase [Elspar] or pegaspargase [Oncaspar]).

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

Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Erwinaze

Common side effects include the following:

• serious hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis
• inflammation of the pancreas
• liver dysfunction
• blood clots
• bleeding
• nausea
• vomiting
• elevated blood sugar levels

This is not a complete list of this medication’s side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does 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 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.

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.

Before taking asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi powder.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what 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 pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas), blood clots, or severe bleeding, especially if these happened during treatment with asparaginase (Elspar) or pegaspargase (Oncaspar). Your doctor probably will not want you to receive asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while receiving asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi, call your doctor.

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. There are no well-done studies of asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi in pregnant women. Animal studies have not been done with asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi. It is not known whether asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi, can cause fetal (unborn baby) harm when taken if pregnant. Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

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

It is not known if this medication 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.

Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi comes as a powder to be added to fluid and injected into a muscle (IM) or into the vein (IV) by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. It is usually given 3 times a week.

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

Because 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.
 

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi.