Avastin was once used as a breast cancer treatment, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that the benefits of the medicine didn't outweigh the risks for most breast cancer patients.
The drug is in a class of medications known as antiangiogenic agents, which work by stopping the formation of blood vessels that feed tumors.
Avastin is typically given along with other chemotherapy treatments. It's often used as a second-line treatment or given when cancers have spread to other areas of the body.
The medicine was first approved by the FDA to treat advanced colon cancer in 2004.
Avastin is manufactured by Genentech/Roche.
Avastin and Lucentis
Avastin has also been used off-label to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (an eye disease)."Off label" refers to a drug that is prescribed to treat a disease or condition for which is has not been approved by the FDA. Many drugs are used this way and are still safe and effective.
In 2007, the manufacturer decided to discontinue making the drug available to compounding pharmacies for this purpose. The manufacturer, Genentech, has another drug, ranibizumab ophthalmic (Lucentis), that's used to treat macular degenration.
However, after protests from healthcare professionals, this decision was reversed.
Ranibizumab is generally considered safer than Avastin in the treatment of macular degenration; however, it is also more expensive.
If you have macular degeneration, talk to your doctor about which drug is best for you.
Avastin Warnings
Avastin contains a black-box warning because it could put you at risk for developing a serious or life-threatening hole in the wall of your stomach or intestine.Call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms while receiving Avastin:
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Constipation
Call your doctor immediately if you experience any problems with wound healing.
Tell your physician if you've recently had a surgical procedure or plan to have one. This medicine shouldn't be used for 28 days before or after a surgery.
Avastin contains yet another black-box warning because of the risk for severe or life-threatening bleeding.
Tell your doctor if you've recently coughed up blood, or if you experience any of the following symptoms while receiving Avastin:
- Nosebleeds
- Bleeding from your gums
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Coughing up or vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Increased menstrual flow
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Pink, red, or dark brown urine
- Red or tarry black bowel movements
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- High blood pressure
- Any condition that affects the heart or blood vessels
- A bleeding or blood-clotting disorder
- A history of stomach or intestinal bleeding
- Cancer that spread to your brain or spine
Some people who receive Avastin have a reaction to the infusion. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience the following during your injection:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Wheezing
Your doctor will probably want to check your blood pressure and urine often while you're receiving Avastin.
Make sure to keep all appointments with your physician and laboratory while using this medicine.
Pregnancy and Avastin
It's not known whether Avastin will harm an unborn baby. The medicine did cause birth defects in animal studies.Avastin may make it difficult for some women to become pregnant. Avastin may cause a woman's ovaries to stop working properly, which could affect fertility.
Talk to your doctor if you're pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the future.
If you stop receiving Avastin, you should keep using birth control methods for at least six months before trying to conceive.
It's not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk or could harm a breastfeeding baby. Breastfeeding while receiving Avastin isn't recommended.
Avastin Side Effects
Common Side Effects of Avastin
Tell your doctor if any of the following side effects become severe or don't go away:- Loss of appetite
- Heartburn
- Change in taste
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Dry mouth
- Voice changes
- High blood pressure
- Sores on the skin or in the mouth
Serious Side Effects of Avastin
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the symptoms listed in the Warning section, or any of the following serious side effects:- Gagging, coughing, or choking after drinking or eating
- Slow or difficult speech
- Dizziness or fainting
- Weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
- Pain in the arms, neck, or upper back
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Seizures
- Extreme fatigue
- Vision loss or changes in vision
- Confusion
- Signs of infection, which may include fever, chills, or sore throat
- Unexplained weight gain
- Swelling of the eyes, face, stomach, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- Foamy urine
- Dry, hacking cough
- Itching, redness, or scaling of the skin
- Pain, swelling, redness, or warmth in one leg only
Avastin Interactions
Tell
your doctor about all prescription, non-prescription, illegal,
recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you're taking,
especially:
Use caution around sharp objects to avoid your chances of getting cut or bruised.
- Anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin)
- Irinotecan (Camptosar)
- Sunitinib (Sutent)
- Daunorubicin (Cerubidine)
- Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex)
- Epirubicin (Ellence)
- Idarubicin (Idamycin)
Avastin and Other Interactions
Don't receive any immunizations without your doctor's approval while taking Avastin.Use caution around sharp objects to avoid your chances of getting cut or bruised.
Avastin Dosage
Avastin comes as a solution to inject slowly into a vein. A nurse or doctor will administer your dose of the medicine.
Your dose will depend on your medical condition, weight, and response to treatment.
The drug is typically given every 14 days for cancers of the kidney, colon, rectum, and brain. It's usually given every three weeks to treat lung cancer.
It takes about 90 minutes to receive the first dose of Avastin because your doctor will monitor your response carefully.
After that, it takes about 30 to 60 minutes to receive future doses.
You can get in touch with a poison control center at (800) 222-1222.
Your dose will depend on your medical condition, weight, and response to treatment.
The drug is typically given every 14 days for cancers of the kidney, colon, rectum, and brain. It's usually given every three weeks to treat lung cancer.
It takes about 90 minutes to receive the first dose of Avastin because your doctor will monitor your response carefully.
After that, it takes about 30 to 60 minutes to receive future doses.
Avastin Overdose
If you suspect an overdose, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.You can get in touch with a poison control center at (800) 222-1222.
