vinblastine
Generic Name: vinblastine (vin BLAS teen)
Brand Names: Velban
What is vinblastine?
Vinblastine is cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Vinblastine interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Vinblastine is used to treat some types of lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, testicular cancer, breast cancer, choriocarcinoma, mycosis fungoides, Kaposi's sarcoma, and Letterer-Siwe disease.
Vinblastine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about vinblastine?
Vinblastine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of vinblastine including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection); severe nausea, vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with vinblastine.
Who should not use vinblastine?
Do not use vinblastine without first talking to your doctor if you have- liver disease;
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lung problems;
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any type of infection; or
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blood or bone marrow problems.
The use of vinblastine may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Vinblastine is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that vinblastine is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use vinblastine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures are recommended during treatment with vinblastine. It is not know whether vinblastine passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding should be avoided during treatment with vinblastine.How should I use vinblastine?
Vinblastine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the place of injection or anywhere else on your skin.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with vinblastine depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with vinblastine to monitor progress and side effects.
Your healthcare provider will store vinblastine as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing vinblastine at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of vinblastine.
What happens if I overdose?
If, for any reason, an overdose of vinblastine is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.Symptoms of a vinblastine overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication, although often more severe.
What should I avoid while using vinblastine?
Vinblastine can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with vinblastine. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
Talk to your doctor before taking glutamic acid or tryptophan as they may interfere with the action of vinblastine.
Vinblastine side effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects from vinblastine, contact your doctor immediately:
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an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
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decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or sore throat, fever, chills, or signs of infection);
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nerve problems (numbness, tingling, or burning in hands or feet);
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soreness or inflammation or the mouth or sores on the lips or inside the mouth; or
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pain, redness, or burning at the injection site.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue taking vinblastine and talk to your doctor if you experience:
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hair loss;
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jaw pain;
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pain in the organs containing the cancer;
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nausea, vomiting, constipation, or loss of appetite;
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depression;
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headache;
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dizziness or vertigo;
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hearing loss or changes in hearing;
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weakness; or
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tiredness.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Vinblastine Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Breast Cancer:
Initial Dose: 3.7 mg/m2 intravenously over approximately one minute, once.
Because of the variation in the depth of the leukopenic response following therapy, the manufacturer recommends that vinblastine not be given more frequently than once every 7 days. However, there are several multiple day regimens where the dose is split into several consecutive days.
The manufacturer outlines the following conservative incremental approach to dosage at weekly intervals for adults. Therapy may be continued at 5.5 mg/m2 for the second dose, 7.4 mg/m2 for the third dose, 9.25 mg/m2 for the fourth dose, and 11.1 mg/m2 for the fifth dose. This progression may be followed up to a maximum dosage of 18.5 mg/m2. Dosage regimens may vary in clinical practice according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used.
White blood cell counts should be obtained just prior to dosage administration. The nadir in the white blood cell count is generally observed from 5 to 10 days following the dosage. Recovery to pretreatment levels is usually observed from 7 to 14 days after treatment. If a dose reduces the white cell count to approximately 3,000 cells/mm3, the next dose should not be given until the white cell count has returned to at least 4,000/mm3. The previous dosage increment may then be administered at weekly intervals for maintenance. In some cases, oncolytic activity may be encountered before leukopenic effect. When this occurs, there is no need to increase subsequent doses.
The manufacturer states that the use of small amounts of vinblastine daily for long periods of time is not advisable and that strict adherence to the recommended dosage schedule is very important.
The duration of maintenance therapy varies according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used. Prolonged chemotherapy for maintaining remissions involves several risks, including life-threatening infectious diseases, sterility and the appearance of other cancers through suppression of immune surveillance. These risks must be balanced with potential benefits of therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Kaposi's Sarcoma:
Initial Dose: 3.7 mg/m2 intravenously over approximately one minute, once.
Because of the variation in the depth of the leukopenic response following therapy, the manufacturer recommends that vinblastine not be given more frequently than once every 7 days. However, there are several multiple day regimens where the dose is split into several consecutive days.
