Vindesine

What is vindesine?

Vindesine is a drug used to kill cancer cells. It stops cancer cells from dividing and making new cells.

You may hear vindesine called by its brand name Eldesine. Vindesine comes in injection form.

Before giving vindesine to your child

Tell your child's doctor if your child has:

• ever reacted badly to vindesine or to any other medications, foods, preservatives, or colouring agents
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. This medicine may not be right for your child if they have:

• an infection or recent exposure to infection (such as chickenpox)
• liver problems
• disease affecting the nerves or the muscles
• very low blood counts

How will your child get vindesine?

Vindesine is a clear liquid that a nurse will give by needle into your child's vein (intravenously). Your child will get this medicine in the hospital clinic or on a nursing unit.

If vindesine leaks out of the vein through which it is being given, it can cause severe damage. Tell the nurse right away if you or your child notice redness, pain, or swelling at the place of injection.

What are the possible side effects of vindesine?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take vindesine. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away or they bother your child:

• mild nausea (upset stomach) or vomiting (throwing up)
• constipation (difficulty having bowel movements)
• diarrhea (loose, watery bowel movements)
• mild stomach cramps
• jaw pain
• muscle or bone pain
• weight loss
• muscle weakness
• hair loss
• redness or soreness in the mouth or on the lips, tongue, or throat

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
• trouble walking or climbing stairs
• severe constipation or stomach cramps
• trouble urinating, frequent urination, or bed-wetting
• changes in eyesight, blurred, or double vision

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to the Emergency Department if your child has any of these side effects:

• fever or chills
• cough or sore throat
• pain or burning when urinating
• blood in the urine or stools
• black, tarry stools
• pinpoint red spots on skin
• unusual bleeding and bruising
• sudden change in behaviour or mood such as agitation or confusion
• seizures (convulsions or fits/uncontrolled shaking)
• redness, pain, or swelling at site of injection

What safety measures should you take when your child is using vindesine?

Keep all appointments at the clinic or doctor's office so that the doctor can check your child's response to vindesine.

Vindesine can lower the number of white blood cells in the blood temporarily, which increases your child's chances of getting an infection. Your child can take the following precautions to prevent infections, especially when the blood count is low:

• Avoid people with infections, such as a cold or the flu.
• Avoid places that are very crowded with large groups of people.
• Be careful when brushing or flossing your child's teeth. Your doctor, nurse, or dentist may suggest different ways to clean your child's mouth and teeth.
• You/your child shouldn't touch your child's eyes or inside their nose without washing you/your child's hands first.
• Your child's nurse will review with you what to do in case of fever.

Vindesine can lower the number of platelets in the blood, which increases your child's risk of bleeding. You can take the following precautions:

• Be careful not to cut your child when using a razor, fingernail scissors, or toenail clippers.
• Your child should avoid contact sports where bruising or injury could occur.
• Before your child has surgery, including dental surgery, inform the doctor or dentist that your child is taking vindesine.
• Your child should not receive a permanent tattoo or any kind of body piercing.

Your child should not receive any immunizations (vaccines) without your child's doctor's approval. Your child or anyone else in your household should not get oral polio vaccine while your child is being treated for cancer. Tell your child's doctor if anyone in your household has recently received oral polio vaccine. Your child should avoid contact with anyone who has recently received this vaccine.

Your child may lose their hair. It will grow back once your child is no longer receiving vindesine. Its colour and texture may change. Use a gentle shampoo and a soft brush.

There is a chance that vindesine may cause birth defects if it is taken at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. If your child is sexually active, it is best that they use some kind of birth control while receiving vindesine. Tell the doctor right away if your child may be pregnant.

Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal, or natural products).

Be sure to keep track of when your child last had a bowel movement. Your child may need to take medications to help keep bowel movements regular.

What other important information should you know about vindesine?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
  

Keep vindesine out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much vindesine, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.