Chemotherapy Drug Information
<< BackBortezomib
Bortezomib is used to treat people with multiple myeloma (a type of cancer of the bone marrow) who have already been treated with at least one other medication. Bortezomib is in a class of medications called antineoplastic agents. It works by killing cancer cells.
Bortezomib comes as a solution (liquid) to inject into a vein. Bortezomib is given by a doctor or nurse in a medical office or clinic.
Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment. Your doctor may stop your treatment for a while or decrease your dose of bortezomib if you experience side effects of the medication.
Before using bortezomib,
- Tell your doctor what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, or nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take.
- Tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
- Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had heart disease and if you have or have ever had a herpes infection (cold sores, shingles, or genital sores); diabetes; fainting; high cholesterol (fats in the blood); low or high blood pressure; peripheral neuropathy (numbness, pain, tingling, or burning feeling in the feet or hands) or weakness or loss of feeling or reflexes in a part of your body; or kidney or liver disease. Also tell your doctor if you smoke or drink large amounts of alcohol.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Bortezomib may harm the fetus. Use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with bortezomib.
- Do not breast-feed during your treatment with bortezomib. After your treatment has finished, talk to your doctor or nurse about when it is safe to restart breast-feeding.
- You should know that bortezomib may make you drowsy, dizzy, or lightheaded, or cause fainting or blurred vision. Do not drive a car or operate machinery or dangerous tools until you know how this medication affects you.
- You should know that bortezomib may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common in people who have fainted in the past, people who are dehydrated, and people who are taking medications that lower blood pressure. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
Drink plenty of fluids every day during your treatment with bortezomib, especially if you vomit or have diarrhea.
- general weakness
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- anxiety
- back pain
- bone, joint, or muscle pain
- muscle cramps
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Some side effects to call your doctor immediately:
- pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
- weakness in the arms or legs
- changes in the sense of touch
- shortness of breath
- swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs
- hives
- rash
- itching
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, or hands
- hoarseness
- fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- black and tarry stools
- red blood in stools
- bloody vomit
- vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds
- slurred speech or inability to speak or understand speech
- loss of balance or coordination
- loss of memory
- paralysis (loss of ability to move a part of the body
- vision changes or loss of vision
- loss of consciousness
- fast heartbeat
- fainting
- difficulty thinking clearly, using good judgment, or understanding reality
- hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
- confusion
- decreased urination
- loss of appetite
- constipation