Vincristine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 11, 2024.

Applies to vincristine: intravenous solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that vincristine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

While you are being treated with vincristine, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Vincristine may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. Other people living in your household should not take or should not have recently taken oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid other persons who have taken oral polio vaccine. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

If vincristine accidentally seeps out of the vein into which it is injected, it may damage some tissues and cause scarring. Tell the doctor or nurse right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the place of injection.

Along with their needed effects, medicines like vincristine can sometimes cause unwanted effects such as blood problems, nervous system problems, loss of hair, and other side effects. These and others 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. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

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

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

Other side effects of vincristine

Some side effects of vincristine 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:

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. This medicine often causes a temporary loss of hair. After treatment with vincristine has ended, or sometimes even during treatment, normal hair growth should return.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to vincristine: compounding powder, intravenous solution.

General adverse events

In general, adverse reactions are reversible and are related to dosage size and cumulative dosage. The use of small amounts of this drug daily for long periods is not advised. The most common adverse reaction is alopecia; the most troublesome adverse reactions are neuromuscular in origin.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Alopecia^[Ref]

Respiratory

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

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Constipation (may take the form of upper colon impaction), paralytic ileus, abdominal cramps
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, stomatitis, oral ulceration, intestinal necrosis and/or perforation, abdominal cramps, abdominal distension, weight loss
• Frequency not reported: Paralytic ileus (particularly in young children and in the elderly), pancreatitis^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Hypertension, hypotension^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Transient cortical blindness, optic atrophy with blindness, diplopia, ptosis, photophobia, visual hallucinations^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Polyuria, oliguria, nocturia, dysuria, urinary retention, testicular pain^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Frequency not reported: Second malignancies^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Allergic-type reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis)^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Hepatic veno-occlusive disease, hepatitis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Neurotoxicity is the most common dose-limiting side effect of this drug. Frequently, there is a sequence to the development of neuromuscular side effects. Initially, only sensory impairment and paresthesia

may develop. With continued treatment, neuritic pain and later, motor difficulties may occur. Loss of deep-tendon reflexes, foot drop, wrist drop, ataxia, and paralysis have been reported with continued administration. Cranial nerve manifestations, including isolated paresis and/or paralysis of muscles controlled by cranial motor nerves, may occur in the absence of motor impairment elsewhere; extra-ocular and laryngeal muscles are those most commonly involved. Numbness of the fingers and toes, atrophy, cramps, slapping gait, and difficulty in walking or inability to walk, may occur. Jaw pain, pharyngeal pain, parotid gland pain, bone pain, back pain, limb pain, and myalgias have been reported; pain in these areas may be severe.^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Depression, agitation, insomnia, hallucinations^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Seizures^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What are CHOP and R-CHOP chemotherapy regimens?

Further information

Vincristine 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