The manufacturer outlines the following conservative incremental approach to dosage at weekly intervals for adults. Therapy may be continued at 5.5 mg/m2 for the second dose, 7.4 mg/m2 for the third dose, 9.25 mg/m2 for the fourth dose, and 11.1 mg/m2 for the fifth dose. This progression may be followed up to a maximum dosage of 18.5 mg/m2. Dosage regimens may vary in clinical practice according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used.
White blood cell counts should be obtained just prior to dosage administration. The nadir in the white blood cell count is generally observed from 5 to 10 days following the dosage. Recovery to pretreatment levels is usually observed from 7 to 14 days after treatment. If a dose reduces the white cell count to approximately 3,000 cells/mm3, the next dose should not be given until the white cell count has returned to at least 4,000/mm3. The previous dosage increment may then be administered at weekly intervals for maintenance. In some cases, oncolytic activity may be encountered before leukopenic effect. When this occurs, there is no need to increase subsequent doses.
The manufacturer states that the use of small amounts of vinblastine daily for long periods of time is not advisable and that strict adherence to the recommended dosage schedule is very important.
The duration of maintenance therapy varies according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used. Prolonged chemotherapy for maintaining remissions involves several risks, including life-threatening infectious diseases, sterility and the appearance of other cancers through suppression of immune surveillance. These risks must be balanced with potential benefits of therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Testicular Cancer:
Initial Dose: 3.7 mg/m2 intravenously over approximately one minute, once.
Because of the variation in the depth of the leukopenic response following therapy, the manufacturer recommends that vinblastine not be given more frequently than once every 7 days. However, there are several multiple day regimens where the dose is split into several consecutive days.
The manufacturer outlines the following conservative incremental approach to dosage at weekly intervals for adults. Therapy may be continued at 5.5 mg/m2 for the second dose, 7.4 mg/m2 for the third dose, 9.25 mg/m2 for the fourth dose, and 11.1 mg/m2 for the fifth dose. This progression may be followed up to a maximum dosage of 18.5 mg/m2. Dosage regimens may vary in clinical practice according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used.
White blood cell counts should be obtained just prior to dosage administration. The nadir in the white blood cell count is generally observed from 5 to 10 days following the dosage. Recovery to pretreatment levels is usually observed from 7 to 14 days after treatment. If a dose reduces the white cell count to approximately 3,000 cells/mm3, the next dose should not be given until the white cell count has returned to at least 4,000/mm3. The previous dosage increment may then be administered at weekly intervals for maintenance. In some cases, oncolytic activity may be encountered before leukopenic effect. When this occurs, there is no need to increase subsequent doses.
The manufacturer states that the use of small amounts of vinblastine daily for long periods of time is not advisable and that strict adherence to the recommended dosage schedule is very important.
The duration of maintenance therapy varies according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used. Prolonged chemotherapy for maintaining remissions involves several risks, including life-threatening infectious diseases, sterility and the appearance of other cancers through suppression of immune surveillance. These risks must be balanced with potential benefits of therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Hodgkin's Disease:
Initial Dose: 3.7 mg/m2 intravenously over approximately one minute, once.
Because of the variation in the depth of the leukopenic response following therapy, the manufacturer recommends that vinblastine not be given more frequently than once every 7 days. However, there are several multiple day regimens where the dose is split into several consecutive days.
The manufacturer outlines the following conservative incremental approach to dosage at weekly intervals for adults. Therapy may be continued at 5.5 mg/m2 for the second dose, 7.4 mg/m2 for the third dose, 9.25 mg/m2 for the fourth dose, and 11.1 mg/m2 for the fifth dose. This progression may be followed up to a maximum dosage of 18.5 mg/m2. Dosage regimens may vary in clinical practice according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used.
White blood cell counts should be obtained just prior to dosage administration. The nadir in the white blood cell count is generally observed from 5 to 10 days following the dosage. Recovery to pretreatment levels is usually observed from 7 to 14 days after treatment. If a dose reduces the white cell count to approximately 3,000 cells/mm3, the next dose should not be given until the white cell count has returned to at least 4,000/mm3. The previous dosage increment may then be administered at weekly intervals for maintenance. In some cases, oncolytic activity may be encountered before leukopenic effect. When this occurs, there is no need to increase subsequent doses.
