Avastin

Generic name: Bevacizumab
Drug class: VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

Usage of Avastin

Avastin injection is used in combination with other chemotherapy medications to treat certain types of colon and rectal cancer (cancer that begins in the large intestine), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), glioblastoma (a certain type of cancerous brain tumor), renal cell cancer (RCC, a type of cancer that begins in the kidney), cervical cancer (cancer that begins in the opening of the uterus [womb]), and ovarian (female reproductive organs where eggs are formed), fallopian tube (tube that transports eggs released by the ovaries to the uterus), or peritoneal (layer of tissue that lines the abdomen) cancer.

Avastin is also used in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery in people who have not previously received chemotherapy.

Avastin belongs to a class of medications called antiangiogenic agents. Bevacizumab works by stopping the formation of blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to tumors. This may slow the growth and spread of tumors.

Avastin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Avastin: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your medical caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, itchy, sweaty, or have a headache, chest tightness, back pain, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face.

Bevacizumab can cause a serious but rare neurologic disorder that affects the brain. Symptoms may occur within hours of your first dose or may not appear for up to a year after your treatment started. Call your doctor at once if you have: extreme weakness or tiredness, headache, confusion, vision problems, fainting, or seizures (blackout or convulsions).

Bevacizumab can cause you to bleed more easily. Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you have:

  • easy bruising, unusual bleeding, or any bleeding that will not stop;
  • signs of bleeding in your digestive tract - severe stomach pain, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or
  • signs of bleeding in the brain - sudden numbness or weakness, slurred speech, severe headache, problems with vision or balance.

    • Some people taking Avastin have developed a perforation (a hole or tear) or a fistula (an abnormal passageway) in the stomach, intestines, throat, lungs, gallbladder, kidney, bladder, or vagina. Call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or if you feel like you are choking when you eat or drink.

    Also call your doctor if you have:

  • slow wound healing;
  • skin infection or open sores;
  • missed menstrual periods;
  • kidney problems - swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath;
  • signs of a blood clot - chest pain, sudden cough or shortness of breath, dizziness, coughing up blood, pain, swelling, or warmth in one leg;
  • heart problems - chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating, swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath; or
  • low white blood cell counts - fever, mouth sores, skin sores, sore throat, cough.

    • Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

    Common Avastin side effects may include:

  • increased blood pressure;
  • headache, back pain;
  • dry or watery eyes;
  • dry or flaky skin;
  • stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing; or
  • altered sense of taste.

    • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Avastin

    You may not be able to use Avastin if you are being treating with other cancer medicines such as doxorubicin, daunorubicin, or if you have or ever had:

  • ovarian cancer with symptoms such as severe stomach pain or pelvic pain;
  • slow healing of a skin wound or surgical incision;
  • surgery within the past 4 weeks (28 days);
  • you plan to have surgery within the next 4 weeks (28 days); or
  • coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

    • To make sure Avastin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • diabetes;
  • heart problems such as a heart attack, stroke, blood clot or blood clotting disorder;
  • high blood pressure;
  • bleeding problems or a perforation (a hole or tear) in your esophagus, stomach, or intestines; or
  • kidney disease.

    • Bevacizumab may harm an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. You may need a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant. Use effective birth control while using Avastin and for at least 6 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor at once if you become pregnant.

    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. It may be harder for you to get pregnant while you are using this medicine and after this treatment. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk.

    Do not breastfeed while using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.

    Relate drugs

    How to use Avastin

    Avastin is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

    Tell your caregivers right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, sweaty, or have a headache, shortness of breath, or chest pain during the injection.

    Avastin is usually given once every 2 or 3 weeks.

    Doses are based on weight. Your dose may change if you gain or lose weight.

    You may need frequent medical tests and your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

    Warnings

    Avastin can make it easier for you to bleed. Seek emergency medical attention if you have any bleeding that will not stop. You may also have bleeding on the inside of your body.

    Call your doctor if you have: signs of bleeding in your digestive tract--feeling very weak or dizzy, severe stomach pain, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or signs of bleeding in the brain--sudden numbness or weakness, slurred speech, severe headache, problems with vision or balance.

    Avastin can also cause problems with wound healing, which could result in bleeding or infection. Do not use Avastin within 28 days before or after a planned surgery.

    Bevacizumab can cause a rare but serious neurologic disorder affecting the brain. Symptoms include headache, confusion, vision problems, feeling very weak or tired, fainting, and seizure (blackout or convulsions). These rare symptoms may occur within hours of your first dose of Avastin, or they may not appear for up to a year after your treatment started. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects.

