Generic name:asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi [ as-PAR-a-jin-ase-er-WIN-ee-a-kri-SAN-the-mee ]
Drug class:Miscellaneous antineoplastics
What is Erwinaze?
Erwinaze is an injectable medicine containing asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi. Asparaginase is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
Erwinaze works by lowering the levels of asparagine in your body, a substance the cancer cells need to survive.
Erwinaze is used to treat acute lymphoblastic acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults and children at least 1 year old.
Warnings
Some people develop a life-threatening allergic reaction to Erwinaze. You will need to receive Erwinaze in a hospital or clinic setting to quickly treat any serious side effects that occur.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Erwinaze: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as severe pain in your upper stomach, nausea and vomiting, easy bruising or bleeding, increased thirst of urination, sudden numbness or severe headache, warmth or swelling in your legs, or sudden problems with your vision, speech, or balance.
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Erwinaze if you have received any form of asparaginase in the past and it caused you to have:
a serious allergic reaction;
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