bendamustine
Bendamustine is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Bendamustine is used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Bendamustine is also used to treat indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma after other medications have been tried without successful treatment of this condition.
Important information
Tell your caregiver right away if you have a fever, chills, itching, or skin rash during or shortly after the injection.
Bendamustine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches).
You should not receive this medicine if you are allergic to bendamustine or mannitol (Osmitrol).
To make sure bendamustine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
a weak immune system;
fever or other signs of infection;
a metabolic disorder or electrolyte imbalance;
liver disease;
kidney disease; or
if you smoke.
Do not receive bendamustine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether bendamustine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Some people receiving bendamustine have developed certain types of cancers. It is not known whether this medication causes cancer. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using bendamustine.
Bendamustine is injected into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Bendamustine is usually given for 2 days in a row every 21 to 28 days. You may receive up to 8 treatments total, depending on the condition being treated. Follow your doctors instructions.
You may be given other medications to help prevent certain side effects of bendamustine.
Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when the medicine is injected.
Bendamustine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.
Bendamustine side effects
Some people receiving a bendamustine injection have had a reaction to the infusion (when the medicine is injected into the vein).
Tell your caregiver right away if you have fever, chills, itching, or skin rash during or shortly after the injection.
Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers at once if you have:
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;
pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;
easy bruising or bleeding, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin, unusual weakness;
cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat;
lower back pain, blood in your urine, urinating less than usual or not at all;
numbness or tingly feeling around your mouth;
muscle weakness, tightness, or contraction, overactive reflexes;
fast or slow heart rate, weak pulse, confusion;
dry mouth, feeling very thirsty or hot, heavy sweating or hot and dry skin;
severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or pain, swelling, redness, skin changes, or signs of infection where the medicine wa
s injected.
Common side effects may include:
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or upset stomach;
swelling in your hands or feet;
headache, dizziness, drowsiness;
loss of appetite, weight loss; or mild skin rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Source: drugs.com
