bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate at a glance
Medicine class
Alkylating antitumour chemotherapy
How it is given
A prepared solution is given into a vein by a trained cancer-care team.
Important monitoring
Blood counts, infection risk, liver and kidney function, electrolytes and treatment response are monitored.
Longer-term precautions
Infection risk can persist after treatment. Skin examinations and awareness of new neurological symptoms are important.
What is bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate used for?
The selected UK products are licensed for:
First-line treatment of Binet stage B or C chronic lymphocytic leukaemia when fludarabine combination chemotherapy is unsuitable.
Indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma as monotherapy when disease has progressed during, or shortly after, rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen.
First-line treatment of specified progressive or advanced multiple myeloma, with prednisone, in older patients who cannot undergo autologous stem-cell transplantation and whose neuropathy prevents thalidomide- or bortezomib-containing treatment.
How does bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate work?
Bendamustine creates links within and between DNA strands. This disrupts DNA function, replication and repair, which can stop susceptible cancer cells dividing and lead to cell death.
bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate preparations and strengths
Solution for infusion
Route: Intravenous
Strengths: 2.5 mg/mL, 180 mg/4 mL
How to take bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate
Bendamustine is not taken at home. Pharmacy or clinical staff reconstitute and dilute the powder, and a clinician gives the solution through an intravenous infusion under specialist supervision.
Tell staff immediately if the infusion site burns, hurts, swells or becomes red.
Tell the team about all medicines, supplements and planned vaccinations.
Do not drive or operate machinery if dizziness, drowsiness, poor coordination or neuropathy occurs.
bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reduced white cells, platelets or haemoglobin
- Infections and fever
- Nausea or vomiting
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Inflamed mouth or other mucosal surfaces
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Reduced appetite
- Rash, itching or hair loss
Get urgent medical advice
- Serious or opportunistic infection, including sepsis or pneumonia
- Severe allergic or infusion reaction
- Severe blistering, peeling or widespread drug-related rash
- Marked bleeding or consequences of severe bone-marrow suppression
- Tumour lysis syndrome, which can damage the kidneys or heart
- Hepatitis B reactivation
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
- Heart attack, heart failure or serious rhythm disturbance
- Tissue injury if the infusion leaks outside the vein
bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate in pregnancy
Bendamustine can damage genetic material and caused embryo-fetal harm and malformations in animal studies. It should not be used during pregnancy unless the specialist considers it clearly necessary. Discuss pregnancy, contraception and fertility preservation before treatment; pregnancy during treatment requires immediate specialist review.
bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is contraindicated during treatment. It is unknown whether bendamustine enters human milk, so breastfeeding must stop if treatment is required.
bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate interactions
No in-vivo interaction studies are available. Important potential or pharmacodynamic interactions include:
Other bone-marrow-suppressing treatments
Combined use can intensify low blood-cell counts and related toxicity.
Cyclosporine or tacrolimus
Combined immunosuppression may become excessive and increase lymphoproliferative risk.
Live-virus vaccines
The immune response may be reduced and vaccine infection risk increased; yellow fever vaccination is contraindicated.
Common questions about bendamustine hydrochloride monohydrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is bendamustine chemotherapy?
Yes. It is cytotoxic alkylating chemotherapy that damages cancer-cell DNA.
Why are blood counts checked?
Bendamustine can suppress production of white cells, red cells and platelets, increasing infection, anaemia and bleeding risks.
Can infection risk continue after treatment?
Yes. Lymphocyte and CD4-cell suppression may persist, so opportunistic-infection risk can continue.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.