What safety measures should you take when your child is using asparaginase?
Asparaginase can increase the risk of blood clots. Blood clots can cause symptoms of a stroke such as a sudden change in level of consciousness (alertness), confusion, difficulty speaking, and difficulty using parts of the body. If you notice any of these changes in your child, it is important to get emergency help. Sometimes these symptoms may occur days or weeks after a dose of asparaginase.
If your child has diabetes, they may have trouble controlling the sugar in the blood while getting asparaginase. The doctor may need to check your child's blood sugar more often.
Your child should not receive any immunizations (vaccines) without your child's doctor's approval. Your child or anyone else in your household should not get oral polio vaccine while your child is being treated for cancer. Tell your child's doctor if anyone in your household has recently received oral polio vaccine. Your child should avoid contact with anyone who has recently received this vaccine.
There is a chance that asparaginase may cause birth defects if it is taken at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. If your child is sexually active it is best that they use some kind of birth control while receiving asparaginase. Tell the doctor right away if your child may be pregnant.
Tell your doctor or dentist that your child is getting asparaginase before your child has any surgery, including dental surgery, or an emergency treatment.
Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal, or natural products).
