Arranon

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Treatment & Uses
Side Effects
Treating Overdose
Safety Information
Before Using

Generic Name: nelarabine (nel AR a been)
Brand Names: Arranon

What is Arranon?

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Arranon (nelarabine) interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Arranon is used to treat T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Arranon may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Arranon

Arranon may cause serious side effects of the central nervous system, such as problems with balance, coordination, or fine motor skills. These symptoms may not go away even after you stop receiving Arranon. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about any possible long-term side effects.

Do not receive this medication if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Arranon can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill.

Arranon is given as an injection into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection while you are in a clinic or hospital setting. Arranon must be injected slowly through an IV needle. Each injection may take up to 2 hours to complete.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with Arranon, and avoid coming into contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you.

Arranon can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Before receiving Arranon

Do not receive Arranon if you are allergic to nelarabine.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication:

liver disease;
kidney disease;
a nerve disorder;
a history of radiation treatment of your head, neck, or spinal cord; or
a history of cancer medicine injected around your spinal cord.

FDA pregnancy category D. Arranon can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not receive Arranon if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are receiving this medication. It is not known whether nelarabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive Arranon without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I receive Arranon?

Arranon is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take up to 2 hours to complete.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your nervous system and kidney function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment to receive your Arranon injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Overdose can cause paralysis or coma.

What should I avoid while receiving Arranon?

Avoid coming into contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses during your treatment with Arranon. Nelarabine can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill.

Do not receive vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (a "live" vaccine) while you are being treated with Arranon. Avoid coming into contact with people who have recently been vaccinated with a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you.

Arranon can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Arranon side effects

Arranon may cause serious side effects of the central nervous system. These symptoms may not go away even after you stop receiving Arranon. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about any possible long-term side effects.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

confusion or clumsiness;
lack of balance or coordination;
weakness or trouble walking;
numbness and tingling in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes;
problems with buttoning clothes or picking up small items with your fingers;
blurred vision;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
seizure (convulsions);
black, bloody or tarry stools; or
fever, chills, or signs of infection.

Less serious Arranon side effects may include:

cough;
headache;
mild stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
redness, pain, or swelling where the IV needle was placed; or
weakness, dizziness, extreme sleepiness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Arranon?

Before receiving Arranon, tell your doctor if you are also using pentostatin (Nipent).

There may be other drugs that can interact with Arranon. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about Arranon.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.