Nelarabine injection should be given only under the supervision of a doctor with experience in the use of chemotherapy medications for cancer.
Nelarabine may cause severe damage to your nervous system, which may not go away even when you stop using the medication. Tell your doctor if you have ever been treated with chemotherapy given directly into the fluid surrounding the brain or spine or radiation therapy to the brain and spine and if you have or have ever had any problems with your nervous system. A doctor or nurse will monitor you while you receive nelarabine injection and for at least 24 hours after each dose. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: extreme sleepiness; confusion; numbness and tingling in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes; problems with fine motor skills such as buttoning clothing; muscle weakness; unsteadiness while walking; weakness when standing up from a low chair or while climbing stairs; increased tripping while walking over uneven surfaces; uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body; decreased sense of touch; inability to move any part of the body; seizures; or coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time).
Talk to your doctor about the risks of using nelarabine.
Nelarabine is used to treat certain types of leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells) and lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system) that have not improved or that have come back after treatment with other medications. Nelarabine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It works by killing cancer cells.
Nelarabine injection comes as a liquid to be given intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or clinic. It is usually given to adults once a day on the first, third, and fifth days of the dosing cycle. It is usually given to children once a day for 5 days. This treatment is usually repeated every 21 days. Your doctor may delay your treatment if you experience certain side effects.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Before using nelarabine injection,
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
Call your doctor right away if you are unable to keep an appointment to receive a dose of nelarabine.
Nelarabine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
Nelarabine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at Web Site. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of overdose may include the following:
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to nelarabine.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.