Asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 26, 2024.

Applies to asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi: injection powder for solution. Other dosage forms:

intramuscular solution

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi 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 or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi:

More common

Agitation
back pain
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
bloating
blood in the urine or stools
blurred vision
chest pain
chills
coma
confusion
constipation
cough or hoarseness
difficulty in walking
dizziness
drooping eyelids
drowsiness
dry mouth
lightheadedness
fainting
fast heartbeat
fever
flushed, dry skin
fruit-like breath odor
hallucinations
headache
increased hunger
increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
increased thirst
increased urination
indigestion
irritability
jaw pain
lower back or side pain
mood or mental changes
nosebleeds
numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes
pain in the fingers and toes
pain in the testicles
pains in the chest, groin, or legs, especially calves of the legs
pains in stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
paralysis
pinpoint red spots on the skin
prolonged bleeding from cuts
rapid, shallow breathing
seizures
severe headaches of sudden onset
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stiff neck
stomach pain
sudden loss of coordination
sudden onset of slurred speech
sudden vision changes
sweating
swollen glands
trouble breathing
unexplained weight loss
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
yellow eyes or skin

Less common

Chest tightness
difficulty swallowing
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
hives, itching, skin rash
increase in frequency of seizures
loss of appetite
loss of consciousness
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

Incidence not known

Diarrhea
nervousness
pounding in the ears
slow or fast heartbeat
unpleasant breath odor
vomiting of blood

Other side effects

Some side effects of asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi 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

Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi: injectable powder for injection, intramuscular solution.

General

The most frequent nonhematological serious adverse reactions (in greater than 5% of patients) were febrile neutropenia, infection, drug hypersensitivity, pyrexia, nausea, dehydration, stomatitis, acute kidney injury, pancreatitis, diarrhea, and viral infection.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Very common (15% or more): Hypersensitivity reactions including rash, infusion related reaction, lip swelling, periorbital edema, throat irritation, urticaria, dry skin, eczema, erythema, hand dermatitis, rash maculo-papular, rash papular (21% to 24%)

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Anaphylaxis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (15% or more): Stomatitis (24% to 27%), nausea (45% to 47%), abdominal pain (21% to 25%), diarrhea (18% to 25%), pancreatitis (12% to 22%)^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (15% or more): Headache (22% to 36%), peripheral neuropathy including peripheral motor neuropathy, neuropathy peripheral, peripheral sensory neuropathy (6% to 15%)^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Rash (19%)

Frequency not reported: Toxic epidermal necrosis^[Ref]

Hepatic

Very common (15% or more): Abnormal liver tests (70% to 75%)

Frequency not reported: Hepatomegaly, cholestatic jaundice^[Ref]

Hematologic

Very common (15% or more): Febrile neutropenia (27% to 30%), hemorrhage including contusion, epistaxis, catheter site hemorrhage, petechiae, hematochezia, menorrhagia, mouth hemorrhage, increased tendency to bruise, rectal hemorrhage (24 to 27%)

Frequency not reported: clotting factor decreased, antithrombin III decreased, protein C decreased, protein S decreased, fibrinogen decreased^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Very common (reported as 15% or more): Tachycardia (16 to 18%)^[Ref]

Metabolic

Very common (15% or more): Hyperglycemia (12% to 21%), hypokalemia (9% to 22%, dehydration (12% to 15%), decreased appetite (21% to 27%)

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Diabetic ketoacidosis

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hyperammonemia^[Ref]

Other

Infections:

Very common (15% or more): Including sepsis, upper respiratory tract infection, enterocolitis infectious, skin infection, bacteremia, paronychia, pneumonia, otitis externa, soft tissue infection, abdominal infection, conjunctivitis, device related infection, folliculitis, lymph gland infection, necrotizing fasciitis, perirectal abscess, peritonsillar abscess, sinusitis, subcutaneous abscess, wound infection (27% to 36%)^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Very common (15% or more): Musculoskeletal pain, including arthralgia, back pain, musculoskeletal chest pain, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, pain in extremity (35% to 45%)^[Ref]