Introduction of Vinblastine

Vinblastineis used to treat:

• Hodgkin's disease

• non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

• mycosis fungoides

• testicular cancer

• Kaposi's sarcoma related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

• Letterer-Siwe disease

Vinblastine is in a class of drugs known as vinca alkaloids. It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. Vinblastine is also used to treat non-small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer, head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Precautions Before Taking Vinblastine

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to vinblastine or any other drugs.

• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially aspirin, itraconazole , phenytoin, and vitamins.

• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.

• you should know that vinblastine may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Vinblastine may harm the fetus.

• do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.

Side effects of Vinblastine

Side effects from vinblastine are common and include:

• nausea and vomiting which usually lasts less than 24 hours

• stomach pain

• constipation

• diarrhea

• jaw pain, headache, or other aches

• thinned or brittle hair

• exposed areas of the skin may become easily sunburned

Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or lasts for several hours:

• fatigue

• mouth blistering

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• unusual bleeding or bruising
• tingling, numbness, and cramping in the legs or arms for longer than a few days
• severe abdominal or muscle cramping
• difficulty walking
• hoarseness
• fever
• chills
• change in normal bowel habits for more than 2 days
• sore throat or mouth
• difficulty controlling bladder
• increased, painful, or difficult urination
• redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site

Disclaimer:

Information on this page is provided for general information purposes. You should not make a clinical treatment decision based on information contained in this page without consulting other references including the package insert of the drug, textbooks and where relevant, expert opinion. We cannot be held responsible for any errors you make in administering drugs mentioned on this page, nor for use of any erroneous information contained on this page.