vincristine

What is the most important information I should know about vincristine?

What is vincristine?

Vincristine is used to treat leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (soft tissue tumors), neuroblastoma (cancer that forms in nerve tissue), and Wilms' tumor.

Vincristine is sometimes used in combination with other cancer drugs.

Vincristine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving vincristine?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• gout;
• kidney stones;
• breathing problems;
• liver disease;
• a blockage in your intestines; or
• coronary artery disease, high blood pressure.

This medicine may affect fertility (your ability to have children), whether you are a man or a woman.

How is vincristine given?

Vincristine is given as an infusion into a vein, usually once every 7 days. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when vincristine is injected.

You may need frequent medical tests to be sure this medicine is not causing harmful effects. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

Vincristine may cause constipation. Ask your doctor how to avoid severe constipation.

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

Since vincristine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur. However, overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid while receiving vincristine?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

What are the possible side effects of vincristine?

• severe constipation, severe bloating or stomach pain, bloody or tarry stools;
• swelling, rapid weight gain;
• urination problems;
• wheezing, trouble breathing;
• chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder;
• problems with vision, hearing, speech, balance, or daily activities;
• a seizure;
• mouth pain or ulcers;
• numbness, tingling, burning pain; or
• low blood cell counts --fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Common side effects may include:

• hair loss;
• decreased weight with loss of muscle tissue;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss; or
• rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect vincristine?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• nefazodone;
• phenytoin;
• an antibiotic --clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin;
• antifungal medicine --itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole; or
• antiviral medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C --boceprevir, cobicistat, dasabuvir, elvitegravir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir saquinavir, telaprevir, tipranavir.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect vincristine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about vincristine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 2/10/2021.