Vinblastine Pregnancy and Breast Feeding Warnings

Vinblastine is also known as: Velban

Overview

Vinblastine has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while taking Vinblastine . If you think you may be pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Vinblastine during pregnancy. It is unknown if Vinblastine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Vinblastine .

Vinblastine Pregnancy Warnings

Vinblastine has been assigned to pregnancy category D by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence of teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Aspermia has been reported in males. Vinblastine should only be given during pregnancy when there are no safer alternatives and benefit outweighs risk. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, she should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while receiving this medication.

When administered as a part of combination antineoplastic therapy, vinblastine may produce gonadal dysfunction in men and women. Following first trimester exposure to vinblastine in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, two cases of malformed infants have been reported. The first case was spontaneously aborted with oligodactyly of both feet and webbing of the third and fourth toes, which was attributed to mechlorethamine therapy. In the second case, the newborn developed fatal respiratory distress syndrome and autopsy showed a small secundum atrial septal defect.

Vinblastine Lactation Warnings

There are no data on the excretion of vinblastine into human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions to vinblastine in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

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