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How does it work?

Vinblastine Sulphate is an anticancer (cytotoxic) drug. Cancers form when some cells within the body multiply uncontrollably and abnormally. There are two types of cancer. Solid cancers where a lump forms e.g. the bone, breast, muscle, brain cells etc. divide and multiply abnormally. The second type are leukaemias and lymphomas where the blood cells divide and multiply abnormally. Other characteristics of cancer besides uncontrolled growth include the ability of these abnormal cells to invade other tissues next to them or to break away from the original site, travel through the blood or lymph, and establish a new cancer at a different site of the body. These are called metastases. Like normal healthy cells, cancer cells go through a continuous process of change. Each cell divides into two daughter cells. These cells grow, rest and then divide again. The medicines used in chemotherapy are powerful chemicals designed to interupt this cycle and stop cells from growing. Several different types of anticancer medicines are used in chemotherapy. Each type kills cells at a different stage of the cell's life cycle. Each does its job in a different way. Vinblastine sulphate belongs to a group of anticancer medicines called vinca alkaloids. Alkaloids prevent the formation of chromosome (threadlike structure in cells that carries genetic information) spindles necessary for cell duplication at the dividing stage (mitosis) in it's life cycle. Unfortunately, anticancer medicines will also affect the growth and division of normal, healthy cells in the same way, such as blood, gut and hair cells. This can therefore cause several of the side effects seen with chemotherapy e.g. hair loss. The body's immune system also becomes suppressed increasing the risk of infections. In most chemotherapy regimens, doses are administered in courses at various intervals to allow normal cells to recover from the adverse effects of the anticancer medicines between doses. However, during this period, cancer cells will also recover and start to replicate again. Successful treatment depends on the administration of the next course of therapy before the cancer has regrown to its previous size and the net effect is to decrease the amount of cancer with each successive course. Vinblastine sulphate is used principally in combination with other anticancer medicines. It is administered by intravenous injection only.

What is it used for?

- A group of disorders where there is an overgrowth of cells called histiocytes which normally have the ability to engulf foreign matter or bacteria. The overgrowth of these cells can occur in the skin, bone, lungs, lymph nodes, liver or spleen.
- Breast cancer
- Cancer originating in the outermost membranes surrounding the foetus and affecting the womb or the site of pregnancy outside the womb (choriocarcinoma) which is resistant to other medicines
- Kaposi's sarcoma (a form of skin cancer)
- Kidney cancer
- Lymph node cancer
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Testicular cancer

Warning!

- Avoid contact with the eyes.
- People taking this medicine should have regular blood tests.
- Injection of this medicine into the spinal cord (intrathecal injection) is likely to be fatal. This medicine is for INTRAVENOUS USE ONLY.
- This medicine is vesicant, ie it can cause severe local reactions such as blistering, ulceration and death to skin and tissue should it leak out of the vein (extravasation). Great care must be taken to avoid extravasation when administering this medicine.
- Special precautions must be taken by those preparing and handling cytotoxic medicines, in order to prevent self-contamination.

Use with caution in

- Decreased liver function

Not to be used in

- Injection into the spinal cord (intrathecal injection)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- This medicine should not be used during pregnancy as it may be harmful to the unborn baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Discuss this with your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine.

Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Constipation
- Depression
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low red blood cell count (anaemia)
- "Pins and needles" sensation in hands and feet (peripheral neuritis)
- Loss of appetite
- Decrease in the number of white blood cells in the blood (leucopenia)
- Inflammation of the lining of the mouth (stomatitis)
- Damage to the nerves
- Reversible hair loss
- Jaw pain
- Paralysis or inactivity of the intestine that stops the movement of material through the gut (paralytic ileus)
- Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. . For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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