Formulary
Pegaspargase [Specialist drug]: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Pegaspargase [Specialist drug] clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Pegaspargase [Specialist drug]: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Pegaspargase [Specialist drug] clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia**
- **Adult** (By Intramuscular Injection, Or By Intravenous Infusion): Specialist drug - access specialist resources for dosing information.
Contraindications
For pegaspargase [Specialist drug] History of pancreatitis; history of serious haemorrhagic event with previous L-asparaginase therapy; history of serious thrombosis with previous L-asparaginase therapy
Side effects
For pegaspargase [Specialist drug] Common or very common Abdominal pain; anaemia; appetite decreased; ascites; coagulation disorders; diarrhoea; dyslipidaemia; embolism and thrombosis; febrile neutropenia; hepatic disorders; hyperglycaemia; hypersensitivity; hypoalbuminaemia; hypokalaemia; hypoxia; increased risk of infection; nausea; pain in extremity; pancreatitis (discontinue if suspected and do not restart if confirmed); peripheral neuropathy; seizure; sepsis; skin reactions; stomatitis; syncope; vomiting; weight decreased Rare or very rare Encephalopathy; haemorrhage; necrotising pancreatitis Frequency not known Acute kidney injury; bone marrow disorders; confusion; diabetic ketoacidosis; drowsiness; fever; hyperammonaemia (monitor if symptoms present); hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome; hypoglycaemia; pancreatic pseudocyst; stroke; toxic epidermal necrolysis; tremor Side-effects, further information There have been rare reports of cholestasis, icterus, hepatic cell necrosis and hepatic failure with fatal outcome in patients receiving pegaspargase.
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Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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