vinblastine
Vinblastine is a chemotherapy medication. It’s used to treat many types of cancer, including Hodgkin lymphoma and mycosis fungoides. It works as a microtubule inhibitor, or a “vinca alkaloid,” to kill cancer cells and stop the cancer from spreading. Vinblastine is given as an infusion through the vein (IV) at a medical center. It can cause side effects like a low blood cell count, hair loss, and constipation. Vinblastine is usually given along with other chemotherapy medications as part of a treatment plan.
What is Vinblastine?
What is Vinblastine used for?
How Vinblastine works
Vinblastine is a type of chemotherapy medication called a microtubule inhibitor. It’s also commonly known as a “vinca alkaloid.” It works by blocking microtubules. These are parts of cells that help them divide.
By blocking microtubules, vinblastine stops fast-growing cells, which includes cancer cells, from dividing. This helps stop the cancer from growing and spreading.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Velban |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Microtubule inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Vinblastine
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Low white blood cells
- Low red blood cells (anemia)
- Low platelets
- Hair loss
- Constipation
- High blood pressure
- Feeling unwell
- Weakness
- Bone pain
- Jaw pain
- Pain where the cancer is
Less Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Poor appetite
- Stomach pain
- Mouth sores
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Numbness in the fingers and toes
- Irritation around the injection site
Vinblastine serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious infection: temperature of 100.4ºF or higher, chills, cough, muscle aches, very fast heartbeat, confusion
- Bleeding: nosebleeds, blood in urine, blood in stool, unexplained bruising, bleeding that doesn’t stop
The following Vinblastine side effects have also been reported
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:
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:
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
Some 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. 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:
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.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Vinblastine
Pros
- Each injection takes just a few minutes (up to 15 minutes)
- Low risk of nausea and vomiting
Cons
- Given as an injection through the vein at a medical center
- Often causes low blood cell counts, which can make it easier for you to get sick
- Might cause uncomfortable side effects, like constipation and numbness in fingers and toes
Pharmacist tips for Vinblastine
- Be aware of how you feel during the vinblastine infusion. If the skin around your IV hurts, burns, or feels warm, tell your nurse right away. This can be a sign that the medication has leaked into the area around it. The nurse can help it feel better.
- Do your best to protect yourself from getting sick while taking vinblastine. Wash your hands often and avoid crowds (or wear a mask if you need to). Vinblastine can make it easier for you to get sick. It can also be hard for your body to fight infections as well if you have an infection.
- Check your temperature once a day while taking vinblastine. Call your care team right away if it’s 100.4ºF or higher because it means you have a fever. Sometimes, a fever might be the only sign that you’re sick.
- Vinblastine can cause constipation. Drink lots of water and eat plenty of high-fiber foods to prevent constipation. Your care team might also recommend a stool softener like docusate (Colace) to help. Talk to your care team if any constipation bothers you or doesn’t get better.
Risks and warnings for Vinblastine
Vinblastine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Must only be given as an intravenous (IV) injection by a trained healthcare professional
A trained healthcare professional will give you vinblastine. They’ll make sure it’s given the right way and safely.
Vinblastine should only be given as an injection through a vein. This is called an intravenous or IV injection. It’s not safe to give this medication any other way. If it’s injected into the fluid around the spinal cord, it can be very dangerous and even deadly.
Skin and tissue damage around IV area
Although it’s rare, vinblastine can sometimes leak into the tissues around the IV line. This can cause pain and damage to the skin or nearby tissue.
Tell your nurse right away if you feel any pain, burning, or warmth during the infusion. They’ll stop it and help manage this side effect. The nurse might give hyaluronidase injections around the area or put a warm pack over it to help.
Harm to an unborn baby
- Risk factors: Pregnancy
Animal studies show that vinblastine might harm an unborn baby if used during pregnancy. If you can become pregnant, you should use reliable birth control while taking vinblastine. This helps lower your chance of getting pregnant during treatment.
If you do become pregnant while taking vinblastine, call your oncologist right away. They’ll talk to you about the risks of taking the medication and what to do next.
Low blood cell counts
- Risk factors: History of bone marrow damage | Taking higher-than-recommended doses of vinblastine
Vinblastine can lower your blood cell counts. In particular, you can have a dangerously low white blood cell count. Usually, it drops the most 5 to 10 days after a dose of vinblastine, then gets better 1 to 2 weeks later. Low white blood cell counts put you at risk of infections. This can be serious and life-threatening.
To prevent getting sick, wash your hands often and try to avoid crowds. Check your temperature regularly and call your care team right away if it’s 100.4ºF or higher. This can be a sign that you’re sick. Other signs of infection include having chills, sweats, a cough, or sore throat.
Vinblastine also lower your red blood cell count. This can lead to anemia and make you feel weak or tired. You can also have low platelet counts, making you bruise or bleed more easily.
Your oncology care team will closely check your blood cell counts while you’re taking vinblastine. If your counts are too low, your care team might pause treatment or lower your vinblastine dose.
Lung problems
- Risk factors: History of lung problems | Taking vinblastine together with mitomycin-C
It’s not common, but some people had sudden trouble breathing and chest tightness after getting vinblastine. This mostly happened when they also got another chemotherapy medication called mitomyin-C. Breathing problems can happen within minutes to hours after getting vinblastine. It can also happen up to 2 weeks after getting mitomycin-C.
If you have trouble breathing after your vinblastine infusion, call your care team right away. You might need to pause treatment or stop the medication altogether. This depends on how severe your breathing problems are.
Possible problem with the nervous system
Vinblastine can sometimes cause problems with the nervous system. It can cause peripheral neuropathy, which can feel like numbness and tingling in your fingers and toes. Other nervous system problems are usually less common. But they can include mood changes, headache, dizziness, and even seizures.
Tell your oncology care team if you notice any of these symptoms while taking vinblastine. They can help you feel better. Your prescriber might pause your treatment or lower your vinblastine dose if needed.
Vinblastine dosage
Typical dosage for Vinblastine
Vinblastine is given as an infusion through a vein. This is called an intravenous or IV infusion. It’s given by a trained healthcare professional at an infusion center or clinic.
Your oncologist will calculate your dose based on your body surface area (BSA), which is in units of m2. They’ll take your height and weight into account.
For adults, the approved starting dose is 3.7 mg/m2 IV once. Then, the dose is adjusted every week based on how the medication affects your blood count.
But in general, your dose depends on the cancer you’re treating and your treatment plan. Below is a common example.
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Vinblastine is most commonly given as part of the ABVD treatment plan.
- In this treatment plan, the typical dose of vinblastine is 6 mg/m2 IV once every 2 weeks.
Your vinblastine dose might be lower if you have certain liver problems (bilirubin level of 3 mg/100 mL or greater).
Interactions between Vinblastine and other drugs
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 this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
- Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
- Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
- Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Zoster Vaccine, Live
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Adenovirus Vaccine
- Atazanavir
- Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Clarithromycin
- Cobicistat
- Darunavir
- Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine, Live
- Erythromycin
- Fluconazole
- Fosnetupitant
- Indinavir
- Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Lopinavir
- Mitomycin
- Netupitant
- Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
- Posaconazole
- Quinupristin
- Ritonavir
- Simeprevir
- Smallpox Vaccine
- Typhoid Vaccine, Live
- Ulipristal
- Voriconazole
- Yellow Fever Vaccine
- Zidovudine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Vinblastine contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Vinblastine will not be safe for you to take.
- Have severe low blood cell counts (myelosuppression), unless it’s from the cancer you’re treating
- Have an active bacterial infection
What are alternatives to Vinblastine?
Vinblastine images
