• Tell your doctor if you have/had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:

  • blood clots or bleeding problems,

  • diabetes,

  • problems with your kidney, liver or pancreas,

  • or any allergies (or if you cannot tolerate asparaginase)

Remember to:

• Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
• Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.

• Will this medication interact with other medications or natural health products?

  • This medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products. Interactions can make the treatment not work as well or cause severe side effects.

  • Tell your health care team about all of your:

    • prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications and all other drugs, such as cannabis/marijuana (medical or recreational)

    • natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements

  • Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
     

• What should I do if I feel unwell, have pain, a headache or a fever?

  • Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).

    • Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.

    • If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
       

  How to check for fever:

  Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).

  • You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
     
    • 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
      
      OR
       
    • 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.

  
  If you do have a fever:

  • Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
  • Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information. 
     

  If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:

  • Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.

  • Talk to your health care team before you start taking Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.

  • Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
     

What to DO while on this medication:

• DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.

• DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days. You may feel drowsy or dizzy after your treatment.

What NOT to DO while on this medication:

• DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.

The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting pegaspargase. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.

Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on pegaspargase.

Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:

• have signs of infection (for example, feeling unwell, new cough) or fever. You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time OR 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour

• black coloured stools (poo) or blood in your stools (poo),heavy vaginal bleeding, red or pink coloured urine (pee) or bleeding that will not stop 

• feeling confused

• suddenly losing your vision, having trouble speaking or using your arms or legs

• chest pain

• trouble breathing, coughing up blood

• pain, swelling and hardening of the vein in an arm or leg

• severe headache, passing out (fainting)

• seizures

• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)

• severe numbness, tingling, or burning sensation of fingers, toes or other parts of the body, having pain or trouble moving  

• sudden, severe pain in your belly

• new lower back pain with swelling, peeing less than usual and unusual weight gain

• muscle twitching, severe weakness or cramping

• irregular or fast heartbeat
   

Other Notes:

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August 2022 Updated/Revised info sheet