Vincristine
Description
Vincristine is a naturally occurring vinca alkaloid, used alone or in combination with other oncolytic agents for the treatment of various types of cancers such as Acute Leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Wilms' tumor, etc. It should be used under the supervision of a qualified physician.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Vincristine
- Blood in urine and stools
- Injection site pain and warmth
- Blurred or double vision
- Constipation
- Joint pain
- Stomach cramps
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
Uses of Vincristine
What is it prescribed for?
- Malignant Disease
- Solid Tumors
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to vincristine or any other active ingredients present in the formulation.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
General warnings
Intravenous adminstration
This medicine should only be administered into a vein but in some cases, the medicine may leak into surrounding tissue leading to severe irritation or damage. The physician or nurse will monitor the site of administration for this reaction. Report to the doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: pain, itching, redness, swelling, blisters, or sores in the place where the medication was injected.
Liver Disease
This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from liver diseases due to the increased risk of adverse effects. Close monitoring of the liver function is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Driving or Operating machinery
Use of this medicine may rarely cause drowsiness or dizziness in some patients. It is advised that you do not perform any activities such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery if you experience any of these symptoms during the treatment with this medicine.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical/hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low. If you miss any scheduled session you should contact your doctor immediately and fix an appointment as recommended by your doctor.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered in the hospital setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very less. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Dexamethasone
Atazanavir
Phenobarbital
Erythromycin
Itraconazole
Atorvastatin
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered in the clinical/hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine. Report all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions to the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells by acting on microtubules that provide structure and movement of the cells.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Mitotic inhibitors
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. Accessdata.fda.gov. 2018 [cited 6 December 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Bccancer.bc.ca. 2018 [cited 6 December 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. 2018 [cited 6 December 2018]. Available from:
Vincristine - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 6 December 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 6 December 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Ebs.tga.gov.au. 2018 [cited 6 December 2018]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 23 Aug 2019
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.