Introduction of Vincristine Sulfate

Vincristine Sulfate is used to treat:

• leukemia
• Hodgkin's disease
• non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
• neuroblastoma
• rhabdomyosarcoma
• Wilms' tumor
• Kaposi's sarcoma related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Vincristine Sulfate is in a class of drugs known as vinca alkaloids. It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have. Vincristine Sulfate is also used to treat some types of sarcoma, small cell lung cancer, osteogenic sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, brain medulloblastoma, multiple myeloma, 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 Vincristine Sulfate

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

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

• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, liver, nerve, or muscle disease.

• tell your doctor if you are currently receiving radiation therapy.

• you should know that Vincristine Sulfate 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. Vincristine Sulfate may harm the fetus.

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

Side effects of Vincristine Sulfate

Side effects from Vincristine Sulfate are common and include:

• nausea and vomiting
• stomach pain and cramps
• constipation
• diarrhea
• jaw pain, headache, or other aches
• thinned or brittle hair

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:

• tingling, numbness, and cramping in the legs or arms for longer than a few days
• severe abdominal or muscle cramping
• difficulty walking
• hoarseness
• vision problems
• change in normal bowel habits for more than 2 days
• sore throat
• swelling of the feet and ankles
• 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.