Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (421 page)

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

HIGH ALERT
vinCRIStine (
VCR
) (Rx)

(vin-kris′teen)

Vincasar PFS

Func. class.:
Antineoplastic—miscellaneous

Chem. class.:
Vinca alkaloid

Do not confuse:
vinCRIStine
/vinBLAStine/vinorelbine

ACTION:

Inhibits mitotic activity, arrests cell cycle at metaphase; inhibits RNA synthesis, blocks cellular use of glutamic acid needed for purine synthesis; vesicant

USES:

Lymphomas, neuroblastoma, Hodgkin’s disease, acute lymphoblastic and other leukemias, rhabdomyosarcoma, Wilms’ tumor, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, malignant glioma, soft-tissue sarcoma

Unlabeled uses:
Lung, breast, colorectal, head/neck, osteogenic sarcomas; small-cell lung cancer, trophoblastic disease

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Pregnancy (D), breastfeeding, infants, hypersensitivity, radiation therapy

 

Black Box Warning:

Intrathecal use

Precautions:
Renal/hepatic disease, hypertension, neuromuscular disease

 

Black Box Warning:

Extravasation

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult:
IV
0.4-1.4 mg/m
2
/wk, max 2 mg

• Child:
IV
1-2 mg/m
2
/wk, max 2 mg

Available forms:
Inj 1 mg/ml; powder for inj 5 mg/vial

Administer:

• 
Antiemetic 30-60 min before product and prn

• 
Antispasmodic for GI symptoms

 

Black Box Warning:

Do not give intrathecally; fatal

IV route

• 
After diluting with diluent provided or 1 mg/10 ml sterile water or NaCl; give through
Y
-tube or 3-way stopcock or directly over 1 min; do not use 5-mg vial for single doses

 

Black Box Warning:

Hyaluronidase 150 units/ml in 1 ml NaCl; apply warm compress for extravasation

Additive compatibilities:
Bleomycin, cytarabine, fluorouracil, methotrexate

Syringe compatibilities:
Bleomycin, CISplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxapram, DOXOrubicin, droperidol, fluorouracil, heparin, leucovorin, methotrexate, metoclopramide, mitomycin, vinBLAStine

Y-site compatibilities:
Allopurinol, amifostine, amphotericin B cholesteryl, aztreonam, bleomycin, CISplatin, cladribine, cyclophosphamide, DOXOrubicin, DOXOrubicin liposome, droperidol, filgrastim, fludarabine, fluorouracil, granisetron, heparin, leucovorin, melphalan, methotrexate, metoclopramide, mitoMYcin, ondansetron, PACLitaxel, piperacillin/tazobactam, sargramostim, teniposide, thiotepa, vinBLAStine, vinorelbine

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Decreased reflexes, numbness, weakness, motor difficulties
, CNS depression, cranial nerve paralysis,
seizures,
peripheral neuropathy

CV:
Orthostatic hypotension

EENT:
Diplopia

GI:
Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, stomatitis, constipation
,
paralytic ileus,
abdominal pain
,
hepatotoxicity

GU:
Renal tubular obstruction

HEMA:
Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, myelosuppression, anemia

INTEG:
Alopecia
, extravasation

SYST:
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)

PHARMACOKINETICS

Half-life (triphasic) <5 min, 50-155 min, 23-85 hr; metabolized in liver; excreted in bile, feces; crosses placental, blood-brain barrier

INTERACTIONS

Decrease:
immune response—vaccines, toxoids

Decrease:
digoxin level—digoxin

Decrease:
vinCRIStine effect—CYP3A4 inducers (barbiturates, bosentan, carBAMazepine, efavirenz, phenytoins, nevirapine, rifabutin, rifampin)

Increase:
Neurotoxicity: peripheral nervous system products

• 
Do not use with radiation

• 
Acute pulmonary reactions: mitoMYcin c

 
Increase:
toxicity—CYP3A4 inhibitors (aprepitant, antiretroviral protease inhibitors, clarithromycin, danazol, delavirdine, diltiazem, erythromycin, fluconazole, FLUoxetine, fluvoxaMINE, imatinib, ketoconazole, mibefradil, nefazodone, telithromycin, voriconazole)

Drug/Herb

• 
Avoid use with St. John’s wort

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
uric acid

Decrease:
Hgb, WBC, platelets, sodium

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
CBC, differential, platelet count before each dose; withhold product if WBC is <4000/mm
3
or platelet count is <75,000/mm
3
; notify prescriber; RBC, Hct, Hgb; may be decreased

• 
Bronchospasm:
more common with mitoMYcin

• 
Hepatic studies before, during therapy (bilirubin, AST, ALT, LDH) as needed or monthly

• 
Sensitivity of feet/hands, which precedes neuropathy

• 
Tumor lysis syndrome:
hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, hypocalcemia; more common in leukemia, lymphoma; use alkalinization of urine with allopurinol, monitor electrolytes, renal function (BUN, urine, CCR, uric acid)

 

Black Box Warning:

Extravasation:
pain, swelling, poor blood return; if extravasation occurs, local inj of hyaluronidase and moderate heat to area may help disperse product

Intrathecal administration

• 
Bleeding:
hematuria, guaiac, bruising, petechiae, mucosa or orifices q8hr

• 
Effects of alopecia on body image; discuss feelings about body changes

• 
Buccal cavity q8hr for dryness, sores, ulcerations, white patches, oral pain, bleeding, dysphagia

• 
Symptoms indicating severe allergic reaction: rash, pruritus, urticaria, purpuric skin lesions, itching, flushing

Perform/provide:

• 
Brushing of teeth bid-tid with soft brush or cotton-tipped applicator for stomatitis; use unwaxed dental floss

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decreased tumor size, spread of malignancy

Teach patient/family:

• 
To report change in gait or numbness in extremities; may indicate neuropathy

• 
To report any bleeding, white spots or ulcerations in mouth to prescriber; to examine mouth daily

• 
To increase bulk, fluids, exercise to prevent constipation

• 
Infection:
to report sore throat, fever, flulike symptoms; avoid persons with known infection

• 
To avoid vaccinations

• 
That hair may be lost; that hair will grow back but with different texture, color

• 
Pregnancy (D):
to notify prescriber if pregnancy is planned or suspected

 
To use effective contraception during and for 2 mo after therapy, pregnancy (D), to avoid breastfeeding

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

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