What Is Rasburicase and How Does It Work?
Rasburicase is a prescription used for treating the symptoms of hyperuricemia caused by tumor lysis.
- Rasburicase is available under the following different brand names: Elitek
What Are Dosages of Rasburicase
Adult and pediatric dosage
Injection, powder for reconstitution
- 1.5mg/vial
- 7.5 mg/vial
Hyperuricemia Caused by Tumor Lysis
Adult and pediatric dosage
- 0.2 mg/kg IV infused over 30 minutes every day for up to 5 days
Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:
- See “Dosages”
What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Rasburicase?
Common side effects of the Rasburicase include:
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- stomach pain,
- diarrhea,
- constipation,
- anxiety,
- headache,
- abnormal liver function tests,
- decreased phosphate levels,
- throat pain,
- fever, and
- swelling in the hands or feet.
Serious side effects of the Rasburicase include:
- hives,
- difficulty breathing,
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
- severe dizziness,
- rash,
- chest pain and tightness,
- lightheadedness,
- pale or yellowed skin,
- dark-colored urine,
- sores or white patches in or around the mouth,
- trouble swallowing or talking,
- dry mouth,
- bad breath,
- altered sense of taste,
- fever,
- flu symptoms,
- rapid heart rate,
- rapid and shallow breathing,
- fainting,
- blue-colored skin or lips,
- headache,
- weakness,
- tiredness,
- pounding heartbeats, and
- fluttering in the chest.
Rare side effects of the Rasburicase include:
- none
This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What Other Drugs Interact with Rasburicase?
If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.
- Rasburicase has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs.
- Rasburicase has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs.
- Rasburicase has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs.
- Rasburicase has no noted minor interactions with any other drugs.
This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.
What Are Warnings and Precautions for Rasburicase?
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity
- G6PD deficiency
- History of hemolysis or methemoglobinemia reactions to rasburicase
Effects of drug abuse
- None
Short-Term Effects
- See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Rasburicase?”
Long-Term Effects
- See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Rasburicase?”
Cautions
- Hypersensitivity reactions can occur at any time during treatment including the first dose; signs and symptoms of these reactions include bronchospasm, chest pain and tightness, dyspnea, hypoxia, hypotension, shock, and urticaria; immediately and permanently discontinue administration in any patient developing clinical evidence of a serious hypersensitivity reaction; safety and efficacy have been established only for a single course of treatment once daily for 5 days
- Screen patients for G6PD deficiency (eg, patients of African or Mediterranean ancestry); contraindicated in patients with G6PD deficiency because hydrogen peroxide is one of the major by-products of the conversion of uric acid to allantoin; severe hemolytic reactions may occur within 2-4 days of the start of therapy; immediately and permanently discontinue therapy in any patient developing hemolysis; institute appropriate patient monitoring and support measures (eg, transfusion support)
- Patients should receive adequate hydration as part of uric acid management
- Efficacy may be reduced with subsequent courses of therapy due to its immunogenic characteristics; can elicit an antibody response
- Methemoglobinemia has included cases of serious hypoxemia requiring intervention with medical support measures; not known whether patients with deficiency of cytochrome b5 reductase (formerly known as methemoglobin reductase) or of other enzymes with antioxidant activity are at increased risk for methemoglobinemia or hemolytic anemia; immediately and permanently discontinue therapy in any patient identified as having developed methemoglobinemia; institute appropriate monitoring and support measures (eg, transfusion support, methylene-blue administration)
- Interferes with serum uric acid measurement unless blood sample chilled immediately and assayed within 4 hours
Pregnancy and Lactation
- The limited available data on pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal-fetal outcomes; consider the benefits and risks of therapy and possible risks to the fetus when prescribing therapy to a pregnant woman
- Lactation
- There are no available data on the presence of drugs in human breast milk, effects on the breastfed child, or milk production; because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment, and for 2 weeks after the last dose