Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For rasburicase, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to rasburicase. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, dyes, fungi or yeasts. Tell your doctor if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, dizziness or lightheadedness, hives or skin rash during treatment with rasburicase.

Pregnancy—Studies on the effects in pregnancy have not been done in either animals or humans. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether rasburicase passes into breast milk. Mothers who are taking this medicine and wish to breast feed should discuss this with their health care professional.

Children—This medicine has been tested in children (1 month to 17 years of age). Children less than 2 years of age may be at increased risk for adverse effects.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work the same way that they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of rasburicase in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Note:

Patients of African or Mediterranean ancestry should be tested for glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. These patients may be at increased risk for severe hemolysis.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of rasburicase. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reaction, or a sudden, severe allergic reaction (or history of) or
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (a hereditary metabolic disorder affecting red blood cells) or
• Hemolytic reactions (or history of) or
• Methemoglobinemia reactions (or history of)—Rasburicase should not be used if you have or have had any of these medical problems

• Tumor lysis syndrome, risk of—Fluids may be injected into the vein.