vinblastine sulfate at a glance
Medicine class
Cytotoxic chemotherapy; vinca alkaloid
Main licensed uses
Hodgkin disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and selected breast, kidney, testicular, placental and histiocytic cancers
Administration
Given into a vein by a trained specialist team; it must never be administered into the spine
What is vinblastine sulfate used for?
Licensed indications for the selected product include:
Hodgkin disease
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Breast carcinoma
Methotrexate-resistant choriocarcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma
Testicular teratoma and seminoma
Histiocytosis X, now commonly called Langerhans cell histiocytosis
How does vinblastine sulfate work?
Vinblastine binds to tubulin and prevents microtubules forming normally. This arrests cells during metaphase, so rapidly dividing cancer cells cannot complete cell division; healthy dividing cells can also be affected.
vinblastine sulfate preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 1 mg/mL
How to take vinblastine sulfate
Vinblastine sulfate is administered in hospital into a vein, through a cannula, central venous catheter, implanted port or running intravenous line. Tell the treating nurse immediately about pain, stinging, burning or swelling because leakage outside the vein can damage tissue.
It is not taken by mouth, so food does not determine its administration.
Only staff trained in cytotoxic chemotherapy should prepare and administer it.
It must never be given intrathecally, intramuscularly or subcutaneously.
vinblastine sulfate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reduced white blood cells and increased infection risk
- Anaemia or easier bruising and bleeding from bone-marrow suppression
- Constipation, abdominal discomfort, nausea or vomiting
- Reduced appetite and mouth soreness
- Hair thinning or hair loss
- Numbness, tingling, muscle, bone or jaw pain
- Tiredness, weakness or headache
Get urgent medical advice
- Fever, sore throat or other signs of infection when blood counts are low
- Severe allergic reaction with breathing difficulty or facial or throat swelling
- Pain, burning or swelling at the injection site, suggesting extravasation
- Seizures, marked weakness or severe neurological symptoms
- Severe constipation, abdominal swelling, gastrointestinal bleeding or suspected bowel obstruction
- New severe breathlessness, particularly when used with mitomycin
- Chest pain, stroke symptoms or severe circulation problems
vinblastine sulfate in pregnancy
Human pregnancy information is limited, and vinblastine may harm a fetus. Product information restricts its use during pregnancy to life-threatening or severe disease when safer treatments are unsuitable or ineffective; management requires a specialist oncology–obstetric team. Effective contraception is advised during treatment and for the product-specified period afterwards.
vinblastine sulfate while breastfeeding
Product information advises against breastfeeding throughout treatment and for one week afterwards. An independent lactation review is more cautious because vinblastine has a long elimination half-life, so any decision about starting or restarting breastfeeding requires specialist advice.
vinblastine sulfate interactions
The oncology team should review all prescribed, non-prescription and complementary products. Important interactions include:
Mitomycin
The combination can cause serious or fatal respiratory distress, particularly where lung function is already impaired.
Phenytoin and other anticonvulsants
Anticonvulsant concentrations may fall, reducing seizure control and requiring clinical and blood-level monitoring.
Erythromycin
It may increase vinblastine toxicity, including neutropenia, muscle pain and constipation.
CYP3A inhibitors
Common questions about vinblastine sulfate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is vinblastine sulfate chemotherapy?
Yes. It is a cytotoxic chemotherapy from the vinca-alkaloid class.
Which cancers is vinblastine sulfate licensed to treat?
The selected product is licensed for Hodgkin disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and selected breast, kidney, testicular, placental and histiocytic cancers.
How is vinblastine sulfate given?
A trained specialist administers it into a vein through suitable intravenous access.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.