MedlinePlus Drug Information: Vincristine

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Other drug names:	A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9

Vincristine

(vin kris' teen)

Brand name(s): Oncovin; Vincasar

Contents of this page:
About your treatment Other uses for this medicine Precautions	Side effects In case of emergency/overdose Special instructions

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Vincristine when administered into a vein may leak into surrounding tissue. Your doctor or nurse will monitor your administration site for this reaction.

About your treatment

Your doctor has ordered the drug vincristine to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.

This medication is used to treat:

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.

Other uses for this medicine

Vincristine also is 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.

Precautions

Before taking vincristine,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to vincristine or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially aspirin, itraconazole (Sporanox), and vitamins.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, liver, nerve, or muscle disease.
tell your doctor if you are currently receiving radiation therapy.
you should know that vincristine may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Vincristine may harm the fetus.
do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.

Side effects

Side effects from vincristine are common and include:

nausea and vomiting
stomach pain and cramps
constipation
diarrhea
jaw pain, headache, or other aches
thinned or brittle hair

Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or lasts for several hours:

fatigue
mouth blistering

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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

In case of emergency/overdose

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.

Special instructions

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 Revised - 01/01/2003

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer