Indications
VCR IV Injection (vincristine sulfate) is used to treat acute leukemia. It has also been shown to be useful alongside other oncolytic agents in Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas (lymphocytic, mixed-cell, histiocytic, undifferentiated, nodular and diffuse types), rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma and Wilms' tumor.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Vincristine Sulfate is the salt of an alkaloid obtained from the periwinkle plant (Vinca rasea Linn). It is a white or slightly yellow powder, hygroscopic, either amorphous or crystalline, and it dissolves freely in water but only slightly in alcohol.
In patients with cancer, pharmacokinetic studies have shown a triphasic serum decay pattern after a rapid intravenous injection. The initial, middle and terminal half-lives are 5 minutes, 2.3 hours and 85 hours respectively, though the terminal half-life in humans can range from 19 to 155 hours. Vincristine sulfate leaves the body mainly through the liver, which is the major excretory organ in humans and animals. About 80% of an injected dose appears in the faeces and 10% to 20% can be found in the urine. Within 15 to 30 minutes after injection, over 90% of the drug moves from the blood into the tissue, where it stays tightly bound, but not irreversibly.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Vincristine Sulfate is Pregnancy Category D. There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Vincristine has been reported to be found in human milk, so a patient who receives Vincristine should not breastfeed.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Side Effects & Interactions
Side Effects
No side-effect data recorded yet.