Vincristine Liposome Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 29, 2024.

Applies to vincristine liposome: intravenous suspension.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress closely and at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Receiving this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can bear children, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start receiving this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. This medicine may also cause birth defects if the father is receiving it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. Female patients should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose. Male patients who have female partners should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant or your partner has become pregnant while receiving this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor right away if you are having burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. These could be symptoms of a nerve problem called peripheral neuropathy.

If vincristine liposome accidentally leaks out of the vein where it is injected, it may damage the skin and cause tissue injury. Tell the doctor right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site.

Vincristine liposome can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

This medicine may cause a serious reaction called tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). Call your doctor right away if you have a change in how much or how often you urinate, rapid weight gain, muscle or joint pain, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or feel tired.

This medicine may cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or severe constipation. To prevent constipation, your doctor may direct you to take laxatives, drink fluids, or increase the fiber in your diet. Follow the directions carefully to prevent severe constipation.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may cause tiredness, numbness, or a tingling sensation. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before receiving this medicine. Some men and women receiving this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or non-prescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, vincristine liposome may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking vincristine liposome:

Other side effects

Some side effects of vincristine liposome 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to vincristine liposome: intravenous kit.

General adverse events

Side effects that have resulted in non-leukemia related deaths: Brain infarct, intracerebral hemorrhage, liver failure, multisystem organ failure, pneumonia and septic shock, respiratory failure, pulmonary hemorrhage, sudden cardiac death^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (52%), diarrhea (37%), decreased appetite (33%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, abdominal pain, ileus/colonic pseudo-obstruction^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypotension, cardiac arrest, vascular disorder^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Febrile neutropenia (38%), neutropenia (31.3%), anemia (34%), thrombocytopenia (16.9%)
• Frequency not reported: Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Increased aspartate aminotransferase, tumor lysis syndrome^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Asthenia, muscular weakness, musculoskeletal pain^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Peripheral neuropathy (39%), insomnia (32%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Peripheral sensory and motor neuropathy, decreased vibratory sense, facial palsy, hyporeflexia, asthenia^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Pyrexia (15%), fatigue (12%)^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Mental status changes^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Respiratory distress, respiratory failure, pneumonia^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Septic shock, staphylococcal bacteremia^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Extravasation tissue injury^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Hepatic toxicity^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Very common (10% or more): Pyrexia (43%), fatigue (41%)
• Frequency not reported: Pain, septic shock, staphylococcal bacteremia^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Vincristine liposome 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.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer