Bevacizumab Injection

Bevacizumab is used with chemotherapy to treat cancer of the colon (large intestine) or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body. Bevacizumab is also used with chemotherapy to treat certain types of lung cancer. Bevacizumab is also used with chemotherapy to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and that has not been treated with other chemotherapy medications in the past. Bevacizumab is in a class of medications called antiangiogenic agents. It works by stopping the formation of blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to tumors. This may slow the growth and spread of tumors.

Bevacizumab comes as a solution to administer slowly into a vein. Bevacizumab is administered by a doctor or nurse in a medical office, infusion center, or hospital. Bevacizumab is usually given once every 14 days to treat breast cancer or cancer of the colon or rectum and once every 3 weeks to treat lung cancer. It should take 90 minutes for you to receive your first dose of bevacizumab. A doctor or nurse will watch you closely to see how your body reacts to bevacizumab. If you do not have any serious problems when you receive your first dose of bevacizumab, it will usually take 30 to 60 minutes for you to receive each of your remaining doses of the medication.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Bevacizumab may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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dizziness</li>
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fainting</li>
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nosebleeds</li>
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bleeding gums</li>
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weakness</li>
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loss of appetite</li>
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heartburn</li>
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change in ability to taste food</li>
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diarrhea</li>
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weight loss</li>
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dry mouth</li>
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sores on the skin or in the mouth</li>
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voice changes</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

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nosebleeds that cause dizziness or fainting or that do not stop after 10 to 15 minutes</li>
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unusual bruising or bleeding</li>
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black or bloody stools</li>
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bright red blood in stools</li>
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vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds</li>
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coughing, gagging, or choking after eating or drinking</li>
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severe vaginal bleeding</li>
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headache</li>
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neck pain</li>
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slow or difficult speech</li>
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dizziness or faintness</li>
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weakness or numbness of an arm or leg</li>
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chest pain</li>
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pain in the arms, neck, or upper back</li>
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shortness of breath</li>
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seizures</li>
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extreme tiredness</li>
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confusion</li>
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change in vision or loss of vision</li>
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sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection</li>
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swelling of the face, eyes, stomach, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs</li>
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unexplained weight gain</li>
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foamy urine</li>
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dry, hacking cough</li>
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pain, tenderness, warmth, redness, or swelling in one leg only</li>
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redness, itching, or scaling of the skin</li></ul>Bevacizumab may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before receiving bevacizumab, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to bevacizumab or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin); irinotecan (Camptosar); and sunitinib (Sutent). Also tell your doctor if you are taking or if you have ever taken an anthracycline (a type of chemotherapy used for breast cancer and some types of leukemia) such as daunorubicin (Cerubidine), doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex), epirubicin (Ellence), or idarubicin (Idamycin). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have ever been treated with radiation therapy to the left side of your chest; and if you have or have ever had cancer that spread to your brain or spine, high blood pressure, or any condition that affects your heart or blood vessels (tubes that move blood between the heart and other parts of the body).

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

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headache</li></ul>