Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. Speak to your doctor if you are worried about
being given this medicine.
1. Why am I being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection?
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection contains the active ingredient vinblastine sulfate. DBL
VINBLASTINE Injection is used to treat some types of cancers. For more information,
see Section
1. Why am I receiving DBL VINBLASTINE Injection? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to DBL VINBLASTINE Injection
or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI. Tell your doctor if you have
an infection or high temperature, liver disease, chicken pox, shingles, gout or kidney
stones. Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other
medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. You must
not be given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
For more information, see Section
2. What should I know before being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How am I given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection?
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection is given by a slow injection (drip) into a vein. DBL VINBLASTINE
Injection will be given to you by a doctor or nurse. For more information, see Section
4. How am I given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection?
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Things you should do
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Tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions or if you take any other
medicines, and remind them you are being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while being treated with DBL VINBLASTINE
Injection.
Tell your doctor if you experience any signs of infection, such as fever, sore throat,
unusual bleeding or bruising.
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Things you should not do
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Do not receive DBL VINBLASTINE Injection if you have had an allergic reaction to vinblastine
sulfate or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
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Driving or using machines
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Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how DBL VINBLASTINE Injection
affects you. DBL VINBLASTINE Injection may cause dizziness, drowsiness or affect coordination.
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Drinking alcohol
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There is no information as to how DBL VINBLASTINE Injection interacts with alcohol..
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Looking after your medicine
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DBL VINBLASTINE Injection is stored appropriately in the pharmacy or on the hospital
ward.
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6. Are there any side effects?
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection can lower the number of white blood cells and platelets
in your blood, increasing your chance of bleeding or getting an infection. DBL VINBLASTINE
Injection side effects are generally dose related and include nausea, vomiting, constipation,
diarrhoea, drowsiness, dizziness, general weakness. Other side effects include hair
loss, weight loss, problems with ejaculation, lack of menstrual periods, blisters
on skin, ringing in the ears, problems with balance and depressed mood. Serious side
effects include infections with fever and severe chills, signs of an allergic reaction,
severe pain, redness, swelling, discolouration, blistering, warmth or oozing at the
site of injection, unusual bleeding or bruising, pressure, tightness or pain in chest
or arms, and numbness or tingling in fingers, toes, arms or legs or trouble walking.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section
6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
Active ingredient:
vinblastine sulfate
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking
to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using
this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection?
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection contains the active ingredient vinblastine sulfate.
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection belongs to a group of medicines called cytotoxic medicines
that work by killing cancer cells and stopping cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
These are also known as chemotherapy medicines. DBL VINBLASTINE Injection is classified
as a ‘vinca alkaloid’ type of cytotoxic and is used to treat some types of cancers
including
Hodgkin’s disease (Stages III and IV)
Advanced testicular cancer
Lymphocytic lymphoma
Histiocytic lymphoma
Advanced mycosis fungoides
Kaposi’s sarcoma
Histiocytosis X
Choriocarcinoma
Breast cancer
DBL VINBLASTINE may be given alone or together with other medicines in the treatment
of cancer.
2. What should I know before being given DBL VINBLASTINE?
Warnings
Do not receive DBL VINBLASTINE if:
You are allergic to vinblastine, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this
leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
You have any condition with a reduced number of red blood cells, white blood cells
or platelets.
You have an infection or high temperature.
Your doctor may decide to delay your treatment until the infection has gone. A mild
illness, such as a cold, is not usually a reason to delay treatment.
Females: you must not be given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection if you are pregnant or intend
to become pregnant.
Like most cytotoxic medicines, this medicine is not recommended for use during pregnancy,
unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
DBL Vinblastine Injection may cause birth defects if either the male or the female
is undergoing treatment at the time of conception.
It is recommended that you use an appropriate method of birth control while you are
being treated with this medicine and for at least 7 months after your last dose. Your
doctor will discuss this with you.
You should not breast feed while you are being given and for at least 1 week after
your last dose with DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk. Therefore, breastfeeding
is not recommended as there is a possibility that the breast-fed baby may be affected.
Males: Tell your doctor if your partner intends to become pregnant while you are being
given, or shortly after you have stopped treatment with, DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
It is recommended that you use an appropriate method of birth control while you are
being treated with this medicine and for at least 4 months after your last dose. Your
doctor will discuss this with you.
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection may cause birth defects if either the male or the female
is undergoing treatment at the time of conception.
If you are not sure whether any of the above conditions apply to you, ask your doctor.
Check with your doctor if you:
have any other medical conditions, especially the following:
Liver disease.
Chicken pox (including a recent exposure)
Shingles
Gout
Kidney stones
History of infection
take any medicines for any other condition
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
You should not receive certain types of vaccines while you are receiving treatment
with DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
Tell your doctor if you plan to receive any vaccinations while being given DBL VINBLASTINE
Injection.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or using any other medicines, including
any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your
pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with DBL VINBLASTINE Injection and affect how it works.
