nelarabine

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Pronunciation: nel AR a been

Brand: Arranon

What is the most important information I should know about nelarabine?

Nelarabine may cause serious side effects of the central nervous system, such as problems with balance, coordination, or fine motor skills. These symptoms may not go away even after you stop receiving nelarabine. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about any possible long-term side effects.

Do not use nelarabine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby.

You should not breast-feed while you are using nelarabine.

Before you receive nelarabine, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, a nerve disorder, a history of chemotherapy or radiation treatment of your head, neck, or spinal cord.

Nelarabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Your blood may need to be tested often. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding injury. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with nelarabine.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What is nelarabine?

Nelarabine is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Nelarabine is used to treat T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Nelarabine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving nelarabine?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to nelarabine.

To make sure you can safely receive nelarabine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

  • liver disease;
  • kidney disease;
  • a nerve disorder;
  • a history of radiation treatment of your head, neck, or spinal cord; or
  • a history of cancer medicine injected around your spinal cord.

Do not use nelarabine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether nelarabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using nelarabine.

How is nelarabine given?

Nelarabine is injected into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. Nelarabine must be given slowly, and the IV infusion can take up to 2 hours to complete.

This medication is usually given every day or every other day for 5 days in a row every 3 weeks. Your treatment schedule may be different. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Nelarabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your nervous system and kidney function may also need to be tested. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests. Visit your doctor regularly.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your nelarabine injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid while receiving nelarabine?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

This medicine can pass into body fluids (urine, feces, vomit). For at least 48 hours after you receive a dose, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or other surfaces. Caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up a patient's body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using nelarabine. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What are the possible side effects of nelarabine?

Nelarabine may cause serious side effects of the central nervous system. These symptoms may not go away even after you stop receiving nelarabine. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about any possible long-term side effects.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

  • confusion or clumsiness, extreme drowsiness, fainting;
  • loss of balance or coordination;
  • problems with walking, breathing, speech, swallowing, or eye movement;
  • numbness, weakness, or prickly feeling in your fingers or toes;
  • problems with buttoning clothes or picking up small items with your fingers;
  • loss of movement in any part of your body;
  • seizure (convulsions);
  • pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;
  • easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
  • fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat; or
  • severe shortness of breath, wheezing, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus, chest pain, fast or uneven heart rate.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • cough;
  • mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation;
  • dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired;
  • joint or muscle pain;
  • headache; or
  • swelling in your hands or feet.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect nelarabine?

Before receiving nelarabine, tell your doctor if you are also using pentostatin.

There may be other drugs that can interact with nelarabine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about nelarabine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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