Search The Medical Knowledge Base

Drug Details

VELBE

• Drug Class Description
  Vinca alkaloids (cytotoxics).
• Generic Name
  Vinblastine
• Presentation
  Powder for injection, vinblastine sulphate 10 mg .
• Description
  Powder (in form of lyophilised plug) in vials.
• Indications
  For intravenous use. Current information suggests Velbe may be useful, either alone or in combination with other oncolytic drugs for the treatment of: Hodgkin's disease; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; carcinoma of the breast; methotrexate-resistant choriocarcinoma; renal cell carcinoma; testicular teratoma and seminoma; histiocytosis X. Other neoplasms occasionally show a marked response to Velbe, but less frequently than the more susceptible conditions listed above.
• Adult Dosage
  

  For intravenous use only; fatal if given intrathecally. Should be administered only by individuals experienced in vinblastine administration. Recommended dose is 6mg/m2 usually administered no more frequently than every seven days. frequently than every seven days. For testicular tumours, the dosage may be increased to 0.2mg/ kg administered on each of two consecutive days every three weeks. Refer to Summary of Product Characteristics.

• Child Dosage
  For intravenous use only; fatal if given intrathecally. Dose, as for adults.
• Contra Indications
  

  Intrathecal administration. Should not be used in patients with leucopenia (unless a result of the disease being treated) or bacterial infection. Pregnancy, lactation.

• Special Precautions
  Refer to Summary of Product Characteristics.
• Interactions
  Refer to Summary of Product Characteristics.
• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  Leucopenia is the most common adverse effect (usually the dose- limiting factor). After high doses, most commonly, constipation, abdominal pain, ileus and myalgia. Refer to Summary of Product Characteristics.