Drug Status in USA : Approved Drug Status in Canada : Approved
pronunciation
pronounced as (bor tez' oh mib)
Why is this medication prescribed?
Bortezomib is used to treat people with multiple myeloma (a type of cancer of the bone marrow) who have already been treated with at least one other medication. Bortezomib is also used to treat people with mantle cell lymphoma (a fast-growing cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system) who have already been treated with at least one other medication. Bortezomib is in a class of medications called antineoplastic agents. It works by killing cancer cells.
How should this medicine be used?
Bortezomib comes as a solution (liquid) to inject into a vein. Bortezomib is given by a doctor or nurse in a medical office or clinic. It is usually given on a rotating schedule that alternates 2 weeks when bortezomib is given twice a week with 10 days when the medication is not given. During the weeks that bortezomib is given, doses will always be at least 72 hours apart. The rotating schedule may be followed for up to eight cycles. After that, your doctor may decide to continue your treatment, but you will receive bortezomib less often.
Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment. Your doctor may stop your treatment for a while or decrease your dose of bortezomib if you experience side effects of the medication.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
What are the precautions to be followed?
Before using bortezomib,
tell your doctor and healthcare provider if you are allergic to bortezomib, mannitol, any other medications, or boron.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, or nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); cimetidine (Tagamet); clarithromycin (Biaxin, Prevpac); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fluvoxamine; certain antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral); medications to treat diabetes or high blood pressure; certain medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), or ritonavir (Norvir); certain medications to treat seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), or phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); mibefradil (no longer available in the U.S.); nefazodone; rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rimactane, others); troleandomycin (TAO) (no longer available in the U.S.); or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, in Tarka, others). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had heart disease and if you have or have ever had a herpes infection (cold sores, shingles, or genital sores); diabetes; fainting; high cholesterol (fats in the blood); low or high blood pressure; peripheral neuropathy (numbness, pain, tingling, or burning feeling in the feet or hands) or weakness or loss of feeling or reflexes in a part of your body;or kidney or liver disease. Also tell your doctor if you smoke or drink large amounts of alcohol.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Bortezomib may harm the fetus. Use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with bortezomib.Ask your doctor if you have questions about types of birth control that will work for you. If you become pregnant while using bortezomib, call your doctor immediately.
do not breast-feed during your treatment with bortezomib. After your treatment has finished, talk to your doctor or nurse about when it is safe to restart breast-feeding.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using bortezomib.
you should know that bortezomib may make you drowsy, dizzy, or lightheaded, or cause fainting or blurred vision. Do not drive a car or operate machinery or dangerous tools until you know how this medication affects you.
you should know that bortezomib may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common in people who have fainted in the past, people who are dehydrated, and people who are taking medications that lower blood pressure. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
What are possible side effects of this medication ?
Bortezomib may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms, or those in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, are severe or do not go away:
general weakness
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
stomach pain
anxiety
back pain
bone, joint, or muscle pain
muscle cramps
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
weakness in the arms or legs
changes in the sense of touch
shortness of breath
cough
swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs
hives
rash
itching
difficulty breathing or swallowing
swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, or hands
hoarseness
fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
unusual bruising or bleeding
black and tarry stools
red blood in stools
bloody vomit
vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds
slurred speech or inability to speak or understand speech
loss of balance or coordination
loss of memory
paralysis (loss of ability to move a part of the body
vision changes or loss of vision
loss of consciousness
excessive tiredness
pale skin
fast heartbeat
fainting
headache
thoughts of harming or killing yourself
difficulty thinking clearly, using good judgment, or understanding reality
hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
confusion
restlessness
thirst
decreased urination
loss of appetite
constipation
seizures
skin blisters that are itchy or painful
Bortezomib may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?
Bortezomib will be stored in the medical office or clinic.
Drug Category/Class
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inducers
Antineoplastic Agents
Antineoplastic and Immunomodulating Agents
CYP2D6 Inducers
CYP2D6 Inducers (strong)
CYP3A4 Inhibitors
Other antineop
Prescribed
For treatment of multiple myeloma in patients who have not been successfully treated with at least two previous therapies.