TM Owner Teva Pharmaceuticals
Vincasar 1mg/ml Vial
Global Shipping : Reliable Global Distribution Network
Express Delivery : Priority Shipping for Every Order
Secure Payments : Trusted Payment Protection System
Disclaimer
Secure Handling
24/7 Worldwide Support
Global Access
Worldwide Access to Health
Cold-Chain Expert
Excellence in Cold-Chain
Trusted Supply
Certified Medical Supply
Indications & Clinical Uses
- Vincasar PFS (vincristine sulfate injection USP) 1 mg/ml has been discontinued by its manufacturer, Teva: the US FDA drug shortage database lists 'Vincristine Sulfate (VINCASAR PFS) Injection, USP' with status 'Discontinuation' (date not shown on the page checked), and Drugs.com notes the brand is discontinued; this is a manufacturer discontinuation, and no formal withdrawal of approval was found.
- The information below comes from Teva's Vincasar PFS label and the generic vincristine label.
- Vincasar PFS is a preservative-free, conventional (non-liposomal) solution of vincristine sulfate, a vinca alkaloid anticancer (antimitotic) medicine.
- It is indicated for acute leukaemia, and is useful in combination chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma and Wilms' tumour, in adults and children.
- It is given as an intravenous injection by experienced healthcare professionals in a hospital or clinic, never by any other route.
Side Effects
- BOXED WARNING: for intravenous use only - fatal if given by other routes; the medicine must only be given by experienced individuals, the needle or catheter must be correctly in the vein before injection, and leakage into surrounding tissue (extravasation) can cause considerable irritation.
- The most common reaction is hair loss (alopecia), and the most troublesome are nerve effects, which are dose-related: numbness or tingling, nerve pain, loss of reflexes, foot drop, ataxia, jaw pain and, at worst, paralysis.
- Digestive effects include constipation, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, mouth ulcers and paralytic ileus, and blood effects include anaemia, low white cell and platelet counts.
- Rarer serious reactions include hepatic veno-occlusive disease (especially in children), SIADH with low sodium, seizures, vision or hearing damage, and allergic reactions.
- Report severe abdominal pain, breathlessness, pain or swelling at the injection site, or new weakness at once.
Precautions & Warnings
- Vincristine is contraindicated in demyelinating Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome.
- It must be given into a vein only by experienced clinicians; intrathecal (spinal) administration usually results in death, and the prepared syringe or bag must be labelled 'FOR INTRAVENOUS USE ONLY - FATAL IF GIVEN BY OTHER ROUTES'.
- Check a full blood count before each dose and monitor uric acid during the first 3 to 4 weeks.
- Reduce the dose by 50% if direct serum bilirubin exceeds 3 mg/100 mL.
- A preventive bowel regimen is recommended.
- Vincristine can cause fetal harm, so avoid pregnancy during treatment; it is not known whether it enters breast milk, and azoospermia and amenorrhoea have been reported after combination chemotherapy.
- Avoid eye contact, which can cause severe irritation or corneal ulceration, and avoid radiation therapy involving the liver during treatment.
- Live vaccines are not recommended.
Avoid Interactions
- Medicines that increase toxicity: strong CYP3A inhibitors such as itraconazole (earlier and more severe nerve toxicity; avoid strong inhibitors and monitor closely with moderate ones, including fluconazole); mitomycin-C (acute breathlessness and severe bronchospasm); other neurotoxic medicines; and P-glycoprotein modulators (avoid).
- Give vincristine 12 to 24 hours before L-asparaginase to limit toxicity.
- Medicines and products that reduce effect or cause problems: phenytoin (lower anticonvulsant levels, so seizures may increase; blood levels should be monitored), strong CYP3A inducers such as St John's wort (avoid), and live vaccines (not recommended).
- Pharmacy note: dilute only in 0.9% sodium chloride and do not mix with solutions outside pH 3.5 to 5.5.
- Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines and supplements you use.
References
- Vincasar PFS (vincristine sulfate injection) - Teva US Prescribing Information, Drugs.com
- FDA Drug Shortages - Vincristine Sulfate (VINCASAR PFS) Injection, USP (status: Discontinuation)
- Vincristine Sulfate Injection (Hospira) - US Prescribing Information, DailyMed
- Vincristine - US Prescribing Information, Drugs.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Vincasar PFS (vincristine sulfate injection) is a chemotherapy medicine for acute leukaemia and, with other medicines, for Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma and Wilms' tumour. Teva has discontinued this brand, and generic vincristine may be available. It is given in hospital or clinic.
Vincasar PFS is given by an experienced healthcare professional as an injection into a vein, once a week, diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride. The usual adult dose is 1.4 mg/m2 weekly, and children's doses are based on body size. It must never be given into the spinal fluid or by any other route.
The most common Vincasar PFS side effect is hair loss; the most troublesome are nerve effects such as numbness, tingling, loss of reflexes, foot drop and jaw pain. Constipation, bowel blockage (ileus), nausea and low blood counts also occur. Tell your care team about severe abdominal pain, breathlessness or pain at the injection site.
Vincristine is fatal if given by any route other than into a vein; spinal (intrathecal) injection usually causes death. Avoid live vaccines and St John's wort, and tell your team about itraconazole or other azole antifungals, phenytoin and mitomycin-C, which change its effects or toxicity.
Your team checks a full blood count before each Vincasar PFS dose, uric acid levels in the first 3 to 4 weeks, and nerve function, because nerve toxicity limits the dose. A regimen to prevent constipation is recommended. The dose is reduced by half if bilirubin is above 3 mg/100 mL.
Vincasar PFS (vincristine sulfate) is listed by the US FDA drug shortage database as discontinued by its manufacturer, Teva. This is a discontinuation, and no withdrawal of approval was found. Generic vincristine sulfate 1 mg/mL injections carry the same boxed warning: for intravenous use only, fatal if given by other routes.
Trusted & Reliable – Your Partner in Global Distribution.
We provide comprehensive lines of pharmaceutical products to support all your healthcare distribution needs.
