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.