Details

Vinblastine is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Vinblastine is used to treat Hodgkin's disease, certain types of lymphoma, testicular cancer, breast cancer, choriocarcinoma (a type of uterine cancer), Kaposi's sarcoma, and Letterer-Siwe disease. Vinblastine is often used in combination with other cancer medications. You should not receive vinblastine if you are allergic to it, or if you have severely low white blood cell counts or an untreated or uncontrolled bacterial infection. To make sure vinblastine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have liver disease wasting syndrome (decreased weight with loss of muscle tissue) skin ulcers, bed sores coronary artery disease, a history of blood clot or stroke (including "mini-stroke") or cancer than has spread to your bone marrow. Vinblastine should not be used in pregnancy.

Typical Uses

Vinblastine alone or in combination with other anticancer medicines is used in the treatment of various cancers such as Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or a cancer of breast, placenta (histiocytosis X), kidney (renal cell carcinoma), testicle (testicular teratoma and seminoma), and methotrexate-resistant choriocarcinoma.

Side Effects

Common vinblastine side effects may include severe constipation easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin problems with vision, hearing, speech, balance, or daily activities bronchospasm-wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing signs of infection-fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores or increased blood pressure-severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath.

Drug Interactions

• Vinblastine+adalimumab- Using adalimumab together with vinblastine may increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening infections. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications.
• Vinblastine+boceprevir- Talk to your doctor before using vinblastine together with boceprevir. Combining these medications may significantly increase the blood levels and effects of vinblastine. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications.
• Vinblastine+conivaptan- Talk to your doctor before using vinblastine together with conivaptan. Combining these medications may significantly increase the blood levels and effects of vinblastine. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications.
• Vinblastine+golimumab- Using vinblastine together with golimumab may increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening infections. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Mechanism of action

Vinblastine belongs to a group of medicines called vinca alkaloids. It works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells (inhibition of microtubule formation in the mitotic spindle) and slows their spread in the body by causing an arrest of cell division in metaphase.

Pregnancy Category : D