Bleomycin Sulfate (bleomycin sulfate)
Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data
Overview
Bleomycin sulfate, a mixture of basic cytotoxic glycopeptide antibiotics produced by Streptomyces verticillus (bleomycin A2 and bleomycin B2 are the major components), is an antineoplastic agent.
USES: Bleomycin is used to treat cancer. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. This medication may also be used to control the build-up of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) caused by tumors that have spread to the lungs.
For this condition, bleomycin is placed in the space around the lungs through a chest tube.
Generic name: bleomycin sulfate
Pronunciation: (BLEE-oh-MYE-sin)
Reference product & biosimilars
No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.
Today’s intelligence on Bleomycin Sulfate
Indications
The following indications are listed for Bleomycin Sulfate:
- Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
- Follicular Lymphoma
- Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Penile Carcinoma
- Pleural Malignant Effusion
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of Head And Neck
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of Vulva
- Testicular Germ Cell Tumor
Also known as: Anemia Lymphatica, Epidermoid Carcinoma Of The Head And Neck, Follicular B-Cell Lymphoma, Follicular B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Germ Cell Tumor Of Testis, Hodgkin's Disease, Malignancy Of Penis, Malignant Neoplasm Of Penis, Malignant Pleural Effusion, Malignant Tumor Of Penis, Non-Hodgkin's Type Lymphoma, Penile Cancer, Scc Of Vulva.
Dosing
Dosage of bleomycin sulfate is expressed in terms of bleomycin. Dosage of bleomycin must be based on the tolerance and clinical response of the patient in order to obtain optimum therapeutic results with minimum adverse effects. Clinicians should consult published protocols for the dosage of bleomycin and other chemotherapeutic agents and the method and sequence of administration.
Clearance of bleomycin may be reduced in patients with renal impairment; there are no guidelines for dosage adjustments in such patients, but the manufacturer states that the drug should be used with extreme caution in patients with severe renal impairment.
Because of the increased incidence of toxicity, especially pulmonary toxicity, associated with large cumulative dosages, cumulative dosages exceeding 400 units of bleomycin in adults should be given with great caution. When bleomycin is used in conjunction with other antineoplastic agents, pulmonary toxicity may occur at lower cumulative dosages of bleomycin.
No dosing information is available for this tab.
No dosing information is available for this tab.
No dosing information is available for this tab.
Drug interactions
Vitamins may decrease the activity of certain antibiotics; bleomycin has been shown to be inactivated in vitro by ascorbic acid and riboflavin.
There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.
There are no severe interactions for this drug.
There are no moderate interactions for this drug.
Contraindications
There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.
There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.
There are no severe contraindications for this drug.
There are no moderate contraindications for this drug.
Adverse reactions
There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.
There are no severe adverse reactions for this drug.
There are no less severe adverse reactions for this drug.
Precautions
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Bleomycin sulfate can cause fetal toxicity when administered to pregnant women. The drug has been shown to be teratogenic in rats receiving intraperitoneal dosages of 1.5 mg/kg daily (about 1.6 times the recommended human dosage on a units/m2 basis) on days 6-15 of gestation. Fetal malformations included skeletal defects, shortened innominate artery, and hydroureter. The drug has been shown to be abortifacient, but not teratogenic in rabbits receiving IV dosages of 1.2 mg/kg daily (about 2.4 times the recommended human dosage on a units/m2 basis) on days 6-18 of gestation. There are no adequate and controlled studies to date using bleomycin sulfate in pregnant women. When the drug is administered during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving the drug, the patient should be informed of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant during bleomycin sulfate therapy.
It is not known whether bleomycin is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions to bleomycin in nursing infants if it were distributed, the manufacturer recommends that women receiving bleomycin discontinue nursing.
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ICD codes
No ICD codes are available for this drug.
Formulary status
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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data
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