Vinorelbine can cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order lab tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by this drug.
Vinorelbine should be administered only into a vein. However, it may leak into surrounding tissue causing severe irritation or damage. Your doctor or nurse will monitor your administration site for this reaction.
Your doctor has ordered the drug vinorelbine to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.
non-small cell lung cancer
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Vinorelbine 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.
Vinorelbine also is used to treat other cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and Hodgkin's disease. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
nausea
vomiting
thinned or brittle hair
constipation
diarrhea
fatigue
sore throat or mouth pain
unusual bleeding or bruising
redness, pain, or swelling at the site where the injection was given
fever
chills
shortness of breath
cough
abnormal burning and tingling
change in normal bowel habits for more than 2 days
severe constipation
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
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.
Last Reviewed - 09/01/2010
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.