vinorelbine

V

Generic Name: vinorelbine (vin OR el been)
Brand Names: Navelbine

What is vinorelbine?

Vinorelbine is cancer medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their spread in the body.

Vinorelbine is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer.

Vinorelbine is sometimes used in combination with other cancer medications.

Vinorelbine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about vinorelbine? You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have severely low white blood cell counts. Do not use vinorelbine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Before you receive vinorelbine, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, bone marrow suppression, a nerve disorder, or if you have received radiation therapy or other cancer treatments.

Vinorelbine is sometimes used in combination with other cancer medications.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when vinorelbine is injected.

Vinorelbine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with vinorelbine, and avoid coming into contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving vinorelbine? You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have severely low white blood cell counts.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication:

liver disease;

bone marrow suppression;

a nerve disorder; or

if you have received radiation therapy or other cancer treatments.

FDA pregnancy category D. Vinorelbine can cause harm to an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Before you receive vinorelbine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether vinorelbine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are being treated with vinorelbine. How is vinorelbine given?

Vinorelbine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion.

Vinorelbine is usually given once every 7 days. You may also receive the medication once every 6 weeks. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when the medicine is injected.

Vinorelbine can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your vinorelbine injection.

What happens if I overdose? Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include white patches or sores in your mouth or throat, painful swallowing, heartburn, severe constipation, and stomach pain.

What should I avoid while receiving vinorelbine?

Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with vinorelbine, and avoid coming into contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), oral polio, chickenpox (varicella), BCG (Bacillus Calmette and Gu?rin), and nasal flu vaccine.

Talk to your doctor about ways to avoid constipation while being treated with vinorelbine.

Vinorelbine side effects Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

signs of infection such as fever, chills, flu symptoms, mouth and throat ulcers, rapid heart rate, rapid and shallow breathing, fainting;

cough, bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing);

severe constipation, stomach pain, bloody or black stools;

pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;

easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling;

problems with vision, hearing, speech, balance, or daily activities;

chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; or

pain, burning, redness, swelling, or skin changes where the IV needle was placed.

Less serious side effects may include:

temporary hair loss;

jaw pain, joint or muscle pain;

tumor pain;

weight loss;

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite; or

feeling dizzy, weak, or tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Vinorelbine Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:

vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 administered weekly as a single agent. The recommended method of administration is an intravenous injection over 6 to 10 minutes. In controlled trials, single-agent vinorelbine was given weekly until progression or dose-limiting toxicity.
or
vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 weekly in combination with cisplatin. Blood counts should be checked weekly to determine whether dose reductions of vinorelbine and/or cisplatin are necessary. (In the SWOG study, most patients required a 50% dose reduction of vinorelbine at day 15 of each cycle and a 50% dose reduction of cisplatin by cycle 3.)
or
vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 weekly in combination with cisplatin.

What other drugs will affect vinorelbine?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

conivaptan (Vaprisol);

diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Solareze);

imatinib (Gleevec);

isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or telithromycin (Ketek);

antifungal medication such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend);

an antidepressant such as nefazodone;

heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;

cancer medicines such as cisplatin (Platinol), carboplatin (Paraplatin), mitomycin (Mutamycin), or oxaliplatin (Elixatin);

HIV/AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir (Invirase), or ritonavir (Norvir).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with vinorelbine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More vinorelbine resources Vinorelbine Side Effects (in more detail) Vinorelbine Dosage Vinorelbine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Vinorelbine Drug Interactions Vinorelbine Support Group 0 Reviews for Vinorelbine - Add your own review/rating vinorelbine Intravenous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information Vinorelbine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer) Vinorelbine Prescribing Information (FDA) Navelbine Monograph (AHFS DI) Compare vinorelbine with other medications Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Where can I get more information? Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about vinorelbine.

See also: vinorelbine side effects (in more detail)

vinorelbine

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