Vincristine Sulphate 1 mg/ml Injection
Vincristine Sulphate 1 mg/ml Injection
(1 mg/1 ml and 2 mg/2 ml vials)
1. WHAT VINCRISTINE SULPHATE INJECTION IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Vincristine sulphate is an anti-cancer medicine. Treatment with an anti-cancer medicine is sometimes called cancer chemotherapy.
Vincristine Sulphate Injection is used in the treatment of cancers of the blood (eg. leukaemia or lymphomas), breast, head and neck or lung. It may be used to treat multiple myeloma (a cancer of plasma cells) and it may also be used in the treatment of some cancers in children. It may be used in a blood disorder known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) after other treatments have not been successful.
Vincristine Sulphate Injection may be given alone or in combination with other anti-cancer medicines.
2. BEFORE YOU USE VINCRISTINE SULPHATE INJECTION
Vincristine Sulphate Injection must never be injected intrathecally (into the spine).
Do not use Vincristine Sulphate Injection
• if you have shown signs of hypersensitivity (severe allergy) to vincristine or mannitol in the past
• if you have Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome (disease which causes weakness in the leg muscles)
Tell your doctor if any of the above applies to you before this medicine is used.
Take special care with Vincristine Sulphate Injection
• if you have a mental or nervous system disorder
• if you have liver trouble
• if you are having radiotherapy
• if you have breathing problems
Tell your doctor if any of the above applies to you before this medicine is used. Special care is also needed if you are elderly.
Taking/using other medicines
Special care is needed if you are taking/using other medicines as some could interact with vincristine sulphate.
Use of the following medicines may make the side effects of vincristine sulphate worse:
• allopurinol (medicine used to treat gout)
• pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
• isoniazid (medicine used to treat tuberculosis)
• mitomycin-C (anti-cancer medicine)
• itraconazole (a medicine used to treat fungal infections)
• L-asparaginase (used for treating some types of cancer)
• some anti-cancer drugs (eg containing platinum) that may cause problems with hearing or balance
• medicines which cause problems with passing water (urine). These should be stopped before you start treatment with vincristine
• medicines which cause problems with your nervous system e.g. walking difficulties, pins and needle or numbness
Phenytoin (medicine used to control fits) may not work as well when vincristine sulphate is used, so blood levels of phenytoin will need to be monitored.
Methotrexate used in the treatment of cancer may work better when used with vincristine.
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding. Your doctor will decide if you should receive this medicine.
Women of childbearing potential should use appropriate contraception methods during treatment with vincristine sulphate.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or use machines if you experience any side effect which may lessen your ability to do so.
3. HOW TO USE VINCRISTINE SULPHATE INJECTION
This medicine is given by injection (using a syringe) or infusion (drip) into a vein.
Vincristine sulphate is an irritant, if it accidentally gets into your eye tell your doctor or nurse immediately so that it may be washed out.
You may be given medicines to prevent constipation during treatment with vincristine sulphate.
Dosage
Your doctor will work out the correct dose of vincristine sulphate for you and how often it must be given.
The dose will depend on your medical condition, your size and how well your liver is working. Your doctor will tell how well your liver is working using a blood sample.
Vincristine sulphate is usually given once a week.
If you are given too much or too little Vincristine Sulphate Injection
This medicine will be given to you in a hospital, under the supervision of a doctor. It is unlikely that you will be given too little or too much, however, tell your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, vincristine sulphate can have side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately:
• severe allergic reaction – you may experience a sudden itchy rash (hives), swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth or throat (which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing), and you may feel you are going to faint.
• pain or swelling at the injection site during or immediately after the injection
• severe chest pains possibly radiating to the jaw or arm, sweating, breathlessness and nausea
• severe breathing problems
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. All of these serious side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor as soon as possible:
• convulsions (fits)
• deafness or hearing loss
• worsening eyesight
• pain (may involve the jaw, throat, neck, bones or muscles)
• dizziness
• fever, sore throat, skin rashes, or sores on your body and in your mouth (may indicate a drop in white blood cells)
• significant weight loss
• numbness or pins and needles
• difficulty in walking
• muscle weakness or muscle wasting
• difficulty with speech
• unusual eye movements
• problems with passing water (more or less urine than normal, or pain when passing urine)
• mild breathing problems
• raised or lowered blood pressure
• headache
• tiredness
• unexpected bruises
• stomach cramps, constipation or diarrhoea
• being sick or feeling sick
• hair loss
• missed periods
• soreness around the injection site after the injection
Vincristine sulphate may lead to changes in your blood cells. Your doctor may take blood samples to monitor for these and also to check how well your liver is working.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor.
Effects on fertility
Treatment with vincristine sulphate may permanently reduce fertility in men and women. Tell your doctor if you have concerns.
5. HOW TO STORE VINCRISTINE SULPHATE INJECTION
Keep out of the reach and sight of children
Expiry
This medicine must not be used after the expiry date which is stated on the vial label and carton after ‘EXP‘. Where only a month and year is stated, the expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Storage
The vials should be kept in the outer carton, in order to protect from light, and stored in a refrigerator.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Vincristine Sulphate Injection contains
The active substance is vincristine sulphate. Each millilitre (ml) of solution contains 1 milligram (mg) of vincristine sulphate.
The other ingredients are mannitol and Water for Injections.
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