Vindesine (Eldisine)

• What vindesine is
• Common side effects
• Occasional side effects
• Rare side effects
• Important points to remember
• Immunisations and chemotherapy

Vindesine is a chemotherapy drug used to treat cancers including lung cancer and acute leukaemia and less often for melanoma, and breast cancer.

Vindesine belongs to a group of drugs called plant alkaloids. These drugs are often called vinca alkaloids because the first of these drugs was developed from the periwinkle plant or 'vinca'. Vindesine works by stopping cancer cells from separating into two new cells. So it blocks the growth of the cancer. These drugs also belong to a group called microtubule inhibitors. This explains the way they work when they kill cancer cells.

Vindesine is a clear liquid that you have by injection through a fine tube (cannula) put into a vein (intravenously). Or you may have it through a central line that goes into a vein near your collarbone.

You usually have vindesine chemotherapy as a course of several cycles of treatment. The treatment plan depends on which type of cancer you are being treated for. You may be given weekly injections. There is more about how doctors plan chemotherapy in CancerHelp UK.

Vindesine side effects are listed below. You can use the links to find out more about each side effect or click on search at the top of the page.

With this drug, many people have a temporary drop in the number of blood cells made by the bone marrow, leading to the following side effects

• Increased risk of getting an infection from a drop in white blood cells - it is harder to fight infections and you can become very ill. You may have headaches, aching muscles, a cough, sore throat, pain passing urine or feel cold and shivery. 
• Tiredness and breathlessness due to a drop in red blood cells (anaemia) - you may need a blood transfusion
• Bruising more easily due to a drop in platelets - you may have nosebleeds, bleeding gums after brushing your teeth, or lots of tiny red spots or bruises on your arms or legs (known as petechia).

These effects on your bone marrow can begin about 7 days after each treatment and usually go back to normal after about 21 to 28 days. Some of these side effects can be life threatening, particularly infections.  You should contact your doctor if you have any of these side effects.  Your doctor will check your blood counts regularly to see how well your bone marrow is working

Other common side effects include

• Fatigue may be the most troublesome side effect of all - it often carries on after treatment has ended, but most people find their energy levels are back to normal from 6 months to a year after their treatment finishes
• Hair thinning, or more commonly hair loss, may happen about 3 to 4 weeks after treatment starts - it is temporary and your hair will grow back when treatment is finished
• Temporary numbness and tingling in fingers and toes (peripheral neuropathy) may cause problems doing fiddly things, such as doing up buttons
• Constipation and abdominal pain can be a problem but is generally prevented with regular laxatives - if you are constipated for more than 3 days, tell your doctor or nurse
• Loss of fertility - you may not be able to get pregnant or father a child after treatment with this drug, so it is important to talk to your doctor about your fertility before starting treatment if you are concerned
• Women may stop having periods (amenorrhoea) but this may only be temporary.
• Vindesine may harm a developing baby so it is not advisable to become pregnant or father a child if you are having this drug - talk about contraception with your doctor before having the treatment if there is any chance you or your partner could become pregnant
• You should not breastfeed while having this drug as it may come through in the breast milk

Some people may have any of these side effects

• Inflammation around the drip site - if you notice any signs of redness, swelling or leaking at your drip site, tell your doctor or chemotherapy nurse immediately
• Feeling or being sick is usually moderate, starts within 24 hours of having treatment and easily controlled with anti-sickness injections and tablets - if your sickness isn't controlled, tell your doctor as you can try other anti-sickness drugs
• Muscle weakness
• Rash
• Sore mouth

A small number of people could develop any of these side effects

• Headache
• Jaw pain

The side effects above may be mild or more severe. A side effect may get better or worse through your course of treatment, or more side effects may develop as the course goes on. This depends on

• How many times you've had the drug before
• Your general health
• The amount of the drug you have (the dose)
• Other drugs you are having

Some side effects are inconvenient or upsetting but not damaging to your health.

Some side effects are serious medical conditions and need treating. Where we have urged you to contact your doctor, this is because

• Your side effect may need treating
• Your drug dose may need reducing to try to prevent the side effect

Tell your doctor about any other medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbal supplements and other over the counter remedies - some drugs can react together.

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about all your side effects so that they can help you manage them.

Your chemotherapy nurse, clinic or ward nurse will give you a contact number. You can ring if you have any questions or problems. They can give you advice or reassure you. If in doubt, call them.

You should not have immunisations with live vaccines while you are having chemotherapy or for at least 6 months afterwards. In the UK, these include rubella, mumps, measles (usually given together as MMR), BCG and yellow fever. You can have other vaccines, but they may not give you as much protection as usual until your immune system has fully recovered from your chemotherapy.

It is perfectly safe for you to be in contact with other people who've had live vaccines as injections. There can be problems with oral vaccines, but no one in the UK is given an oral vaccine now. So there is no problem in being with any baby or child who has recently had any vaccination in the UK. If you live abroad, you might need to make sure that you aren't in contact with anyone who has had oral polio or oral typhoid vaccination recently.