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| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
Some commonly used brand names are:
In Canada--
Other commonly used names are desacetyl vinblastine amide sulfate and vincaleukoblastine .
* Not commercially available in the U.S.
Vindesine (VIN-de-seen) belongs to the group of medicines known as antineoplastic agents. It is used to treat some kinds of cancer, including leukemia and lung cancer.
Vindesine interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by vindesine, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, such as hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern.
Before you begin treatment with vindesine, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For vindesine, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to vindesine.
Pregnancy--Vindesine has not been studied in pregnant women.
Before receiving vindesine make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving vindesine. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving vindesine.
Breast-feeding--It is not known whether vindesine passes into the breast milk. However, vindesine is not recommended during breast-feeding, because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.
Children--Although there is no specific information comparing use of vindesine in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.
Older adults--Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of vindesine in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking vindesine, it is especially important that your doctor or pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of vindesine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
This medicine sometimes causes nausea and vomiting. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine, even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for ways to lessen these effects.
Vindesine frequently causes constipation and stomach cramps. Your doctor may want you to take a laxative. However, do not decide to take these medicines on your own without first checking with your doctor.
Dosing--The dose of vindesine will be different for
different patients. The dose that is used may depend on a number of things,
including what the medicine is being used for, the patient's body size, and
whether or not other medicines are also being taken. If you are taking or receiving vindesine at home, follow your doctor's orders
or the directions on the label.
If you have any questions about the
proper dose of vindesine, ask your doctor. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at
regular visits
to make sure that vindesine is working properly and
to check for unwanted effects. While you are being treated with vindesine, and after you stop treatment
with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations)
without your doctor's approval
. Vindesine 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. Vindesine 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:
Precautions While Using This Medicine
If vindesine 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 its needed effects, a medicine 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:
More common
Black, tarry stools; chest pain; chills; cough; fever; painful or difficult urination; shortness of breath; sore throat; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth; swollen glands
Less common or rare
Blindness; blurred or double vision; convulsions (seizures); difficulty in walking; drooping eyelids; headache; jaw pain; numbness or tingling in fingers and toes; pain in fingers and toes; pain in testicles; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness
Symptoms of Overdose
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur
Abnormal drowsiness; Agitation; confusion; dazed feeling; decreased urine output; depression; dizziness; headache; hostility; irritability; muscle twitching; nausea; rapid weight gain; seizures; swelling of face, ankles, or hands
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.
Less common or rare
Constipation; general feeling of discomfort or illness; increase in bowel movements; loose stools; loss of appetite; muscle or bone pain; nausea and vomiting; skin rash; soft stools; weight loss
This medicine often causes a temporary loss of hair. After treatment with vindesine has ended, normal hair growth should return.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Developed: 05/25/00
Revised:
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