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Nelarabine injection should be given only under the supervision of a doctor with experience in the use of chemotherapy medications for cancer.
Nelarabine may cause severe damage to your nervous system, which may not go away even when you stop using the medication. Tell your doctor if you have ever been treated with chemotherapy given directly into the fluid surrounding the brain or spine or radiation therapy to the brain and spine and if you have or have ever had any problems with your nervous system. A doctor or nurse will monitor you while you receive nelarabine injection and for at least 24 hours after each dose. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: extreme sleepiness; confusion; numbness and tingling in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes; problems with fine motor skills such as buttoning clothing; muscle weakness; unsteadiness while walking; weakness when standing up from a low chair or while climbing stairs; increased tripping while walking over uneven surfaces; uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body; decreased sense of touch; inability to move any part of the body; seizures; or coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time).
Talk to your doctor about the risks of using nelarabine.
WHY is this medicine prescribed?
Nelarabine is used to treat certain types of leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells) and lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system) that have not improved or that have come back after treatment with other medications. Nelarabine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It works by killing cancer cells.
HOW should this medicine be used?
Nelarabine injection comes as a liquid to be given intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or clinic. It is usually given to adults once a day on the first, third, and fifth days of the dosing cycle. It is usually given to children once a day for 5 days. This treatment is usually repeated every 21 days. Your doctor may delay your treatment if you experience certain side effects.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
Are there OTHER USES for this medication?
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS should I follow?
Before using nelarabine injection,
What SPECIAL DIETARY instructions should I follow?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
What should I do IF I FORGET to take a dose?
Call your doctor right away if you are unable to keep an appointment to receive a dose of nelarabine.
What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause?
Nelarabine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
Nelarabine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
What should I do in case of OVERDOSE?
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at http://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of overdose may include the following:
What OTHER INFORMATION should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to nelarabine.
Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.
This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.
AHFS® Patient Medication Information™ Copyright, 2025. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists®, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.
Selected Revisions: February 15, 2019.