Classes
DEA Class; Rx
Common Brand Names; Blenoxane
- Antineoplastics, Antibiotic
Description
Antibiotic antineoplastic
Mixture of 13 glycopeptides; active component is the A-2 peptide
Used for Hodgkin lymphoma, NHL, testicular cancer, squamous cell cancer of the head and neck and cervix, and malignant pleural effusions.
Indications
Indicated for the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity
Concomitant use of bleomycin with brentuximab because of pulmonary toxicity
Adverse Effects
- Mucocutaneous toxicity including rash, erythema, hyperpigmentation, urticaria (>50%)
- Febrile reactions, acute (25-50%)
- Mucositis (30%)
- Stomatitis (30%)
- Interstitial pneumonitis (10%)
- Pulmonary fibrosis (10%)
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Rales
- Tachypnea
- Alopecia (1-10%)
- Fatal pulmonary fibrosis (1%)
- Confusion
- Shivering
- Anphylactoid reactions
- Onycholysis
- Pruritus
- Skin thickening
- Scleroderma
Warnings
Use caution in renal impairment
Hepatic toxicity reported
Use caution when administering oxygen during surgery (increases risk of pulmonary toxicity)
Risk of pulmonary fibrosis (at lower doses if used with other antineoplastics)
Avoid pregnancy
Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy Category: D
Lactation: It is not known whether the drug is excreted in milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, it is recommended that nursing be discontinued by women receiving bleomycin therapy.
Maximum Dosage
The suggested maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for bleomycin, which is dependent on performance status, other chemotherapy agents or radiation given in combination, and disease state, is as follows:
NOTE: The correct dose of bleomycin will vary from protocol to protocol. Clinicians should consult the appropriate references to verify the dose.
Maximum lifetime cumulative dosage of bleomycin is 400 units intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous.
Maximum lifetime cumulative dosage of bleomycin is 400 units intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous. However, elderly patients may develop pulmonary toxicity at lower cumulative bleomycin doses.
Maximum lifetime cumulative dosage of bleomycin is 400 units intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous.
Maximum lifetime cumulative dosage of bleomycin is 400 units intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous.
How supplied
Bleomycin sulfate
powder for injection
- 15unit
- 30unit