BEVACIZUMAB - INJECTION (Avastin) side effects, medical uses, and drug interactions.

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GENERIC NAME: BEVACIZUMAB - INJECTION (bev-ah-CIZ-oo-mab)

BRAND NAME(S): Avastin

WARNING: This medication can rarely cause a tear in the stomach (gastrointestinal perforation and wound dehiscence) or bloody vomit, which sometimes can be fatal. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop: severe stomach/abdominal pain, constipation with vomiting, black/bloody stools, or blood in vomit. Tell your surgeon that you are taking this medication before having any type of surgery (see also Precautions section).

USES: This medication is a man-made antibody (IgG1) used along with chemotherapy to treat patients who have colon and rectal cancer, which has spread to other parts of the body. This drug works by blocking a certain protein (vascular endothelial growth factor-VEGF) that decreases the blood supply to the tumor and helps to slow tumor growth.

HOW TO USE: The first dose of this medication is administered by infusion into a vein over 90 minutes by a health care professional. Follow all instructions for proper mixing and dilution with the correct IV fluids. If you have questions regarding the use of this medication, consult your pharmacist. Do not shake. It is usually given once every 2 weeks. If this medication is tolerated, then later infusions can be given over a shorter time (60 or 30 minutes). The dosage is based on your condition, response to previous therapy, and your weight. Tell your doctor if your weight changes. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Try not to miss any doses. Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid.

SIDE EFFECTS: Dry mouth, cough, voice changes, pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, nausea, headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: trouble breathing, swelling of ankles/feet, fatigue, fever, persistent sore throat, difficulty urinating. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: chest pain, calf pain/swelling, one-sided weakness, slurred speech, vision changes, muscle cramps. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: severe stomach/abdominal pain, frothy urine, muscle loss, decreased amount of urine. Bevacizumab infrequently may cause blood clots to form, leading to serious medical conditions (heart attack/angina, stroke/TIA). Tell your doctor immediately if you develop chest pain/tightness, sudden vision changes, one-sided weakness, slurred speech. If any of these conditions occur, you should not be given this medication again. This medication can cause bleeding. Some episodes may be minor including nosebleeds, minor gum bleeding, and vaginal bleeding. If these persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Other episodes may be more serious including stomach bleeding (see also Warning section). This medication may cause high blood pressure. This reaction can be severe enough to require treatment with other drugs (e.g., beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, "water pills", or calcium channel blockers). Check your blood pressure regularly and report the results to your doctor, especially those that are high. A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, severe trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.