Vinblastine-injection

Vinblastine is used to treat cancer. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

This medication is given by injection into a vein by a health care professional. It is usually given once a week or as directed by your doctor. To prevent leakage of the medication into tissue around the vein, vinblastine should be injected over 1 minute. Tell your health care professional immediately if you experience pain, burning, or redness at the injection site. This medication should not be mixed in a large amount of solution and/or injected over a long time (such as 30 to 60 minutes) unless directed by your doctor. Doing so may increase the risk of leakage. If the medication starts to leak into tissue, the injection should be stopped and the remaining solution should be given into a different vein.The dosage is based on your medical condition, body size, and response to treatment. Your doctor will do blood tests (complete blood count) to find the right dose for you. Your next dose may need to be rescheduled if your white blood cell count is too low.Avoid getting this medication in your eye. If this occurs, wash the affected eye(s) well and contact your doctor.Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication. Doing so helps your kidneys to remove the drug from your body and avoid some of the side effects.

See also Warning section.Pain/redness at the injection site, nausea, vomiting, constipation, tiredness, and loss of appetite may occur. Nausea and vomiting can be severe. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting. Eating several small meals, not eating before treatment, or limiting activity may help lessen some of these effects. If these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.To reduce constipation, increase your intake of fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. Stool softeners may be helpful. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about stool softeners and laxatives.Temporary hair loss is another common side effect. Normal hair growth should return after treatment has ended.Many people using this medication may have serious side effects. However, your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your risk.Painful sores on the lips, mouth, and throat may occur. To decrease the risk, limit hot foods and drinks, brush your teeth carefully, avoid using mouthwash that contains alcohol, and rinse your mouth frequently with cool water.Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: easy bleeding/bruising, fast/pounding heartbeat, abdominal/stomach pain, bone/jaw pain, severe headache, hearing problems, unusual lumps/skin changes, dizziness/feeling of spinning, mental/mood changes (e.g., depression), pale/bluish fingers/toes, pain/coldness in fingers/toes, numbness/tingling, difficult/painful urination, pink/bloody urine.Get medical help right away if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: sudden shortness of breath/wheezing, black/tarry stools, chest/left arm pain, confusion, seizures, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, vision changes, vomit that looks like coffee grounds.This medication can lower the body's ability to fight an infection. Tell your doctor promptly if you develop any signs of an infection such as fever, chills, or persistent sore throat.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before using vinblastine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: bone marrow problems (e.g., low white count/platelets from previous chemotherapy/radiation treatment, tumor in the bone marrow), untreated bacterial infection.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially: blood vessel problems (e.g., blood clots, stroke, Raynaud's disease, varicose veins), heart disease (e.g., angina, heart attack), poor nutrition, liver disease, lung problems, stomach/intestinal sores (e.g., peptic ulcer), skin sores (ulcers).Wash your hands well to prevent the spread of infections. Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without the consent of your doctor, and avoid contact with people who have recently received oral polio vaccine or flu vaccine inhaled through the nose.To lower your risk of getting cut, bruised, or injured, use caution with sharp objects like razors and nail cutters, and avoid activities such as contact sports.This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly, especially if they have poor nutrition or skin sores, because they may be more sensitive to the risk of infection.This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm the unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately.It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Consult the product instructions and your pharmacist for storage details. Keep all medications away from children and pets.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

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Reviewed on 4/16/2014 References