Navelbine IV (Vinorelbine Tartrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Navelbine IV Used For?
Navelbine IV contains vinorelbine tartrate, which belongs to a family of medicines called vinca alkaloids. It’s a type of chemotherapy medicine that fights cancer by stopping cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
Primary Uses
Navelbine IV is used to treat lung cancer and advanced breast cancer. It may be used alone or combined with other cancer medicines.
How It Works
Navelbine IV works by stopping cancer cells from growing and multiplying, which causes the cancer cells to die. It belongs to a group of medicines called antineoplastic or cytotoxic medicines.
Important: Navelbine IV is not recommended for use in children and adolescents as there is no information on its effects in this age group.
How to Take Navelbine IV
Navelbine IV is given as a slow infusion (drip) into your veins and must only be administered by a doctor or nurse in a medical setting.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will determine your dose based on your body surface area, condition, liver function, and whether you’re receiving other chemotherapy medicines. Navelbine IV is usually given every week, but may be given less often if combined with other cancer treatments. Several courses may be needed depending on your response. Your doctor may adjust your dose during treatment and will regularly check your blood cell levels.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you realize you’ve missed an appointment for your Navelbine IV dose. Use a diary, calendar, or ask someone to remind you of upcoming appointments.
Important: Further doses may be delayed until your blood cell numbers return to acceptable levels, as Navelbine IV reduces white blood cell counts.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Unusual tiredness, weakness, sleepiness, or lack of energy
- Hair loss
- Aching muscles
- Chest pain and jaw pain
- Painful swollen joints
- Injection site reactions
- Shortness of breath
- High or low blood pressure
- Fever
- Skin rash
- Upset stomach
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Difficulty breathing or severe breathlessness
- Chest pain, breathlessness and fainting (may indicate blood clot in lungs)
- Frequent infections, fever, severe chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers
- Easy bleeding or bruising, nosebleeds
- Blood in urine, pain when urinating
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Severe chest pain (may indicate heart problems)
- Rash, itching, hives, swelling of face, lips, tongue or body parts
- Numbness and tingling in fingers and toes
- Muscle control problems, abnormal walking, speech changes
- Weakness in legs or feet
- Severe headaches, confusion, blurred vision
- Severe upper stomach pain
- Changes in vision
- Severe skin irritation, pain, or swelling around injection site
Important Warnings
There are several important situations where Navelbine IV should not be used, and conditions that require careful monitoring during treatment.
Who Should Not Take Navelbine IV
Do not use if you’re allergic to vinorelbine or other vinca alkaloids (vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinflunine), have had an infection or high temperature in the last 2 weeks, recently had or plan to have a yellow fever vaccination, are currently receiving radiation therapy to your liver, have severe liver problems, or have reduced white blood cells or platelets.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have heart problems (including chest pain and heart attack), liver problems, low white blood cell count, lung problems including asthma, or if you take any other medicines or have had recent vaccinations. Live vaccines are not recommended during treatment.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Navelbine IV should not be used during pregnancy as it may harm your developing baby. Women must use effective contraception during treatment and for 7 months after the last dose. Men should use effective contraception and not father children during treatment and for at least 4 months after. Men should seek advice about sperm conservation before treatment. Do not breastfeed during treatment as the medicine may pass into breast milk.
Blood Cell Monitoring: Navelbine IV significantly reduces blood cell counts, increasing your risk of infections and bleeding. Your blood will be carefully monitored throughout treatment.
Drug Interactions
Several medicines can interfere with Navelbine IV and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
Important: You may need different doses of your medicines or different medicines entirely when taking Navelbine IV. Your doctor will advise you.
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants) like phenindione, warfarin, heparin
- Phenytoin (for epilepsy)
- Cyclosporin, tacrolimus (immune system suppressants)
- Itraconazole, ketoconazole (antifungal medicines)
- Mitomycin, lapatinib (cancer medicines)
- Medicines with bone marrow toxicity
- Other cancer medicines like cisplatin
- Ritonavir (for AIDS)
- Rifampicin (for tuberculosis)
Alcohol & Driving
Fatigue is a common side effect of Navelbine IV, so extra caution is needed with alcohol consumption and when driving or operating machinery.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol may make the tiredness from Navelbine IV worse.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Navelbine IV affects you. Fatigue is common, so make sure you know how the medicine affects you before driving, operating machinery, or doing anything that could be dangerous if you’re feeling tired.
Storage
Navelbine IV is usually stored at the hospital or pharmacy. If storing at home: keep in the refrigerator at 2 to 8°C (do not freeze), protect from light, and keep away from children. Do not store in bathrooms, cars, or on window sills. Return any leftover medicine to your pharmacist – do not dispose of via household waste or wastewater.
Overdose Information
Since Navelbine IV is given under medical supervision, overdose is very unlikely. However, if you experience any side effects during or after treatment, tell your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist immediately. If concerned about overdose, phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if there are no obvious symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several courses of Navelbine IV therapy may be needed depending on your response to treatment. Your doctor will monitor your progress and determine how many doses you need.
You should tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol may make the tiredness that commonly occurs with Navelbine IV worse.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you realize you’ve missed an appointment for your Navelbine IV dose. Use a diary, calendar, or ask someone to remind you of upcoming appointments.
Navelbine IV reduces the number of white blood cells and platelets in your blood, which increases your risk of infections and bleeding. Your doctor will check these levels regularly and may delay further doses until your blood cell numbers return to acceptable levels.
Live attenuated vaccines (like measles, mumps, rubella vaccines) are not recommended while having Navelbine IV. If you’ve recently had or plan to have any vaccination, tell your doctor.
Since Navelbine IV lowers your white blood cell count, avoid people with infections, be careful with dental hygiene, check with your doctor before dental work, and contact your doctor immediately if you develop fever, chills, cough, or other signs of infection.
Be careful not to cut yourself when using sharp objects like razors or nail cutters. Avoid contact sports or situations where you might bruise or get injured, as Navelbine IV reduces platelets that help blood clot.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.