The Avastin 400mg injection is an anti-angiogenesis and monoclonal antibody which is used in the treatment of various types of cancers including Such as kidney cancer, fallopian tube caner, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and rectum and colon cancer and brain tumor. It works by disrupting the growth and spreading of the body’s cancerous cells. It is mostly used as part of the wider chemotherapy plan for treating cancer.
The side effects:
Like most of other drugs for treating or managing cancer, this drug has side effects. The common one is that it may trigger allergic reactions which may manifest as trouble breathing, hives, swelling of the face, and abnormal bleeding from brain, digestive tract, vagina, rectum, nose and mouth. Some of the other side effects include headache, missed periods, back pain, skin infection, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, chest pain, fever, constipation and vomiting.
Before the drug is prescribed you should be examined by a doctor. Other possible side effects include dry skin, rhinitis, altered taste and headache. Inform the doctor about your past medical history including allergies to drugs. Seek medical attention whenever you develop these or any other side effects as they can sometimes be very severe and even life threatening.
Inform you doctor if –
- Your wounds do not heal or heal very slowly (meaning you may be diabetic),
- You have suffered from unrelenting cough for several months,
- You are scheduled to undergo surgery in the next one month,
- You suffer from any disease of the heart or high blood pressure, or blood-clotting or bleeding problems,
- You are taking any other drugs or medications, or
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Special precautions need to be exercised if the above conditions exist in you. After evaluation, the doctor can even decide to prescribe another medication if Avastin is not the best option for you. You are also advised to avoid conception within six months from the last day the drug was administered to you.
This drug is usually administered directly in to the vein through IV injection, once after every 2 to 3 weeks. The doctor, after examining your condition and reviewing your medical history will prescribe the right dosage.
The precautions to be exercised:
The interaction of this medication with alcohol is not known. If you consume alcohol, please consult your doctor for advice on whether it is safe to use, or you need to stop using it. The drug may also not be safe during pregnancy but the benefits may outweigh the risk in pregnant mothers. This is the reason why you should inform the doctor in advance if you are pregnant.
Studies conducted on animals showed that Avastin 400mg may not be safe on the fetus. Its safety or otherwise to the child in breastfeeding mothers is not known. Some patients tend to experience somnolence syncope after taking this medication, and in that case you should not drive. The effect of the medication on the functioning of the kidney or liver is not known.
