How is it used?

Before taking

While taking

Your doctor has ordered the drug asparaginase to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a large muscle or a vein.

This medication is used in combination with other chemotherapy to treat:

• acute lymphocytic leukemia

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Asparaginase resembles normal cell nutrients needed by cancer cells to grow. The cancer cells take up asparaginase, which then interferes with their growth. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.

Asparaginase is also used to treat the blast crisis phase of chronic myelogeous (myelocytic, myeloid) leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

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