What is Vinorelbine?
Vinorelbine can be used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer. It is sometimes combined with other chemotherapy medications.Vinorelbine can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Vinorelbine
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
Vinorelbine can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Constipation with severe abdominal pain and black or bloody stools.
- Numbness, tingling, muscle weakness;
- Pain, redness, and peeling of the skin on the hands or feet
- Chest tightness or difficulty breathing; wheezing (new or worsening); cough;
- Dark urine jaundice
- Pain, irritation, or changes in the skin where the injection is given
- Low blood cell counts: fever; chills; skin and mouth sores that bleed easily; unusual bleeding patterns; pale skin with cold hands or feet.
Consult your doctor to find out how you can avoid constipation when taking vinorelbine.
Some of the common side effects associated with vinorelbine include:
- Nausea, vomiting, constipation;
- Weakness;
- Numbness in the hands or feet
- Low blood cell count
- Abnormal liver function tests
- Pain, redness, or bruising around the IV needle
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
You could get serious or even fatal infections. If you experience a fever or chills, fatigue, cough, sores on the skin, bruising or pale skin, or unusual blood or breathing problems, call your doctor.
Before you take this drug
Vinorelbine should not be used if the patient is allergic to it or has a severely low count of white blood cells.
Notify your doctor of any of the following conditions:
- Liver disease
- Bone marrow suppression
- A nerve disorder;
- Radiation therapy or other cancer treatment.
Vinorelbine may cause birth defects or harm to an unborn child if either the mother or father uses it.
- Before starting treatment, you may be required to take a pregnancy test. Vinorelbine should not be used if you're pregnant. Use birth control during treatment and for 6 months following your last dose.
- Use effective birth control if you're a man and your partner can get pregnant. Continue to use birth control at least three months after your last dose.
- If you become pregnant while using vinorelbine, either as a mother or father, tell your doctor immediately.
Vinorelbine may damage sperm, and you may have a harder time getting a woman to fall pregnant when you use this medication. Use birth control to avoid pregnancy, as the medication can harm an unborn child.Vinorelbine should not be used while breastfeeding or for at least nine days after the last dose.
How to take Vinorelbine?
Vinorelbine can be infused into a vein. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider.Vinorelbine can be given every 7 to 6 days. The schedule you choose will be determined by the condition being treated. Do not forget to follow your doctor's instructions.
If you experience any pain or swelling when the vinorelbine IV needle is inserted, tell your carers.Vinorelbine can affect your immune system. You could get more infections, including serious or deadly infections. You will have to test your blood often, and treatment could be delayed depending on the results.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for non-small cell lung cancer:
CISPLATIN IN COMBINATION:
Combining 25 mg/m2 intravenously over 6–10 minutes on Days 1, 8, 15, and 21 of 28-day cycles with 100 mg/m2 intravenously on Day 1 of each cycle
OR
30 mg/m2 intravenously over 6–10 minutes, once a week, in combination with 120 mg/m2 cisplatin IV on Days 1 and 29, then every 6 weeks.
As a single adult
30 mg/m2 IV every week, over 6–10 minutes.
Uses:
Combining cisplatin with chemotherapy for first-line treatment in patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer
As a single agent for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are unable to attend your appointment for vinorelbine, call your doctor.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.Overdose symptoms include stomach pain, constipation, and heartburn.
What should be avoided?
Avoid coming into contact with someone who has just received a "live vaccine" and do not use vinorelbine while receiving a "live vaccine". You could contract the virus. The live vaccines are measles (MMR), rubella, rotavirus (typhoid), yellow fever, varicella (the chickenpox), or shingles.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications together. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, causing side effects or making them less effective.
Vinorelbine can be affected by many drugs. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible interactions.Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking and those that you will stop or start using.
