About Pegaspargase: The Pegaspargase comes under the brand name drug Oncaspar. It is a kind of an enzyme (asparaginase) that helps in breaking down the asparagine, an essential building block of proteins without which the cells can't survive. Normal cells can develop the asparagine for themselves, on the other hand some cancer cells cannot. The pegaspargase injection reduces the level of asparagine in blood cancer cells and inhibits the cancerous cells growing.
Indication: Pegaspargase specifically is an enzyme introduced in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
Mechanism: As an enzyme, the pegaspargase breaks down the amino acid asparagine into the aspartic acid and ammonia. Leukemic cells are not able to form their own asparagine and depend on circulating asparagine for growth; although asparaginase deprives the leukemic cells of circulating asparagine leading to death of the leukemic cell.
Administration: The recommended dose of oncaspar injection can be administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion over one to two hours or as an intramuscular injection (IM).
Special instructions:
- There is a high risk of getting an allergic reaction with the use of pegaspargase. A specialist will need to monitor you for at least one hour after administration is done. Avoid leaving the hospital during this time. Report any swelling, itch, rash, shortness of breath, vomiting, dizziness promptly. In case there is swelling, pain, redness or warmth at the injection site, when administered via the IM route, report promptly to a healthcare provider.
- Your platelets will be checked in case you are taking treatment with drug pegaspargase via an IM injection. In case the platelet levels are low, a platelet transfusion may be needed.
Possible Side Effects: Listed downward, but not limited to, are the commonly experienced side effects of pegaspargase that you may see. The side effects your child might experience may be temporary and some of them may be permanent.
Very common (may be responsible for affecting more than 1 in 10 people) side effects include:
- Severe stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Increase in blood sugar levels;
- Serious allergic reactions
- Blood clots
- Fever with low counts of white blood cells.
Common (may be responsible for affecting up to 1 in 10 people) side effects include:
- Severe bleeding or bruising
- Violent shaking (seizures)
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe infection with very high fever
Rare (may be responsible for affecting up to 1 in 1,000 people) side effects include:
- Liver failure
- Jaundice
- Blocked bile flow from the liver
- Destruction of liver cells
Overdose/Missed Dose: A healthcare provider will administer the peg asparaginase injection, it is quite unlikely you will be administered excess than you need. In the unlikely event of accidental overdose, you will be assessed very carefully and treated appropriately. In case you have any further queries on the use of this drug, ask your healthcare professional.
Storage: Store pegaspargase in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). It is not recommended to freeze this medication. Once the medication has been reconstituted and diluted, the solution of pegaspargase should be used promptly. In case prompt use is not possible, the diluted solution can be stored at 2°C to 8°C for up to 48 hours. Avoid the use of pegaspargase if you find the reconstituted pegaspargase solution is cloudy or has visible particles.
Price: The pegaspargase injection price in India can vary. To know the exact price as well as procurement details of pegaspargase, kindly get in touch with us today at our TOLL-FREE Number: 1800-889-1064.
Note: The information provided in the article named "Pegaspargase: Information for Patient/Caregiver", is just for informational purposes and it is not responsible for serving as a substitute for the medical treatment, consultation, diagnosis, of an experienced healthcare professional.
