Bleomycin : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Bleomycin can cause serious or life-threatening lung problems. Serious lung problems can occur more often in elderly patients and in those who receive higher doses of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lung disease. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: shortness of breath, shortness of breath, wheezing, fever, or chills.

Some people who received bleomycin injection to treat lymphomas had a severe allergic reaction. This reaction can occur immediately or several hours after the administration of the first or second dose of bleomycin. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: shortness of breath, fever, chills, fainting, dizziness, blurred vision, upset stomach, or confusion.

You will receive each dose of medicine at a medical facility and your doctor will monitor you carefully while you receive the medicine and afterwards.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body’s response to bleomycin.

Why is this medication prescribed?

Bleomycin injection is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat head and neck cancer (including cancer of the mouth, lips, cheeks, tongue, palate, throat, tonsils, and sinuses) and cancer of the penis, testicles. , cervix and vulva (the outside of the vagina). Bleomycin is also used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Hodgkin’s disease) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system) in combination with other medications. It is also used to treat pleural effusions (a condition in which fluid builds up in the lungs) caused by cancerous tumors. Bleomycin is a type of antibiotic that is only used in cancer chemotherapy. It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body.

How should this medicine be used?

Bleomycin comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid and injected intravenously (into a vein), intramuscularly (into a muscle), or subcutaneously (under the skin) by a doctor or nurse in a doctor’s office or department. outpatients of a hospital. It is usually injected once or twice a week. When bleomycin is used to treat pleural effusions, it is mixed with fluid and placed into the chest cavity through a chest tube (a plastic tube that is placed into the chest cavity through a cut in the skin).

Other uses for this medicine

Bleomycin is also sometimes used to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this drug for your condition.

This medicine may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking bleomycin,

  • Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to bleomycin or any of the ingredients in bleomycin injection. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to monitor you closely for side effects.
  • Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or lung disease.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You should not become pregnant while receiving bleomycin injection. If you become pregnant while receiving bleomycin, call your doctor. Bleomycin can harm the fetus.
  • If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving bleomycin.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

If you miss an appointment to receive bleomycin, call your doctor as soon as possible.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Bleomycin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • redness, blistering, tenderness, or thickening of the skin
  • darkened skin color
  • rash
  • hair loss
  • sores on the mouth or tongue
  • vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • weight loss

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

  • sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
  • sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding
  • sudden dizziness. loss of balance or coordination
  • sudden severe headache
  • chest pain
  • decreased urination

Bleomycin can cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medicine.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor can submit a report online to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim collapsed, had a seizure, is having trouble breathing, or is unable to wake up, immediately call 911 for emergency services.

What other information should I know?

It is important that you keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should take this list with you every time you visit a doctor or if you go into hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.

Brand Names

  • Blenoxane®

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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