AVASTIN

Avastin is approved for:

• Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) for first- or second-line treatment in combination with intravenous 5-fluorouracil–based chemotherapy. It is also approved to treat mCRC for second-line treatment when used with fluoropyrimidine-based (combined with irinotecan or oxaliplatin) chemotherapy after cancer progresses following a first-line treatment that includes Avastin

  

  AVASTIN

  • Avastin is not approved for use after the primary treatment of colon cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body.
• Advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in people who have not received chemotherapy for their advanced disease
• Metastatic kidney cancer (mRCC) when used with interferon alfa
• Glioblastoma (GBM) when taken alone in adult patients whose cancer has progressed after prior treatment. The effectiveness of Avastin in GBM is based on tumor response. Currently, no data have shown whether or not Avastin improves disease-related symptoms or survival in people previously treated for GBM

Before receiving Avastin

Before receiving Avastin

You should not use Avastin if you are allergic to bevacizumab, or if you have:

• untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
• severe or uncontrolled bleeding;
• an open skin wound;
• an open surgical incision;
• if you have had surgery within the past 4 weeks (28 days);
• if you have recently been coughing up blood; or
• if you plan to have surgery within the next 4 weeks (28 days).

To make sure you can safely receive Avastin, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder;
• a history of stomach or intestinal bleeding;
• a history of perforation (a hole or tear) in your esophagus, stomach, or intestines;
• heart disease, congestive heart failure;
• high blood pressure; or
• a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Avastin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using bevacizumab. Avastin may cause a woman's ovaries to stop working correctly. Symptoms of ovarian failure include 3 or more missed menstrual periods in a row. This may affect your fertility (ability to have children). Talk to your doctor about your specific risks. It is not known whether bevacizumab passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are being treated with Avastin. Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from Avastin.

How is Avastin used ?

How is Avastin used ?

Treatment with Avastin may cause you to have problems with wound healing, which could result in bleeding or infection. If you need to have any type of surgery, you will need to stop receiving Avastin at least 4 weeks ahead of time. Do not start using Avastin for at least 4 weeks after surgery, or until your surgical incision heals.

Avastin is injected into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. The dose must be given slowly, and the IV infusion can take up to 90 minutes to complete.

Avastin is usually given once every 2 weeks.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your urine may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

Avastin must be stored in a refrigerator and kept from freezing. The bottles should never be shaken.

What should I avoid while using Avastin ?

Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.

Avastin side effects

Avastin can cause a rare but serious neurologic disorder affecting the brain. Symptoms include headache, confusion, vision problems, feeling very weak or tired, fainting, and seizure (blackout or convulsions). These rare symptoms may occur within hours of your first dose of Avastin, or they may not appear for up to a year after your treatment started. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects.

Some people receiving a Avastin injection have had a reaction to the infusion (when the medicine is injected into the vein). Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, sweaty, or have a headache, wheezing, or chest pain during the injection.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Avastin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as: