Back to Mitotic inhibitors
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.
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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