What type of drug is avastin

You might need a central line. This is a long plastic tube that gives the drugs into a large vein, either in your chest or through a vein in your arm. You have the first dose of bevacizumab over 90 minutes. If you don't have any problems, you have the second dose over 60 minutes.

If you don't have any problems, you have the third dose over 30 minutes. Every dose after that takes 30 minutes. You usually have bevacizumab Avastin every 2 to 3 weeks. Treatment usually continues for as long as it controls your cancer. You have blood tests before and during your treatment. They check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood. They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.

We haven't listed all the side effects. It's very unlikely that you will have all of these side effects, but you might have some of them at the same time. How often and how severe the side effects are can vary from person to person. They also depend on what other treatments you're having. For example, your side effects could be worse if you're also having other drugs or radiotherapy.

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will go through the possible side effects. They will monitor you closely during treatment and check how you are at your appointments. Contact your advice line as soon as possible if:. You might have one or more of them. They include:. Tell your doctor or nurse if you are having treatment for high blood pressure. Or if you have headaches, nose bleeds, blurred or double vision or shortness of breath. Your nurse will check your blood pressure regularly.

Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes is often temporary and can improve after you finish treatment. Tell your doctor if you're finding it difficult to walk or complete fiddly tasks such as doing up buttons. Increased risk of getting an infection is due to a drop in white blood cells. Symptoms include a change in temperature, aching muscles, headaches, feeling cold and shivery and generally unwell. You might have other symptoms depending on where the infection is.

Infections can sometimes be life threatening. You should contact your advice line urgently if you think you have an infection. This is due to a drop in the number of platelets in your blood. These blood cells help the blood to clot when we cut ourselves. You may have nosebleeds or bleeding gums after brushing your teeth. Or you may have lots of tiny red spots or bruises on your arms or legs known as petechiae. This is usually mild. You can do things to help yourself, including some gentle exercise.

Talk to your doctor or nurse if this effect is stopping you from doing your usual daily activities. You might feel very tired and as though you lack energy. Various things can help you to reduce tiredness and cope with it, for example exercise. Some research has shown that taking gentle exercise can give you more energy. It is important to balance exercise with resting. Contact your advice line if you have diarrhoea , such as if you've had 4 or more loose watery poos stools in 24 hours.

Or if you can't drink to replace the lost fluid. How does Avastin work? What conditions are treated with Avastin?

Avastin is used to treat the following eye problems: wet age-related macular degeneration AMD swelling of the retina, called macular edema diabetic retinopathy retinal vein occlusion What happens during Avastin treatment? What are the risks of Avastin treatment? Genetics and Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Infographics: Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

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Also of Interest. Your doctor will determine your dose and schedule. Side Effects of Avastin: Important things to remember about the side effects of avastin: Most people do not experience all of the side effects listed. Side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset and duration. Side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after treatment is complete. There are many options to help minimize or prevent side effects. There is no relationship between the presence or severity of side effects and the effectiveness of the medication.

There is no data as to the frequency of adverse reactions that may be attributed to avastin alone. In clinical studies avastin was used in combination with other chemotherapy medications. This can put you at increased risk for infection. This syndrome is caused by damage to the glomeruli tiny blood vessels in the kidney that filter waste and excess water from the blood and send them to the bladder as urine. Congestive heart failure in patients who have received prior treatment with anthracycline based chemotherapy, or radiation therapy to the chest wall.

Delayed effects: Based on animal studies, avastin may disrupt normal menstrual cycles and impair fertility by several effects. Some parameters do not recover completely, or recover very slowly following discontinuation of the drug. When to contact your doctor or health care provider: Contact your health care provider immediately , day or night, if you should experience any of the following symptoms: Fever of Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following: Swelling of the feet or ankles.

Sudden weight gain. Abdominal pain Nausea interferes with ability to eat and unrelieved with prescribed medication. Vomiting vomiting more than times in a 24 hour period. Diarrhea episodes in a hour period. Constipation unrelieved by laxative use.

Coughing up blood. Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools. Blood in the urine. Mouth sores painful redness, swelling or ulcers. Signs of infection such as redness or swelling, pain on swallowing, coughing up mucous, or painful urination. Unable to eat or drink for 24 hours or have signs of dehydration: tiredness, thirst, dry mouth, dark and decreased amount of urine, or dizziness.

Precautions: Before starting avastin treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.

Do not receive any kind of immunization or vaccination without your doctor's approval while taking avastin. Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior to starting this treatment.

Pregnancy category C use in pregnancy only when benefit to the mother outweighs risk to the fetus.