nelarabine, an antineoplastic drug. ▪ INDICATIONS: This drug is used to treat T cell lymphoblastic leukemia and T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma after relapse or treatment failure with at least two chemotherapeutic agents. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pregnancy, severe neurotoxicity, and known hypersensitivity to this drug prohibit its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Adverse effects of this drug include dizziness; insomnia; rigors; peripheral neuropathy; confusion; headache; edema; leukopenia; anemia; decreased potassium, calcium magnesium, glucose, albumin, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase; hyperuricemia; increased glucose; myalgia; arthralgia; back pain; weakness; cough; dyspnea; wheezing; and epistaxis. Life-threatening side effects include seizures, paralysis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and pleural effusion. Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, stomatitis, and constipation.
