Pegaspargase

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 16, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Oncaspar

Pharmacologic Class: Asparaginase (class)

Uses for pegaspargase

Pegaspargase injection is used in combination with other cancer medicines to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells. It is also used to treat ALL in patients who have had serious allergic reactions to L-asparaginase treatments. Pegaspargase belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics.

Pegaspargase interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells also may be affected by pegaspargase, other effects may also occur. Some of these effects may be serious and must be reported to your doctor.

Before you begin treatment with pegaspargase, you and your doctor should talk about the benefits as well as the risks of using it.

Pegaspargase is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Before using pegaspargase

In 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 or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of pegaspargase injection in children. Safety and efficacy have been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of pegaspargase injection have not been performed in the geriatric population. However, no geriatric-specific problems have been documented to date.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with 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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Pegaspargase Intramuscular, Intravenous