Rasburicase, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: enzyme; antimetabolite

Generic and brand names: rasburicase, injection; Elitek

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given to children by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein). This medicine keeps uric acid from building up in the blood during chemotherapy for leukemia, lymphoma, and some other kinds of cancer.

What should my healthcare provider know before my child takes this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if your child has:

• an allergy to any medicines
• a blood disorder such as G6PD deficiency, methemoglobinemia, or hemolytic anemia

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by a healthcare provider once a day for several days. Chemotherapy is usually started after the first dose of this medicine.

What should I watch out for?

It is important to follow the treatment schedule exactly as your healthcare provider has instructed.

Your child will need to have blood tests regularly while receiving this medicine. Keep all appointments for these tests.

If while receiving this medicine your child develops any allergic reactions (hives, itching, rash, tightness in the chest, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing), alert the healthcare provider giving the infusion immediately.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, this medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your child's body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if your child has any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you are unable to reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue or throat; trouble breathing).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fever; fatigue; seizures; sore throat that does not go away; fainting; pain, burning or swelling at the infusion site.

Other: Diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, nausea, headache, mouth sores.

What products might interact with this medicine?

No significant drug interactions have been reported.

Keep a list of all your child's medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat your child about all the products your child is taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.