MedlinePlus Drug Information: Bevacizumab Injection

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Other drug names:	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Bevacizumab Injection

(be va siz' yoo mab)

Contents of this page:
Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose?	What side effects can this medication cause? What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? In case of emergency/overdose What other information should I know? Brand names

IMPORTANT WARNING: Return to top

Bevacizumab may cause you to develop a hole in the wall of your stomach or intestine. This is a serious and possibly life-threatening condition. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: stomach pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or fever.

Bevacizumab may slow the healing of wounds, such as cuts made by a doctor during surgery. In some cases, bevacizumab may cause a wound that has closed to split open. This is a serious and possibly life-threatening condition. If you experience this problem, call your doctor immediately. Tell your doctor if you have recently had surgery or if you plan to have surgery. If you have recently had surgery, you should not use bevacizumab until at least 28 days have passed and until the area has completed healed. If you are scheduled to have surgery, your doctor will stop your treatment with bevacizumab at least several weeks before the surgery.

Bevacizumab may cause severe, life-threatening bleeding in the lungs of people who are using bevacizumab along with chemotherapy to treat lung cancer. Tell your doctor if you have recently coughed up blood or if you cough up blood at any time during your treatment.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of using bevacizumab.

Why is this medication prescribed? Return to top

Bevacizumab is used with chemotherapy to treat cancer of the colon (large intestine) or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body. Bevacizumab is also used with chemotherapy to treat certain types of lung cancer. Bevacizumab is in a class of medications called antiangiogenic agents. It works by stopping the formation of blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to tumors. This may slow the growth and spread of tumors.

How should this medicine be used? Return to top

Bevacizumab comes as a solution to administer slowly into a vein. Bevacizumab is administered by a doctor or nurse in a medical office, infusion center, or hospital. Bevacizumab is usually given once every 2 weeks to treat cancer of the colon or rectum and once every 3 weeks to treat lung cancer.

It should take 90 minutes for you to receive your first dose of bevacizumab. A doctor or nurse will watch you closely to see how your body reacts to bevacizumab. If you do not have any serious problems when you receive your first dose of bevacizumab, it will usually take 30 to 60 minutes for you to receive each of your remaining doses of the medication.

Other uses for this medicine Return to top

Bevacizumab is also sometimes used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD; an ongoing disease of the eye that causes loss of the ability to see straight ahead and may make it more difficult to read, drive, or perform other daily activities) and other types of cancer. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using bevacizumab to treat your condition.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow? Return to top

Before receiving bevacizumab,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to bevacizumab or any other medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin); irinotecan (Camptosar); and sunitinib (Sutent). Also tell your doctor if you are taking or if you have ever taken an anthracycline (a type of chemotherapy used for breast cancer and some types of leukemia) such as daunorubicin (Cerubidine), doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex), epirubicin (Ellence), or idarubicin (Idamycin). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have ever been treated with radiation therapy to the left side of your chest; and if you have or have ever had cancer that spread to your brain or spine, high blood pressure, or any condition that affects your heart or blood vessels (tubes that move blood between the heart and other parts of the body).
tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Bevacizumab may harm the fetus and increase the risk of a pregnancy loss. You should use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with bevacizumab and for some time after you stop using the medication. If you become pregnant while using bevacizumab, call your doctor.
tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You should not breast-feed during your treatment with bevacizumab and for some time after you stop using the medication.

What special dietary instructions should I follow? Return to top

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What should I do if I forget a dose? Return to top

If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of bevacizumab, call your doctor as soon as possible.

What side effects can this medication cause? Return to top

Bevacizumab may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

dizziness
fainting
nosebleeds
bleeding gums
weakness
loss of appetite
heartburn
change in ability to taste food
diarrhea
weight loss
dry mouth
sores on the skin or in the mouth
voice changes

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

nosebleeds that cause dizziness or fainting or that do not stop after 10 to 15 minutes
unusual bruising or bleeding
black or bloody stools
bright red blood in stools
vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds
coughing, gagging, or choking after eating or drinking
severe vaginal bleeding
headache
neck pain
slow or difficult speech
dizziness or faintness
weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
chest pain
pain in the arms, neck, or upper back
shortness of breath
seizures
extreme tiredness
confusion
change in vision or loss of vision
sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection
swelling of the face, eyes, stomach, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
unexplained weight gain
foamy urine
dry, hacking cough
pain, tenderness, warmth, redness, or swelling in one leg only
redness, itching, or scaling of the skin

Bevacizumab may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/index.html] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? Return to top

Bevacizumab will be stored in the medical office, infusion center, or hospital.

In case of emergency/overdose Return to top

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

headache

What other information should I know? Return to top

Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your doctor will check your blood pressure and test your urine regularly during your treatment with bevacizumab.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Brand names Return to top

Avastin®

Last Revised - 08/01/2008

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer

AHFS^® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2008. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.