    Some people receiving an Avastin injection have had a reaction to the infusion (when the medicine is injected into the vein). Tell your medical caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, sweaty, itchy, or have a fast heartbeat, chills, wheezing, or chest pain during the injection.

    What other drugs will affect Avastin

    Tell your doctor about all other cancer treatments you are receiving.

    Other drugs may interact with bevacizumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

    Popular FAQ

    Your doctor may use Avastin (bevacizumab) to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic eye disease or other eye problems. It is injected into the eye to help slow vision loss. These uses are considered “off-label” meaning your doctor might use Avastin for unapproved uses if they believe it’s helpful.

    Avastin (bevacizumab) is not chemotherapy. It is a monoclonal antibody immunotherapy that binds to a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Bevacizumab kills cancer by preventing growth of blood vessels that feed tumor growth (an anti-angiogenic). Avastin may be used alone or with chemotherapy to treat certain types of cancer.

    In studies of cervical cancer, colon cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and kidney cancer Avastin has been shown to shrink and slow the spread of cancerous tumors when given in addition to other treatments. It also helped some people live longer. Your results with Avastin treatment may differ.

    In most cases, you will receive Avastin infusions as long as your cancer is controlled and you are tolerating the side effects. For some diagnoses, you may also receive chemotherapy or only have a certain number of cycles. The length of time you take Avastin depends on your diagnosis and regimen.

    In clinical studies, Avastin has been shown to extend the length of time people can live with certain cancers. It can also help extend the time you live without your tumor growing or spreading. It may be given with chemotherapy or other medicines. Your individual success rate may vary from other patients.

    Everyone reacts differently to Avastin treatment. Some side effects may lessen over days to weeks as you get used to the medicine, while others may last even after treatment is stopped. Not everyone has serious or life-threatening side effects. Your doctor will stop treatment if any serious side effects occur.

    Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are man-made proteins that mimic the natural antibodies produced by our immune systems. Monoclonal antibodies can be formulated into medicines to treat various types of illnesses, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. Continue reading

    A biosimilar is a biological product that is similar to a reference biologic (usually the original product) and for which there are no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety, purity, and potency. As an example, the biosimilar Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) was approved as the first biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab). Continue reading

    Anti-VEGF drugs slow the abnormal growth of blood vessels associated with certain cancers and degenerative eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration. Anti-VEGF stands for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. Continue reading

    Your doctor may use Avastin (bevacizumab) to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic eye disease or other eye problems. It is injected into the eye to help slow vision loss. These uses are considered “off-label” meaning your doctor might use Avastin for unapproved uses if they believe it’s helpful.

    Avastin (bevacizumab) is not chemotherapy. It is a monoclonal antibody immunotherapy that binds to a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Bevacizumab kills cancer by preventing growth of blood vessels that feed tumor growth (an anti-angiogenic). Avastin may be used alone or with chemotherapy to treat certain types of cancer.

    In studies of cervical cancer, colon cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and kidney cancer Avastin has been shown to shrink and slow the spread of cancerous tumors when given in addition to other treatments. It also helped some people live longer. Your results with Avastin treatment may differ.

    In most cases, you will receive Avastin infusions as long as your cancer is controlled and you are tolerating the side effects. For some diagnoses, you may also receive chemotherapy or only have a certain number of cycles. The length of time you take Avastin depends on your diagnosis and regimen.

    Everyone reacts differently to Avastin treatment. Some side effects may lessen over days to weeks as you get used to the medicine, while others may last even after treatment is stopped. Not everyone has serious or life-threatening side effects. Your doctor will stop treatment if any serious side effects occur.

    In clinical studies, Avastin has been shown to extend the length of time people can live with certain cancers. It can also help extend the time you live without your tumor growing or spreading. It may be given with chemotherapy or other medicines. Your individual success rate may vary from other patients.

    Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are man-made proteins that mimic the natural antibodies produced by our immune systems. Monoclonal antibodies can be formulated into medicines to treat various types of illnesses, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. Continue reading

    A biosimilar is a biological product that is similar to a reference biologic (usually the original product) and for which there are no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety, purity, and potency. As an example, the biosimilar Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) was approved as the first biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab). Continue reading

    Anti-VEGF drugs slow the abnormal growth of blood vessels associated with certain cancers and degenerative eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration. Anti-VEGF stands for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. Continue reading

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords