drug avastin
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 drug 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(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 drug avastin. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment withAvastin drug avastin.
• Do not have surgery without first talking to your doctor during or inthe month following treatment with Avastin drug avastin. Wound healing may be poor duringand immediately following treatment with Avastin, possibly resulting in bleedingor infection drug avastin. It may be necessary to stop treatment with Avastin for a periodof time if surgery is necessary drug avastin.
What is Avastin?
• Avastin is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication drug avastin. Avastin interferes withthe growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body drug avastin.
• Avastin is used in the treatment of cancers of the colon and rectum drug avastin.
• Avastin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide drug avastin.
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 drug avastin. Wound healing may be poor duringand immediately following treatment with Avastin, possibly resulting in bleedingor infection drug avastin. It may be necessary to stop treatment with Avastin for a periodof time if surgery is necessary drug avastin.
• 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 drug avastin.
• You may not be able to use Avastin, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment drug avastin.
• Avastin is in the FDA pregnancy category C drug avastin. This means that it is notknown whether Avastin will be harmful to an unborn baby drug avastin. Do not use Avastinwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment drug avastin. Discuss with your doctor the appropriate use of birth controlduring treatment with Avastin if necessary drug avastin.
• It is not known whether Avastin passes into breast milk drug avastin. Do not takeAvastin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby drug avastin.
• If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experienceside effects from Avastin drug avastin. You may require a lower dose of this medication drug avastin.
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 drug avastin.
• Avastin is administered as an intravenous (into the vein) infusion drug avastin. Mostoften, Avastin is administered in a hospital or clinic setting drug avastin. If you are administeringAvastin at home, your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructionsregarding preparation, administration, and storage of the medication drug avastin.
• Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatmentwith Avastin depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors drug avastin. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatmentschedule drug avastin.
• Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled bloodtests and other medical evaluations during treatment with Avastin to monitorprogress and side effects drug avastin.
• Your healthcare provider will store Avastin as directed by the manufacturer drug avastin. If you are storing Avastin at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcareprovider drug avastin.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of Avastin drug avastin.
What happens if I overdose?
• If an overdose of Avastin is suspected, seek emergency medical attentionor contact your healthcare provider immediately drug avastin.
• Symptoms of a Avastin overdose are not well known but may include headache drug avastin.
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 drug avastin. Wound healing may be poor duringand immediately following treatment with Avastin, possibly resulting in bleedingor infection drug avastin. It may be necessary to stop treatment with Avastin for a periodof time if surgery is necessary drug avastin.
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 drug avastin. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment withAvastin drug avastin.
• 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) drug avastin. 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) drug avastin.
• Other, less serious side effects may also occur drug avastin. 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 drug avastin.
• Side effects other than those listed here have also been reported drug avastin. Discusswith your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with Avastin drug avastin.
What other drugs will affect Avastin?
• Other medications may interact with Avastin drug avastin. 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 drug avastin.
Where can I get more information?
• Your healthcare provider may have additional information about Avastinthat you may read drug avastin.
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