The manufacturer states that the use of small amounts of vinblastine daily for long periods of time is not advisable and that strict adherence to the recommended dosage schedule is very important.
The duration of maintenance therapy varies according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used. Prolonged chemotherapy for maintaining remissions involves several risks, including life-threatening infectious diseases, sterility and the appearance of other cancers through suppression of immune surveillance. These risks must be balanced with potential benefits of therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Mycosis Fungoides:
Initial Dose: 3.7 mg/m2 intravenously over approximately one minute, once.
Because of the variation in the depth of the leukopenic response following therapy, the manufacturer recommends that vinblastine not be given more frequently than once every 7 days. However, there are several multiple day regimens where the dose is split into several consecutive days.
The manufacturer outlines the following conservative incremental approach to dosage at weekly intervals for adults. Therapy may be continued at 5.5 mg/m2 for the second dose, 7.4 mg/m2 for the third dose, 9.25 mg/m2 for the fourth dose, and 11.1 mg/m2 for the fifth dose. This progression may be followed up to a maximum dosage of 18.5 mg/m2. Dosage regimens may vary in clinical practice according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used.
White blood cell counts should be obtained just prior to dosage administration. The nadir in the white blood cell count is generally observed from 5 to 10 days following the dosage. Recovery to pretreatment levels is usually observed from 7 to 14 days after treatment. If a dose reduces the white cell count to approximately 3,000 cells/mm3, the next dose should not be given until the white cell count has returned to at least 4,000/mm3. The previous dosage increment may then be administered at weekly intervals for maintenance. In some cases, oncolytic activity may be encountered before leukopenic effect. When this occurs, there is no need to increase subsequent doses.
The manufacturer states that the use of small amounts of vinblastine daily for long periods of time is not advisable and that strict adherence to the recommended dosage schedule is very important.
The duration of maintenance therapy varies according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used. Prolonged chemotherapy for maintaining remissions involves several risks, including life-threatening infectious diseases, sterility and the appearance of other cancers through suppression of immune surveillance. These risks must be balanced with potential benefits of therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Choriocarcinoma:
Initial Dose: 3.7 mg/m2 intravenously over approximately one minute, once.
Because of the variation in the depth of the leukopenic response following therapy, the manufacturer recommends that vinblastine not be given more frequently than once every 7 days. However, there are several multiple day regimens where the dose is split into several consecutive days.
The manufacturer outlines the following conservative incremental approach to dosage at weekly intervals for adults. Therapy may be continued at 5.5 mg/m2 for the second dose, 7.4 mg/m2 for the third dose, 9.25 mg/m2 for the fourth dose, and 11.1 mg/m2 for the fifth dose. This progression may be followed up to a maximum dosage of 18.5 mg/m2. Dosage regimens may vary in clinical practice according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used.
White blood cell counts should be obtained just prior to dosage administration. The nadir in the white blood cell count is generally observed from 5 to 10 days following the dosage. Recovery to pretreatment levels is usually observed from 7 to 14 days after treatment. If a dose reduces the white cell count to approximately 3,000 cells/mm3, the next dose should not be given until the white cell count has returned to at least 4,000/mm3. The previous dosage increment may then be administered at weekly intervals for maintenance. In some cases, oncolytic activity may be encountered before leukopenic effect. When this occurs, there is no need to increase subsequent doses.
The manufacturer states that the use of small amounts of vinblastine daily for long periods of time is not advisable and that strict adherence to the recommended dosage schedule is very important.
The duration of maintenance therapy varies according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used. Prolonged chemotherapy for maintaining remissions involves several risks, including life-threatening infectious diseases, sterility and the appearance of other cancers through suppression of immune surveillance. These risks must be balanced with potential benefits of therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Lymphoma:
Initial Dose: 3.7 mg/m2 intravenously over approximately one minute, once.
