Vinblastine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 23, 2024.

Applies to vinblastine: intravenous solution.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Intravenous route (solution; powder for solution)

For intravenous use only; fatal if given by other routes.

To reduce the potential for fatal medication errors due to incorrect route of administration proper dilution, product labeling and packaging is necessary.

Intravenous needle or catheter must be properly positioned before any vinBLAStine is injected, as leakage into the surrounding tissue may cause considerable irritation.

If extravasation occurs, the injection should be discontinued immediately, and any remaining portion of the dose should then be introduced into another vein.

Along with their needed effects, medicines like vinblastine can sometimes cause unwanted effects such as blood problems, loss of hair, and other side effects. These and other effects are described below. Also, because of the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking vinblastine:

More frequent

• Cough or hoarseness accompanied by fever or chills
• fever or chills
• lower back or side pain accompanied by fever or chills
• painful or difficult urination accompanied by fever or chills

Less common

• Blood in urine or stools
• pain or redness at place of injection
• pinpoint red spots on skin
• unusual bleeding or bruising

Rare

• Black, tarry stools

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking vinblastine:

Less common

• Joint pain
• sores in mouth and on lips
• swelling of feet or lower legs

Rare

• Difficulty in walking
• dizziness
• double vision
• drooping eyelids
• headache
• jaw pain
• mental depression
• numbness or tingling in fingers and toes
• pain in fingers and toes
• pain in testicles
• weakness

Other side effects of vinblastine

Some side effects of vinblastine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

• bone or muscle pain
• nausea and vomiting

This medicine often causes a temporary loss of hair. After treatment with vinblastine has ended, or sometimes even during treatment, normal hair growth should return.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to vinblastine: intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution.

Cardiovascular

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, transient abnormalities of ECG related to coronary ischemia
• Frequency not reported: Hypertension, cerebrovascular accident/Raynaud's phenomenon (in patients undergoing combination chemotherapy with vinblastine, bleomycin and cisplatin)^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Alopecia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Light sensitivity
• Frequency not reported: Skin vesiculation, extravasation during IV injection (may lead to cellulitis, phlebitis, or sloughing), blisters^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Acute shortness of breath, bronchospasm^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Frequency not reported: Constipation, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, ileus, vesiculation of the mouth, pharyngitis, diarrhea, hemorrhagic enterocolitis, bleeding from an old peptic ulcer, rectal bleeding, stomatitis^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Leukopenia (granulocytopenia), anemia, thrombocytopenia (myelosuppression)^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Bone pain, jaw pain^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Vestibular and auditory damage to the eighth cranial nerve (causing partial or total deafness which may be temporary or permanent)

Very rare (less than 0.01%):

• Frequency not reported: Paresthesias, loss of deep tendon reflexes, peripheral neuritis, headache, convulsions, nystagmus, vertigo, dizziness, numbness^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Malaise, weakness, pain in the tumor-containing tissue^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Depression^[Ref]

Further information

Vinblastine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer