Vinblastine for Lymphoma

Overview

Vinblastine is a prescription medication used to treat several types of cancer including Hodgkin lymphoma (stages 3 and 4), lymphocytic lymphoma, histiocytic lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides. Vinblastine is often combined with other drugs in chemotherapy regimens. Along with Adriamycin, bleomycin, and DTIC-Dome, Vinblastine is part of the ABVD regimen, one of the most commonly used for treating Hodgkin lymphoma. Vinblastine is also part of the Stanford V regimen. Vinblastine is an anticancer drug used in chemotherapy and is a member of a class of drugs called plant alkaloids. Vinblastine is believed to work by interfering with the structure of cancer cells.

How do I take it?

Vinblastine is administered as an intravenous infusion during chemotherapy treatment.

Side effects

The FDA-approved label for Vinblastine lists common side effects including headache, weakness, malaise, bone pain, hair loss, hypertension (high blood pressure), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, mouth sores, loss of appetite, numbness in the fingers and toes, fluid retention, and low blood cell counts. If Vinblastine leaks into the skin or tissue at the injection site (a situation known as extravasation), it causes a painful inflammatory reaction. Rare but serious side effects listed for Vinblastine include heart attack, angina (chest pain), partial or total deafness (which may be permanent), infertility in men and women, fetal harm in pregnant women, and severe shortness of breath.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Vinblastine Sulfate — RxList

Chemotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma — American Cancer Society