Bendamustine, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by IV to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may cause serious skin reactions or other unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: bendamustine, injection; Bendeka; Treanda

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat a form of cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This medicine is also used to treat a type of slow growing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in people whose cancer has progressed under other treatment.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Liver or kidney disease

Tell your healthcare provider if you currently have any kind of infection.

If you smoke, the effects of this medicine may be decreased. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine and for 3 months after treatment is completed. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

Men receiving this medicine should also use an effective birth control method during treatment with this medicine and for 3 months after treatment is completed.

How do I take it?

The infusions are given by a healthcare provider. You will be watched carefully after you receive each dose to make sure that you do not have an allergic reaction. Keep all your appointments for infusions. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you take certain medicines, such as acetaminophen, before each infusion to help reduce any side effects.

This medicine may affect your ability to fight infection. Your healthcare provider may prescribe other medicines to fight infection while you are receiving this medicine. Take all medicines exactly as prescribed.

What should I watch out for?

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

This medicine may cause serious skin reactions. If you notice any redness, swelling, rash, peeling, or blistering skin during or after receiving this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.

There is a risk that you may develop certain types of cancer during treatment with this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine may cause a problem called tumor lysis syndrome. Report side effects such as nausea, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, cloudy urine, or tiredness to your provider immediately.

You need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may make you drowsy or very tired. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Fever; chills; severe cough; unusual tiredness or weakness; shortness of breath; severe nausea or diarrhea; unusual bruising or bleeding; severe or worsening rash or itching; blistering or peeling skin; fast or irregular heartbeat; trouble or decrease in urinating; muscle pain or weakness; swelling in hands, ankles, or feet.

Other: Mild nausea or vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, headache, cough, mouth sores, weight loss, change in taste, trouble sleeping, sweating, night sweats, dry skin, joint pain, anxiety, depression.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
• Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ofloxacin, and rifampin (Rifadin)
• Antifungal medicines such as ketoconazole (Nizoral) and miconazole (Monistat, Oravig)
• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenobarbital, and primidone (Mysoline)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Diclofenac (Cambia, Voltaren, Zipsor)
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
• Heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), amlodipine (Norvasc), amlodipine/atorvastatin (Caduet), mexiletine, nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), nisoldipine (Sular), and propafenone (Rythmol)
• Medicines to block or prevent stomach acid such as lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (AcipHex)
• Methoxsalen (8-MOP, Oxsoralen Ultra, Uvadex)
• Primaquine
• Propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, InnoPran)
• Theophylline
• Vaccines
• Zileuton (Zyflo)

Do not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol while you are receiving this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.