Asparaginase, an anticancer drug, lessens L-asparagine levels by catalyzing the deamidation of amino acid to ammonia and aspartic acid. This leads to hindered growth of leukemic cells, which need asparagine synthetase and rely on external asparagine. This drug is obtained from E coli as the enzyme colaspase (unconjugated) and as pegaspargase (conjugated with polyethylene glycol), or from Erwinia chrysanthemi as crisantaspase.
Use this medication precisely as recommended by your physician. Follow the prescription of your doctor carefully.
The medication dose your physician has given is based on your condition, other medications or food supplements you may take, and your reaction to treatment. To diminish your risks for adverse effects, don’t increase your dosage, take it regularly, or take it as instructed by your physician. Adverse events may still happen even at usual prescription dosages.
If your physician requests you to use this drug consistently, use it regularly to get the most benefits from it. To make you remember it better, take it at a fixed time every day.
Your doctor may need to modify your dosages to ease your symptoms or if you develop adverse reactions.
If you have any inquiries with regards to information, ask your physician or pharmacist.