Oncaspar LYO (Pegaspargase)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Oncaspar LYO Used For?
Oncaspar LYO contains pegaspargase, which is a special form of an enzyme called asparaginase. This medication is used to treat leukaemia and belongs to a group of medicines called chemotherapy drugs.
Primary Uses
Oncaspar LYO is specifically used to treat leukaemia, a type of blood cancer.
How It Works
The enzyme pegaspargase breaks down asparagine, an important building block needed to make proteins. Normal cells can make asparagine for themselves, but some cancer cells cannot. By lowering asparagine levels in blood cancer cells, Oncaspar LYO stops the cancer from growing.
How to Take Oncaspar LYO
Oncaspar LYO must only be given by healthcare professionals who are specially trained in giving anticancer medicines. Treatment will normally take place in a hospital.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will decide the exact dose you receive and how often, based on your age, body weight, and height. Oncaspar LYO is given by injection into a muscle or, if not suitable, into a vein. It may be given in combination with other cancer drugs. Before receiving the injection, you might be given medicines like paracetamol and an antihistamine to help reduce your chances of allergic reactions.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Since Oncaspar LYO is given by healthcare professionals in a hospital setting, missing doses is unlikely. Keep all appointments with your doctor to ensure you receive treatment as scheduled.
Important: This medication can only be given by trained healthcare professionals in a hospital or clinic setting – you cannot take it at home.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea
- General weakness or weight loss
- Fever and flu-like symptoms
- Sleepiness, confusion
- Back, joint or abdominal pain
- Pain or swelling at injection site
- Mouth sores
- Palpitations
- Laboratory changes (elevated liver enzymes, blood sugar changes)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Severe allergic reactions (rash, itching, swelling, difficulty breathing)
- Severe stomach pain spreading to back (pancreatitis)
- Chest pain or shortness of breath (blood clots in lungs)
- Change in urine output, swelling of feet and ankles (kidney problems)
- Change in skin, urine or stool color (liver problems)
- Very high fever
- Violent shaking (seizures) and loss of consciousness
- Severe skin reaction (toxic epidermal necrolysis)
- Headaches, high blood pressure, visual disturbances
- Bone damage (osteonecrosis)
- Leg pain (possible blood clot)
Important Warnings
There are several important warnings and conditions that must be considered before using Oncaspar LYO.
Who Should Not Take Oncaspar LYO
Do not use if you are allergic to pegaspargase or any ingredients, have severe liver disease, have ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), have ever had blood clots following asparaginase therapy, or have ever had severe bleeding following asparaginase therapy.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have had serious allergic reactions to other forms of asparaginase, suffer from bleeding disorders or have had serious blood clots, have liver/lung/heart disease, have poor liver function, or if you experience fever (this medicine may make you more susceptible to infections). Also inform your doctor about any abdominal pain, as inflammation of the pancreas can occur and may be life-threatening if untreated.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Like most chemotherapy medicines, Oncaspar LYO is not recommended during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Men must also use effective contraception while being treated. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine, as the active ingredient may pass into breast milk and affect your baby.
Bone Damage Risk: A side effect called osteonecrosis (bone damage) has been reported in children and adolescents receiving Oncaspar LYO, with higher incidence seen in girls, especially when taken with glucocorticoids.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Oncaspar LYO and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking.
Important: Oncaspar LYO can cause changes in liver function which can affect how other medicines work.
- Live vaccines (within 3 months of completing leukaemia treatment)
- Other leukaemia or cancer medicines
- Blood thinning medicines (warfarin, heparin, dipyridamol, aspirin)
- Methotrexate (may have decreased effect)
- Prednisone (steroid medicine)
- Glucocorticoids (increased risk of bone damage in children and adolescents)
Alcohol & Driving
Oncaspar LYO may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
Information about alcohol interactions with Oncaspar LYO is not specifically provided in the source material. Discuss alcohol consumption with your doctor.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Do not drive or use machines when using Oncaspar LYO because it may make you feel drowsy, tired, or confused.
Temperature Regulation
No specific information about temperature regulation is provided in the source material.
Storage
You will not be asked to store Oncaspar LYO yourself. It will be stored in the hospital pharmacy or on the hospital/clinic ward by healthcare professionals.
Overdose Information
Since Oncaspar LYO is given under medical supervision in a hospital, overdose is very unlikely. However, if you experience severe side effects after receiving this medicine, tell your doctor or nurse immediately as you may need urgent medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Oncaspar LYO works by breaking down asparagine in cancer cells, stopping them from growing. Your doctor will monitor your response to treatment and adjust your treatment plan accordingly.
No, Oncaspar LYO must only be given by healthcare professionals trained in administering anticancer medicines in a hospital or clinic setting.
No, Oncaspar LYO is not addictive. It is a chemotherapy medicine used to treat leukaemia.
Keep all appointments with your doctor. If you miss an appointment, contact your healthcare team immediately to reschedule, as consistent treatment is important for managing leukaemia.
No, you should not receive live vaccines within 3 months of completing your leukaemia treatment, as this increases the risk of severe infections.
Seek urgent medical attention immediately. Severe stomach pain that may spread to your back could be a sign of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Yes, but there is an increased risk of bone damage (osteonecrosis) in children and adolescents, especially girls, particularly when taken with glucocorticoids. Any new bone pain should be reported to the doctor immediately.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.