Bevacizumab
Key points
- A monoclonal antibody is a protein that reacts with a specific site or protein of a cell.
- It is administered in a hospital or clinic setting by a health care professional.
- Notify your prescriber or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.
- There have been no drug interactions reported during bevacizumab treatment.
Bevacizumab injection
What is Bevacizumab injection? BEVACIZUMAB (Avastin™) is a monoclonal antibody. A monoclonal antibody is a protein that reacts with a specific site or protein of a cell. Bevacizumab targets a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein is found in many tumor cell types. Bevacizumab works by interfering with these tumor cells and preventing their spread to new sites. Bevacizumab may be used to treat many different types of cancer including colon cancer or kidney cancer. Bevacizumab is usually given with traditional chemotherapy agents. Generic bevacizumab injections are not available.
What should my health care professional know before I receive Bevacizumab?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- blood clots
- coughing up blood or blood in sputum
- heart disease, including heart failure, heart attack, chest pain (angina), or stroke
- high blood pressure
- kidney disease
- prior chemotherapy with doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, or other anthracycline type chemotherapy agents
- prior radiation therapy to your chest
- recent surgery, especially if still healing at the site of surgery
- an unusual reaction to Bevacizumab, mouse proteins, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
How should this medicine be used?
Bevacizumab is for infusion into a vein. It is administered in a hospital or clinic setting by a health care professional. You will continue a regular schedule of doses, usually every 14 days.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What if I miss a dose?
It is important not to miss a dose. Notify your prescriber or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.
What drug(s) may interact with Bevacizumab?
There have been no drug interactions reported during bevacizumab treatment.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
