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What is the most important information I should know about bevacizumab?
Bevacizumab should only be administered under the supervision
of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic
agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of bevacizumab including:
severe allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives; and low blood pressure);
stomach problems (holes in the stomach or intestines); bleeding problems
(nosebleeds; bleeding in the lungs, stomach, or head); poor wound healing
or wound reopening; severe high blood pressure; kidney problems; heart
problems; stroke; chest pain; and others. Talk to your doctor about the
possible side effects from treatment with bevacizumab.
Do not have surgery without first talking to your doctor during or in
the month following treatment with bevacizumab. Wound healing may be poor
during and immediately following treatment with bevacizumab, possibly
resulting in bleeding or infection. It may be necessary to stop treatment
with bevacizumab for a period of time if surgery is necessary.
What is bevacizumab?
Bevacizumab is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. bevacizumab
interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and
spread in the body.
Bevacizumab is used in the treatment of cancers of the colon and
rectum.
Bevacizumab may also be used for purposes other than those listed
in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using bevacizumab?
donot Do not have surgery without first talking to your doctor during
or in the month following treatment with bevacizumab. Wound healing may
be poor during and immediately following treatment with bevacizumab, possibly
resulting in bleeding or infection. It may be necessary to stop treatment
with bevacizumab for a period of time if surgery is necessary.
Before using bevacizumab, tell your doctor if you have
* liver disease;
* kidney disease;
* heart disease or high blood pressure;
* a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke), or bleeding
in the brain; or
* an open wound.
You may not be able to use bevacizumab, or you may require a dosage adjustment
or special monitoring during treatment.
nopreg bevacizumab is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that
it is not known whether bevacizumab will be harmful to an unborn baby.
Do not use bevacizumab without first talking to your doctor if you are
pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Discuss with your
doctor the appropriate use of birth control during treatment with bevacizumab
if necessary.
nobrfeed It is not known whether bevacizumab passes into breast milk.
Do not take bevacizumab without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast feeding a baby.
If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience
side effects from bevacizumab. You may require a lower dose of this medication.
How should I use bevacizumab?
Bevacizumab should only be administered under the supervision
of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic
agents.
Bevacizumab is administered as an intravenous (into the vein)
infusion. Most often, bevacizumab is administered in a hospital
or clinic setting. If you are administering bevacizumab at home,
your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions regarding
preparation, administration, and storage of the medication.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment
with bevacizumab depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other
factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding
the treatment schedule.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood
tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with bevacizumab
to monitor progress and side effects.
Bevacizumab vials should be stored in the refrigerator. bevacizumab
vials should be protected from light. Store bevacizumab in the
original carton until it is used. Do not freeze or shake bevacizumab
products.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of bevacizumab.
What happens if I overdose?
emt If an overdose of bevacizumab is suspected, seek emergency medical
attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Symptoms of a bevacizumab overdose are not well known but may include
headache.
What should I avoid while using bevacizumab?
donot Do not have surgery without first talking to your doctor during
or in the month following treatment with bevacizumab. Wound healing may
be poor during and immediately following treatment with bevacizumab, possibly
resulting in bleeding or infection. It may be necessary to stop treatment
with bevacizumab for a period of time if surgery is necessary.
What are the possible side effects of bevacizumab?
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of bevacizumab including:
severe allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives; and low blood pressure);
stomach problems (perforation of the stomach or intestines); bleeding
problems (nosebleeds; bleeding in the lungs, stomach, or head); poor wound
healing or wound reopening; severe high blood pressure; kidney problems;
heart problems; stroke; chest pain; and others. Talk to your doctor about
the possible side effects from treatment with bevacizumab.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects from bevacizumab,
seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
* constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain (may indicate stomach problems);
* leukopenia (an abnormal lowering of the white blood cell count). Symptoms
of leukopenia including fever or signs of infection;
* proteinuria (the presence of excessive amounts of protein in the urine);
* nosebleed, coughing up blood, blood in vomit or stools, dizziness, loss
of consciousness, severe weakness or paralysis (may indicate bleeding
problems such as bleeding in the lungs, stomach, or head);
* poor wound healing;
* redness of the face, severe headache (may indicate severe high blood
pressure);
* little or no urine production (may indicate kidney problems);
* chest pain, difficulty breathing, swelling or water retention (may indicate
heart problems);
* redness, pain, or swelling of the leg (may indicate blood clot in the
leg); or
* chest pain or shortness of breath (may indicate blood clot in the lung).
Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to use bevacizumab
and talk to your doctor if you experience:
* diarrhea;
* nausea or decreased appetite;
* weakness;
* headache;
* dizziness;
* skin rash;
* swelling of the tongue or sores in the mouth; or
* hair loss.
Side effects other than those listed here have also been reported. Discuss
with your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with bevacizumab.
What other drugs will affect bevacizumab?
Other medications may interact with bevacizumab. Talk to your doctor
and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter
medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products, during treatment
with bevacizumab.
Where can I get more information?
Your healthcare provider may have additional information about bevacizumab
that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Bevacizumab injection is available with a prescription under the
brand name avastin. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available.
Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist any questions you have about
this medication, especially if it is new to you.
* avastin 100 mg/4 mL
* avastin 400 mg/16 mL
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,
never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for
the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by
Cerner Multum, Inc. (’Multum’) is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein
may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by
healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore
Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate,
unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum’s drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum’s drug
information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare
practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing
this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise,
skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence
of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be
construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective
or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility
for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover
all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions,
allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the
drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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