Some medicines and DBL VINBLASTINE Injection may interfere with each other. These
include:
some medicines used to treat infections, such as erythromycin, amphotericin B, flucytosine
and chloramphenicol
medicines that suppress your immune system, such as azathioprine, interferon and zidovudine
colchicine, a medicine used to treat gout
phenytoin, a medicine used to treat epilepsy (fits)
some other cytotoxic agents such as cisplatin, bleomycin and mitomycin
some vaccines (ask your doctor).
These medicines may be affected by DBL VINBLASTINE Injection or may affect how well
it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take
different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with
or avoid while you are being treated with DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
4. How am I given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection?
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection is given to you by a healthcare professional into a vein
(intravenously). It may be given either as a slow injection or as an infusion (drip)
into a vein.
How much will I be given
Your doctor will decide how much DBL VINBLASTINE Injection you should receive. This
depends on your condition and other factors, such as your height, weight, and other
chemotherapy medicines you are being given.
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection may be given alone or in combination with other drugs.
Several courses of DBL VINBLASTINE Injection therapy may be needed depending on your
response to treatment.
Additional treatment may not be repeated until your blood cell numbers return to acceptable
levels and any uncontrolled effects have been controlled.
Ask your doctor if you want to know more about the dose of DBL VINBLASTINE Injection
you receive.
How often will I be given it
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection is usually given once a week. Each treatment is called one
cycle of chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide how many of these cycles you will need.
If you receive too much DBL VINBLASTINE Injection
Symptoms of an overdose with DBL VINBLASTINE Injection include the side effects listed
below in the ‘Side Effects’ section but are usually of a more severe nature.
As DBL VINBLASTINE Injection is given to you under the supervision of your doctor,
it is very unlikely that you will receive too much. If you experience any side effects
after being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection, tell your doctor immediately.
5. What should I know while being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection?
Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns before, during or after the administration
of DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
Things you should do
Use effective contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy during treatment with DBL
VINBLASTINE Injection and for at least 7 months after your last dose for women and
4 months after your last dose for men.
Females: If you become pregnant while being treated with DBL VINBLASTINE Injection,
tell your doctor immediately.
Males: If your partner becomes pregnant while being treated with DBL VINBLASTINE Injection,
tell your doctor immediately.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are receiving
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
Keep all your doctors’ appointments so your progress can be checked.
Your doctor may want to check your blood pressure and do some blood and other tests
from time to time to check on your progress and detect any unwanted side effects.
It is important to have your follow-up cycles of DBL Vinblastine at the appropriate
times to get the best effects from your treatments.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist
that you are being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or
dentist that you are being given DBL VINBLASTINE Injection.
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection can lower the number of white blood cells and platelets
in your blood. This means that you have an increased chance of getting an infection
or bleeding. The following precautions should be taken to reduce your risk of infection
or bleeding:
Avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you
may be getting an infection, or if you get a fever, chills, cough, hoarse throat,
lower back or side pain, or find it painful or difficult to urinate.
Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising,
black stools, blood in urine or stools or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
Be careful when using a toothbrush, dental floss or toothpick. Your doctor, dentist,
nurse or pharmacist may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with
your doctor before having any dental work done.
Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a razor or
nail cutters.
Avoid contact sports or other situations where you may get bruised or injured.
Your body breaks down DBL VINBLASTINE Injection and uses it to fight cancer. The breakdown
products may be excreted in body fluids and waste, including blood, urine, faeces,
vomitus and semen.
In general, precautions to protect other people should be taken while you are receiving
chemotherapy and for one week after the treatment period by:
Flushing the toilet twice to dispose of any body fluids and waste.
Wearing gloves to clean any spill of body fluid or waste. Use paper towels or old
rags, a strong solution of non-bleaching detergent and large amounts of water to mop
up the spill. Discard the towels or rags into a separate waste bag and dispose of
fluids in the toilet.
Wash linen or clothing that is heavily contaminated by body fluids or waste separately
from other items. Use a strong solution of non-bleaching detergent and large amounts
of water.
Place soiled disposable nappies and other pads in a plastic bag, seal and dispose
into the garbage.
For sexual intercourse, use a barrier method such as a condom.
Call your doctor straight away if you:
Become pregnant while receiving DBL VINBLASTINE Injection
Things you should not do
You should not breast feed while you are being given and for at least 1 week after
your last dose with DBL VINBLASTINE Injection. It is not known whether DBL VINBLASTINE
Injection crosses into human milk.
Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without
first telling your doctor or consulting with a pharmacist.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how DBL VINBLASTINE
Injection affects you.
This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness or affect coordination. Make sure you
know how you react to this medicine before you drive a car, operate machinery, or
do anything else that requires you to be alert.
Drinking alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
There is no information on how DBL VINBLASTINE Injection and alcohol may interact.
Be careful when drinking alcohol as DBL VINBLASTINE Injection may cause dizziness
in some people.
Looking after your medicine
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or on the hospital ward.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Serious side effects throughout treatment
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What DBL VINBLASTINE Injection contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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Vinblastine sulfate
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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Sodium chloride
Water for injections
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What DBL VINBLASTINE Injection looks like
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection is a clear, colourless solution.
DBL VINBLASTINE Injection 10 mg/10 mL ONCO-TAIN vial AUST R 16309
Who distributes DBL VINBLASTINE Injection
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229
This leaflet was prepared in December 2024.
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