nelarabine Intravenous

nel-AR-a-been

Intravenous route(Solution)

This product is for intravenous use only. Severe neurologic adverse reactions including altered mental states, severe somnolence, convulsions, and peripheral neuropathy ranging from numbness and paresthesias to motor weakness and paralysis, have been reported with the use of nelarabine. There have also been reports of adverse reactions associated with demyelination, and ascending peripheral neuropathies similar in appearance to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Close monitoring for neurologic adverse reactions is strongly recommended, and nelarabine should be discontinued for neurologic adverse reactions of NCI Common Toxicity Criteria grade 2 or greater .

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Arranon

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent

Uses For nelarabine

Nelarabine belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics. It is used to treat specific types of cancer called T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) .

Nelarabine interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by nelarabine, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects may not be serious, but may cause concern .

Before you begin treatment with nelarabine, you and your doctor should talk about the good nelarabine will do as well as the possible risks of using it. nelarabine is usually given to patients who have already used at least two other cancer medicines first .

Nelarabine is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor .

nelarabine is available only with your doctor's prescription .

Before Using nelarabine

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 nelarabine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to nelarabine 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 pediatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of nelarabine in children .

Geriatric

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of nelarabine have not been performed in the geriatric population, no geriatrics-specific problems have been documented to date. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution in patients receiving nelarabine. Also, serious nervous system problems may be more likely to occur in the elderly .

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	D	Studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy in a life threatening situation or a serious disease, may outweigh the potential risk.

Breast Feeding

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. When you are receiving nelarabine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using nelarabine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Pentostatin

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.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of nelarabine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney disease or


• Liver disease—May cause side effects to become worse .

• Neurologic problems—This condition may become worse .

Proper Use of nelarabine

While you are using nelarabine, your doctor may want you to drink extra fluids so that you will pass more urine. This will help prevent kidney problems and keep your kidneys working well .

Nelarabine sometimes causes nausea and vomiting. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine, even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your doctor for ways to lessen these effects if they bother you .

You will receive nelarabine while you are in a hospital or cancer treatment center. A doctor or other trained health professional will give you nelarabine. nelarabine is given through a needle placed into one of your veins .

Precautions While Using nelarabine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that nelarabine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects .

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before you receive nelarabine. Using nelarabine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away .

Nelarabine can cause serious nervous system problems. This may be more likely in patients who have had cancer treatment or radiation treatment to the head or back in the past. Check with your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur with nelarabine: numbness and tingling in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes; extreme sleepiness; seizures; clumsiness or unsteadiness while walking; or weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet .

While you are being treated with nelarabine, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Nelarabine may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine within the last several months. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth .

Nelarabine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding :

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.


• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in the urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.


• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.


• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.


• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.


• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur .

nelarabine may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. If any of these side effects occur, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert while you are taking nelarabine .

nelarabine Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Abdominal pain or cramps


• anxiety


• black, tarry stools


• bleeding gums


• blood in the urine or stools


• bloody nose


• blurred vision


• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings


• change in walking and balance


• chest pain


• chills


• clumsiness or unsteadiness


• cold sweats


• coma


• convulsions


• cool, pale skin


• cough or hoarseness


• decreased or uncontrolled urination


• difficulty with breathing


• discouragement


• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly


• drowsiness


• dry mouth


• fast or irregular heartbeat


• feeling sad or empty


• feeling unusually cold


• fever


• flushed, dry skin


• fruit-like breath odor


• headache


• incoordination


• increased hunger


• increased thirst


• increased urination


• irritability


• loss of appetite


• loss of interest or pleasure


• lower back, side, or stomach pain


• mood or mental changes


• muscle cramps in hands, arms, feet, legs, or face


• muscle pain


• muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching seizures


• muscle weakness


• nausea or vomiting


• nervousness


• nightmares


• numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in hands, feet, fingertips, or mouth


• pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones


• painful or difficult urination


• paralysis or severe weakness of legs


• rapid breathing


• seizures


• shakiness and unsteady walk


• shivering


• shortness of breath


• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness


• sleeplessness


• slurred speech


• small red or purple spots on skin


• sneezing


• sore throat


• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth


• stuffy or runny nose


• sunken eyes


• sweating


• swelling of hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs


• swollen glands


• tightness in chest


• trouble concentrating


• trouble sleeping


• troubled breathing with exertion


• unable to sleep


• uncontrolled bowel movements


• unexplained weight loss


• unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination


• unusual bleeding or bruising


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• wheezing


• wrinkled skin


• yellow eyes or skin

Less common

• Change in taste


• loss of memory


• loss of taste


• problems with memory

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Back pain


• diarrhea


• difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)


• difficulty with moving


• full or bloated feeling


• joint pain


• lack or loss of strength


• muscle aching or stiffness


• pain in the arms or legs


• pressure in the stomach


• swelling of the abdomen or stomach area


• swelling or inflammation of the mouth


• swollen joints

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: nelarabine Intravenous side effects (in more detail)

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More nelarabine Intravenous resources

• Nelarabine Intravenous Side Effects (in more detail)
• Nelarabine Intravenous Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Nelarabine Intravenous Drug Interactions
• Nelarabine Intravenous Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Nelarabine Intravenous - Add your own review/rating

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