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Name: Vincristine sulfate

Pregnancy Category D

Drug classes

• Mitotic inhibitor
• Antineoplastic agent

Therapeutic actions

Mitotic inhibitor: arrests mitotic division at the stage of metaphase; exact mechanism of action unknown.

Indications

Acute leukemia

Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, lymphosarcoma, reticulum cell sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, bladder cancer, Wilms' tumor as part of combination therapy

Unlabeled uses: idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Contraindications/cautions

Contraindicated in the presence of allergy to vincristine, leukopenia, acute infection, pregnancy, lactation.

Use caution in the presence of neuromuscular disease, diabetes insipidus, hepatic dysfunction.

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Adverse effects

• CNS: Ataxia, cranial nerve manifestations; foot drop, headache, convulsions, bladder neuropathy, paresthesias, sensory impairment, neuritic pain, muscle wasting, SIADH, optic atrophy, transient cortical blindness, ptosis, diplopia, photophobia
• GI: Constipation, oral ulcerations, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal necrosis
• Hematologic: Leukopenia
• GU: Acute uric acid nephropathy, polyuria, dysuria
• Local: Local irritation, cellulitis if extravasation occurs
• Other: Weight loss, loss of hair, fever, death with serious overdosage

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