Because of the variation in the depth of the leukopenic response following therapy, the manufacturer recommends that vinblastine not be given more frequently than once every 7 days. However, there are several multiple day regimens where the dose is split into several consecutive days.
The manufacturer outlines the following conservative incremental approach to dosage at weekly intervals for adults. Therapy may be continued at 5.5 mg/m2 for the second dose, 7.4 mg/m2 for the third dose, 9.25 mg/m2 for the fourth dose, and 11.1 mg/m2 for the fifth dose. This progression may be followed up to a maximum dosage of 18.5 mg/m2. Dosage regimens may vary in clinical practice according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used.
White blood cell counts should be obtained just prior to dosage administration. The nadir in the white blood cell count is generally observed from 5 to 10 days following the dosage. Recovery to pretreatment levels is usually observed from 7 to 14 days after treatment. If a dose reduces the white cell count to approximately 3,000 cells/mm3, the next dose should not be given until the white cell count has returned to at least 4,000/mm3. The previous dosage increment may then be administered at weekly intervals for maintenance. In some cases, oncolytic activity may be encountered before leukopenic effect. When this occurs, there is no need to increase subsequent doses.
The manufacturer states that the use of small amounts of vinblastine daily for long periods of time is not advisable and that strict adherence to the recommended dosage schedule is very important.
The duration of maintenance therapy varies according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used. Prolonged chemotherapy for maintaining remissions involves several risks, including life-threatening infectious diseases, sterility and the appearance of other cancers through suppression of immune surveillance. These risks must be balanced with potential benefits of therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Histiocytosis:
Initial Dose: 3.7 mg/m2 intravenously over approximately one minute, once.
Because of the variation in the depth of the leukopenic response following therapy, the manufacturer recommends that vinblastine not be given more frequently than once every 7 days. However, there are several multiple day regimens where the dose is split into several consecutive days.
The manufacturer outlines the following conservative incremental approach to dosage at weekly intervals for adults. Therapy may be continued at 5.5 mg/m2 for the second dose, 7.4 mg/m2 for the third dose, 9.25 mg/m2 for the fourth dose, and 11.1 mg/m2 for the fifth dose. This progression may be followed up to a maximum dosage of 18.5 mg/m2. Dosage regimens may vary in clinical practice according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used.
White blood cell counts should be obtained just prior to dosage administration. The nadir in the white blood cell count is generally observed from 5 to 10 days following the dosage. Recovery to pretreatment levels is usually observed from 7 to 14 days after treatment. If a dose reduces the white cell count to approximately 3,000 cells/mm3, the next dose should not be given until the white cell count has returned to at least 4,000/mm3. The previous dosage increment may then be administered at weekly intervals for maintenance. In some cases, oncolytic activity may be encountered before leukopenic effect. When this occurs, there is no need to increase subsequent doses.
The manufacturer states that the use of small amounts of vinblastine daily for long periods of time is not advisable and that strict adherence to the recommended dosage schedule is very important.
The duration of maintenance therapy varies according to the disease being treated and the combination of antineoplastic agents being used. Prolonged chemotherapy for maintaining remissions involves several risks, including life-threatening infectious diseases, sterility and the appearance of other cancers through suppression of immune surveillance. These risks must be balanced with potential benefits of therapy.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Malignant Disease:
Hodgkin's disease: 2.5 to 6 mg/m2/day once every one to two weeks for three to six weeks. The maximum weekly dose is 12.5 mg/m2.
Histiocytosis: 0.4 mg/kg once every seven to ten days.
Germ cell tumor: 0.2 mg/kg on days one and two of the cycle every three weeks for four cycles.
What other drugs will affect vinblastine?
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with vinblastine. Administration of a live vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with vinblastine.Many drugs may interact with vinblastine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with vinblastine.
Where can I get more information?
- Your healthcare provider may have additional information about vinblastine that you may read.
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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More vinblastine resources
vinblastine Intravenous - Includes detailed dosage instructions.
Compare vinblastine with other medications for the treatment of:
Cancer, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Testicular Cancer, Breast Cancer, Kaposi's Sarcoma, Lymphoma, Histiocytosis, Mycosis Fungoides, Choriocarcinoma
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