Vincristine when administered into a vein may leak into surrounding tissue. Your doctor or nurse will monitor your administration site for this reaction.
Your doctor has ordered the drug vincristine to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.
leukemia
Hodgkin's disease
non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
neuroblastoma
rhabdomyosarcoma
Wilms' tumor
Kaposi's sarcoma related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Vincristine is in a class of drugs known as vinca alkaloids. It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.
Vincristine is also used to treat some types of sarcoma, small cell lung cancer, osteogenic sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, brain medulloblastoma, multiple myeloma, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
nausea and vomiting
stomach pain and cramps
constipation
diarrhea
jaw pain, headache, or other aches
thinned or brittle hair
fatigue
mouth blistering
tingling, numbness, and cramping in the legs or arms for longer than a few days
severe abdominal or muscle cramping
difficulty walking
hoarseness
vision problems
change in normal bowel habits for more than 2 days
sore throat
swelling of the feet and ankles
difficulty controlling bladder
increased, painful, or difficult urination
redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site
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/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
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.
A common side effect of vincristine is a decrease of blood cells. Your doctor may order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by the drug.
Last Reviewed - 09/01/2010
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. 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.