avastin vs erbitux
bevacizumab (beh va KIZ you mab)
What is the most important information I should know about Avastin?
• Avastin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualifiedhealthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents avastin vs erbitux.
• Serious side effects have been reported with the use of Avastin including:severe allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swellingof the lips, tongue, or face; hives; and low blood pressure); stomach problems(holes in the stomach or intestines); bleeding problems (nosebleeds; bleedingin the lungs, stomach, or head); poor wound healing or wound reopening; severehigh blood pressure; kidney problems; heart problems; stroke; chest pain; andothers avastin vs erbitux. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment withAvastin avastin vs erbitux.
• Do not have surgery without first talking to your doctor during or inthe month following treatment with Avastin avastin vs erbitux. Wound healing may be poor duringand immediately following treatment with Avastin, possibly resulting in bleedingor infection avastin vs erbitux. It may be necessary to stop treatment with Avastin for a periodof time if surgery is necessary avastin vs erbitux.
What is Avastin?
• Avastin is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication avastin vs erbitux. Avastin interferes withthe growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body avastin vs erbitux.
• Avastin is used in the treatment of cancers of the colon and rectum avastin vs erbitux.
• Avastin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide avastin vs erbitux.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using Avastin?
• Do not have surgery without first talking to your doctor during or inthe month following treatment with Avastin avastin vs erbitux. Wound healing may be poor duringand immediately following treatment with Avastin, possibly resulting in bleedingor infection avastin vs erbitux. It may be necessary to stop treatment with Avastin for a periodof time if surgery is necessary avastin vs erbitux.
• Before using Avastin, tell your doctor if you have
· liver disease;
· kidney disease;
· heart disease or high blood pressure;
· a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke), or bleedingin the brain; or
· an open wound avastin vs erbitux.
• You may not be able to use Avastin, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment avastin vs erbitux.
• Avastin is in the FDA pregnancy category C avastin vs erbitux. This means that it is notknown whether Avastin will be harmful to an unborn baby avastin vs erbitux. Do not use Avastinwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment avastin vs erbitux. Discuss with your doctor the appropriate use of birth controlduring treatment with Avastin if necessary avastin vs erbitux.
• It is not known whether Avastin passes into breast milk avastin vs erbitux. Do not takeAvastin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby avastin vs erbitux.
• If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experienceside effects from Avastin avastin vs erbitux. You may require a lower dose of this medication avastin vs erbitux.
How should I use Avastin?
• Avastin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualifiedhealthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents avastin vs erbitux.
• Avastin is administered as an intravenous (into the vein) infusion avastin vs erbitux. Mostoften, Avastin is administered in a hospital or clinic setting avastin vs erbitux. If you are administeringAvastin at home, your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructionsregarding preparation, administration, and storage of the medication avastin vs erbitux.
• Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatmentwith Avastin depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors avastin vs erbitux. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatmentschedule avastin vs erbitux.
• Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled bloodtests and other medical evaluations during treatment with Avastin to monitorprogress and side effects avastin vs erbitux.
• Your healthcare provider will store Avastin as directed by the manufacturer avastin vs erbitux. If you are storing Avastin at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcareprovider avastin vs erbitux.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of Avastin avastin vs erbitux.
What happens if I overdose?
• If an overdose of Avastin is suspected, seek emergency medical attentionor contact your healthcare provider immediately avastin vs erbitux.
• Symptoms of a Avastin overdose are not well known but may include headache avastin vs erbitux.
What should I avoid while using Avastin?
• Do not have surgery without first talking to your doctor during or inthe month following treatment with Avastin avastin vs erbitux. Wound healing may be poor duringand immediately following treatment with Avastin, possibly resulting in bleedingor infection avastin vs erbitux. It may be necessary to stop treatment with Avastin for a periodof time if surgery is necessary avastin vs erbitux.
What are the possible side effects of Avastin?
• Serious side effects have been reported with the use of Avastin including:severe allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swellingof the lips, tongue, or face; hives; and low blood pressure); stomach problems(perforation of the stomach or intestines); bleeding problems (nosebleeds; bleedingin the lungs, stomach, or head); poor wound healing or wound reopening; severehigh blood pressure; kidney problems; heart problems; stroke; chest pain; andothers avastin vs erbitux. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment withAvastin avastin vs erbitux.
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects from Avastin,seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
· constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain (may indicate stomach problems);
· leukopenia (an abnormal lowering of the white blood cell count) avastin vs erbitux. Symptomsof leukopenia including fever or signs of infection;
· proteinuria (the presence of excessive amounts of protein in the urine);
· nosebleed, coughing up blood, blood in vomit or stools, dizziness,loss of consciousness, severe weakness or paralysis (may indicate bleeding problemssuch as bleeding in the lungs, stomach, or head);
· poor wound healing;
· redness of the face, severe headache (may indicate severe high bloodpressure);
· little or no urine production (may indicate kidney problems);
· chest pain, difficulty breathing, swelling or water retention (mayindicate heart problems);
· redness, pain, or swelling of the leg (may indicate blood clot in theleg); or
· chest pain or shortness of breath (may indicate blood clot in the lung) avastin vs erbitux.
• Other, less serious side effects may also occur avastin vs erbitux. Continue to use Avastinand talk to your doctor if you experience:
· diarrhea;
· nausea or decreased appetite;
· weakness;
· headache;
· dizziness;
· skin rash;
· swelling of the tongue or sores in the mouth; or
· hair loss avastin vs erbitux.
• Side effects other than those listed here have also been reported avastin vs erbitux. Discusswith your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with Avastin avastin vs erbitux.
What other drugs will affect Avastin?
• Other medications may interact with Avastin avastin vs erbitux. Talk to your doctor andpharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines,including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products, during treatment with Avastin avastin vs erbitux.
Where can I get more information?
• Your healthcare provider may have additional information about Avastinthat you may read avastin vs erbitux.
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