Vincristine Sulfate
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about . It does not contain all the information that is known about . It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What Vincristine Sulfate Injection is used for
Vincristine sulfate belongs to a group of anticancer medicines called Vinca alkaloids. It is used for the treatment of various cancers. Vincristine stops the cancer cells growing and eventually kills them.
Before you are given Vincristine Sulfate Injection
When you must not be given it
Do not use Vincristine Sulfate Injection if:
you have an allergy to vincristine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
you have an allergy to any of the Vinca Alkaloids medicines eg Vinblastine and Vindesine
you suffer from Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Syndrome. This is a type of hereditary nerve disease.
you are receiving or have received radiation therapy
If you are not sure whether any of these apply to you, check with your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if:
1. you have any allergies to:
any other medicine
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
2. you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
3. you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
4. you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
Gout
Kidney stones
Any infections
Liver disease or jaundice
Nerve or muscle disease.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and vincristine may interfere with each other. These include:
Medicines to treat gout eg. allopurinol
Medicines to treat fungal infections eg. itraconazole and voriconazole
Heart medicines eg. nifedipine
Phenytoin, a medicine used to prevent seizures, fits or epilepsy
Vaccines
Medicines used to treat infections eg. isoniazid, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin
Any other anti-cancer medicines eg. methotrexate, doxorubicin, asparaginase and mitomycin-C.
In some cases, two different medicines may be used together by your doctor even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may change your dose.
Your doctor will advise you about continuing to take other medicines while you are receiving Vincristine Sulfate Injection.
How Vincristine Sulfate Injection is given
This medicine is given as a slow injection into a vein. Sometimes, it is diluted and given as a long injection. Vincristine Sulfate Injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
Your doctor will decide what dose, how often and how long you will receive it. This depends on your condition and other factors, such as your weight, age, blood tests, how well your liver is working, and whether or not other medicines are being given at the same time.
If you are given too much (overdose)
This rarely happens as Vincristine Sulfate Injection is administered under the care of a highly trained doctor.
However, if you are given too much vincristine, you may experience some of the effects listed under "Side Effects" below.
Your doctor has information on how to recognise and treat an overdose. Ask your doctor if you have any concerns.
While You Are Being Given Vincristine Sulfate Injection
Things you MUST do:
Be sure to keep all of your doctors' appointments so that your progress can be checked.
If you become pregnant while under vincristine treatment, tell your doctor immediately.
Things you MUST NOT do:
Do not have any immunisations or vaccinations without your doctor's approval and for up to 12 months after you stopped treatment with it.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using vincristine.
Like other medicines, vincristine can cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor or temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to answer any questions that you may have.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Pain or redness at place of injection
Allergies
An allergy may appear as an itchy rash, high temperature after the injection, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat and/or difficulty in breathing.
Effects on nerves and muscles
Vincristine sometimes affects nerves in the hands and feet. This may appear as numbness, tingling, pain or weakness in the fingertips. Other symptoms are loss of muscle control and reflexes, jaw pain, back pain, arm and leg pain, face pain, fits and coma.
Bleeding disorders
Symptoms to look for are black, tarry stools; or blood in stools or urine; pinpoint red spots on skin and any unusual bleeding or bruising.
Infection
Symptoms to look for are fever, chills, cough, hoarseness, sore throat and mouth ulcers.
Check with your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
dizzy or light-headed when getting up from lying or sitting position
headache
eye sight problems: blurred or double vision, temporary blindness
trouble in sleeping, depression, nervousness, hallucinations and personality changes
increased frequency, difficulty or pain in passing urine, or incontinence
impotence or reduced sexual drive
constipation or cramps
hair loss
diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. Some side effects may only be seen by your doctor.
Product Description
What it looks like
Vincristine Sulfate Injection is a clear, colourless solution in a plastic vial.
AUST R 10828 Vincristine Sulfate Injection 1mg in 1mL (sterile) Plastic Vial
AUST R 48055 Vincristine Sulfate Injection 2mg in 2mL (sterile) Plastic Vial
AUST R 48057 Vincristine Sulfate Injection 5mg in 5mL (sterile) Plastic Vial
Ingredients
Vincristine Sulfate Injection contains Vincristine Sulfate, Mannitol and Water for Injections. It does not contain a preservative.
Supplier:
Vincristine is supplied in Australia by:
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
ABN 50 008 422 348
38-42 Wharf Road
West Ryde NSW 2114
Toll Free number: 1800 675 229
This Consumer Medicine Information was written in August 1998.
Date of most recent amendment: 17 August 2011.
