Vincristine

Vincristine is the generic name for the drug Oncovin or Vincasar. This drug is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of the disease throughout the body. Vincristine is prescribed to treat leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (soft tissue tumors), neuroblastoma and Wilm’s tumor. This drug was produced by Gensia Sicor Pharmaceuticals and was approved by the FDA in 1999.

In a few cases, Vincristine was accidentally added to spinal catheters, which will result in paralysis or death to the patient. There have been a number of deaths associated to the incorrect administration of Vincristine. Healthcare professionals have put procedures in place to ensure that these mistakes will not happen, such as administering Vincristine in a separate room from other drugs that are administered in the spine and clearly labeling the syringes.

Serious side effects may include:

• Signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, mouth pain, white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips
• Pale sking, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating
• Easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin
• Numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling
• Bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing)
• Stomach pain and tenderness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Severe constipation
• Painful or difficult urination, urinating more or less than usual or not at all
• Spinning sensation, feeling like you might pass out
• Seizure (convulsions)
• Problems with vision, hearing, speech, swallowing, balance, or daily activities
• Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, sudden headache or confusion
• Chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling
• Pain, burning, redness, swelling, or skin changes where the IV needle was placed

Less serious side effects may include:

• Temporary hair loss
• Decreased weight with loss of muscle tissue
• Jaw pain
• Tumor pain, bone pain
• Missed menstrual periods
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite
• Feeling weak or tired