Vinorelbine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 27, 2024.

Applies to vinorelbine: intravenous solution.

Precautions

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

Receiving this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. It may also cause birth defects if the father is receiving it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. Female patients should use effective birth control during treatment with this medicine and for 6 months after the last dose. Male patients who have female partners should use effective birth control during treatment with this medicine and for 3 months after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while receiving this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Vinorelbine 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 infection. 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 have 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 can occur.

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 severe constipation, stomach or bowel blockage, or perforation, which can be life-threatening. Check with your doctor right away if you have stomach cramps or pain, black, tarry stools, diarrhea, fever, or severe vomiting, sometimes with blood.

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

Check with your doctor right away if you have burning, tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs ,sensation of pins and needles, stabbing pain, or muscle weakness. These may be signs of a brain or nerve problem.

Serious lung or breathing problems (eg, bronchospasm, interstitial pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome) may occur after you get a shot of this medicine into one of your muscles. Call your doctor right away if have any changes in your breathing after you receive this medicine.

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

Serious side effects of vinorelbine

Along with its needed effects, vinorelbine 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 vinorelbine:

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking vinorelbine:

Symptoms of overdose

• chest pain
• chills
• confusion
• fainting
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• lightheadedness
• lower back or side pain
• painful or difficult urination
• partial or slight paralysis
• rapid, shallow breathing
• severe constipation
• severe stomach pain
• severe vomiting
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swollen glands
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Other side effects of vinorelbine

Some side effects of vinorelbine 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 vinorelbine: intravenous solution.

Hematologic adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Neutropenia (89%), anemia (89%), leukopenia (88%), thrombocytopenia (29%)
• Frequency not reported: Febrile neutropenia^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): AST increased (67%), bilirubin increased (13%)^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (44%), constipation (35%), vomiting (20%), diarrhea (17%), stomatitis (15%), abdominal pain
• Common (1% to 10%): Esophagitis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Paralytic ileus, pancreatitis
• Frequency not reported: GI bleeding^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Injection site reactions (e.g., erythema, burning sensation, venous discoloration, local phlebitis)
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Local necrosis
• Frequency not reported: Neutropenic septicemia^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Peripheral neuropathy (25%), neurological alterations (e.g., loss of deep tendon reflexes)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Severe paresthesia with sensory and motor symptoms^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Alopecia (12%)
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Generalized skin reactions
• Frequency not reported: Erythema of hands and feet
• Postmarketing reports: Pruritus, urticaria^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Phlebitis, chest pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypotension, hypertension, flushing, peripheral coldness
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Ischemic heart disease (e.g., angina pectoris, myocardial infarction), severe hypotension, cardiovascular collapse
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Tachycardia, palpitations, altered heart rhythm
• Frequency not reported: Myocardial infarction^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, cough
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bronchospasm
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Interstitial lung disease
• Postmarketing reports: Pneumonia, pulmonary edema^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Lower limb weakness
• Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, myalgia, pain in jaw
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Severe hyponatremia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Dysuria^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Stomatitis (15%), anorexia, weight loss
• Common (1% to 10%): Weight gain
• Frequency not reported: Anorexia^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Systemic allergic reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock, anaphylactoid reaction)
• Postmarketing reports: Angioedema^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Common (1% to 10%): Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections (e.g., respiratory tract, urinary tract, GI tract)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Severe sepsis, septicemia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Complicated septicemia (sometimes fatal)^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Visual disorder^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Asthenia (36%), ototoxicity (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, fever, pain at different sites (e.g., chest pain, pain at the site of the tumor, headache, dizziness, taste disorder
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Ataxia^[Ref]

Endocrine

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

See also:

Further information

Vinorelbine 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.

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