Rylaze (Asparaginase Erwinia Chrysanthemi [Recombinant]-rywn): Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

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Overview: Rylaze is used to treat certain people with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma. It is given by a health care provider as an injection into a muscle. Common side effects include changes in certain lab tests, nausea, infection, muscle or bone pain, tiredness, headache, and fever. Keep all appointments, including for blood tests, while you are using Rylaze. Tell your health care provider right away or get emergency help if you have yellowing of your skin or eyes, severe stomach pain, unusual bleeding or bruising, a severe headache, arm or leg swelling, or chest pain. These could be signs of a serious side effect.

Uses

What is Rylaze used for?

Rylaze (asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi [recombinant]-rywn) is commonly used to treat certain people with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL). Both ALL and LBL are types of blood cancer.

Rylaze may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does Rylaze work (mechanism of action)?

Rylaze is a form of an enzyme called asparaginase. This enzyme breaks down asparagine, which is an amino acid (a building block of protein). Some cancer cells need asparagine to grow and survive. By breaking down asparagine, Rylaze is thought to lower asparagine levels and help kill certain cancer cells.

How is Rylaze supplied (dosage forms)?

Rylaze is available in an injectable form that is given by a health care provider.

How should I store Rylaze?

Rylaze is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. You will not store it at home.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Rylaze?

The most common side effects of Rylaze are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

Changes in certain liver tests, which could be a sign of liver damage (see below)
Nausea
Muscle or bone pain
Infection
Tiredness
Headache
Fever, including fever with low levels of a type of white blood cell (febrile neutropenia)
Bleeding (see below)
Mouth sores
Stomach pain
Decreased appetite
Allergic reactions (see below)
High blood sugar
Diarrhea
Inflammation of the pancreas (see below)
Low potassium levels

There may be other side effects of Rylaze that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Rylaze?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Rylaze are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Rylaze may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. This may happen even after receiving many doses of Rylaze. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

Breathing problems or wheezing
Racing heart
Fever or general ill feeling
Swollen lymph nodes
Swelling of the face, lips, eyes, mouth, tongue, or throat
Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
Itching or skin rash
Bumps on the skin called hives, which can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
Stomach cramps
Joint pain

Inflammation of the Pancreas (Pancreatitis). Rylaze may cause inflammation of the pancreas, which is called pancreatitis. Call your health care provider right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis, including vomiting or severe stomach pain, such as pain in the upper part of your belly that travels to your back.

Blood Clots. Rylaze may cause a blood clot in your arteries or veins and could cause a stroke, heart attack, or venous thromboembolism, including a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Get emergency help if you have any of the following signs of blood clots.

Chest pain or pressure
Fast or abnormal heartbeat
Trouble breathing
Pain in your back, jaw, throat, or arm
Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness
Sudden weakness on one side of your body
Sudden and severe headache
Slurred speech or trouble understanding speech
Pain, swelling, or tenderness in your arm or leg
Vision loss
Bulging eyes
Double vision

Severe Bleeding. Rylaze can commonly cause bleeding and may increase your risk of severe bleeding. Some people with serious bleeding may need a blood transfusion or surgery. Call your health care provider right away if you have any unusual bruising or bleeding, such as nosebleeds, or any of the following signs of severe bleeding.

Pink, red, or brown urine (pee)
Vomit with blood that looks like coffee grounds
Red or black stools (looks like tar)
Coughing up blood or blood clots

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when using Rylaze. Rylaze may also increase the risk of blocked blood vessels in the liver, which can be life-threatening. Keep all appointments for blood tests while using Rylaze. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

Nausea or vomiting
Feeling full or having stomach or belly pain or tenderness
Fever
Weakness or unusual tiredness
Itching
Loss of appetite
Light-colored poop
Dark-colored urine (pee)
Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish (also called jaundice)
Fast weight gain
Fluid retention or a buildup of fluid in in the belly (ascites)
Easy bruising or bleeding

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Rylaze?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use Rylaze.

Asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi (recombinant)-rywn
Erwinia asparaginase
Rylaze
Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Rylaze.

Prior Problems With L-Asparaginase. Rylaze should not be used if you have used a medicine called L-asparaginase (also called asparaginase) in the past and had a serious blood clot, bleeding, or an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis). Rylaze is a form of L-asparaginase. Tell your health care provider if you have had any problems with L-asparaginase in the past.

Liver Problems. Rylaze should not be used if your liver is not working as well as it should be. If there is a concern about the health of your liver, your health care provider may do tests to see if it is working well enough to take this medicine.

What should I know about Rylaze before using it?

Rylaze is usually given as an injection into a muscle (intramuscularly, or IM) by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic.

Your health care provider may give you medicines to help reduce the risk of certain side effects from Rylaze. Take these medicines exactly as your health care provider recommends.

Keep all appointments, including for blood tests, with your health care provider. This will help them know if it is safe for you to keep using this medicine.

What should I tell my health care provider before using Rylaze?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if Rylaze is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

Liver problems
Pancreas problems
Problems with bleeding or blood clots

Other Medicines and Supplements. Rylaze may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using Rylaze, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. Rylaze may cause harm to a fetus. Your health care provider may do a test to make sure you are not pregnant before starting Rylaze. If you can get pregnant, you should use effective nonhormonal birth control while using Rylaze and for three months after your last dose. Tell your health care provider right away if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Do not breastfeed while using Rylaze and for one week after your last dose. It is not known if Rylaze passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

How can I get more information about Rylaze?

For more information about Rylaze, you can visit the drugmaker’s website at www.rylaze.com or call them at 800-520-5568.

Interactions

Does Rylaze interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between Rylaze and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Rylaze, but heavy drinking can slow your immune response and make it harder for your body to fight cancer.

Does Rylaze interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using a birth control pill, patch, vaginal ring, implant, injection, or intrauterine device (IUD) that contains hormones before using Rylaze.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Rylaze. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker