Vincristine, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: vincristine, injection; LCR; Oncovin; VCR; Vincasar PFS

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat acute leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas, certain tumors, and other forms of cancer.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• diseases of your nerves or muscles, especially Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
• kidney or liver disease.

This medicine may make you sterile (unable to have children) whether you are a man or a woman. If you plan to have children someday, talk with your health care provider before you start treatment.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your health care provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your health care provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

These infusions are given by your health care provider. They are usually given weekly and may be given with other anticancer drugs. Keep all your appointments for treatments.

What should I watch out for?

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your health care provider's approval first.

Hair loss is common during treatment. The hair will grow back when treatment is stopped.

This medicine may make your mouth sore. Use a soft bristle brush or mouth swab to brush your teeth.

This medicine may cause constipation. Your health care provider can prescribe a stool softener to help.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Fever; chills; sore throat; bruising or bleeding; shortness of breath; severe stomach pain; painful urination; lip or mouth sores; severe nausea or vomiting; pain in your jaw, bones, back, joints, or legs; convulsions (seizures); trouble walking; dizziness; lightheadedness; uncontrollable eye movements; numbness or tingling in arms or legs.

Other: Loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, urinary retention, rash, headache, temporary hair loss.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• asparaginase
• calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• itraconazole (Sporanox)
• live vaccines such as polio and rotavirus
• mitomycin C
• other drugs used in cancer treatment such as filgrastim (Neupogen) and sargramostim (Leukine)
• phenytoin (Dilantin).
• zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT).

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Discuss this with your health care provider.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.