Bendamustine Viatris (Bendamustine Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Bendamustine Viatris Used For?
Bendamustine Viatris is a chemotherapy medicine that belongs to a group called antineoplastic or cytotoxic medicines. These medicines work by killing cancer cells in your body.
Primary Uses
Bendamustine Viatris is used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; Stage III-IV Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Stage III-IV Mantle Cell Lymphoma in patients who have not been previously treated; Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in patients who have received one or more prior treatments and whose cancer is still progressing.
How It Works
Bendamustine Viatris works by killing cancer cells. It belongs to a group of medicines specifically designed to target and destroy cancerous cells in your body.
How to Take Bendamustine Viatris
Your treatment will take place in a specialized medical unit under the supervision of a doctor experienced in using chemotherapy medicines. The medicine is given as an infusion into your vein.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will calculate your dose based on your height, weight, kidney function, liver function, and other medicines you’re taking. For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia: 100 mg per square metre of body surface area, repeated every 4 weeks up to 6 times. For progressing Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: 120 mg per square metre on days 1 and 2, repeated every 3 weeks up to 6 times. For previously untreated Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Mantle Cell Lymphoma: 90 mg per square metre on days 1 and 2, repeated every 4 weeks up to 6 cycles. The medicine is dissolved in sterile salt solution and given over 30-60 minutes.
Treatment Schedule
Treatment should not start if your white blood cell count is below 3,000 cells/μL or your platelet count is below 75,000 cells/μL. Your doctor will check these values regularly and may adjust your dose based on your response to treatment.
Important: This medicine is only given in a specialized medical facility under expert supervision. You cannot receive too much because it’s carefully monitored by your healthcare team.
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:
- Low white blood cell counts
- Decreased red blood cells (anemia)
- Low platelet counts
- Infections
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue, chills, fever
- Headache or cough
- Bleeding
- Allergic skin reactions
- Diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain
- Sore mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Hair loss
- Missed periods
- Insomnia, anxiety, depression
- Dehydration
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Blood infection (sepsis)
- Severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock)
- Drowsiness
- Loss of voice
- Acute circulatory collapse
- Severe skin inflammation and rash
- Excessive sweating
- Pneumonia
- Breakdown of red blood cells
- Disturbed sense of taste
- Altered sensations
- Lack of coordination
- Brain or vein inflammation
- Heart problems (increased rate, heart attack, chest pain, heart failure)
- Lung tissue formation (fibrosis)
- Bleeding in gullet or stomach
- Infertility
- Multiple organ failure
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Bendamustine Viatris should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Bendamustine Viatris
Do not use if you: are allergic to bendamustine hydrochloride or any ingredients; have severe liver dysfunction; have yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice); have severely disturbed bone marrow function with serious changes in white blood cells and platelets; have had major surgery less than 30 days before treatment; have an infection, especially with reduced white blood cells; are receiving yellow fever vaccines.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: reduced bone marrow capability; infections including fever or lung symptoms; skin reactions; heart disease (heart attack, chest pain, severely disturbed heart rhythms); hepatitis B infections; history of severe allergic reactions. Pay special attention to infusion reactions after your first treatment cycle.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not use if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing age must use effective contraception before and during treatment. Men receiving treatment should not conceive a child during treatment and for up to 6 months afterward. Consider sperm storage before treatment due to possible permanent infertility.
Fertility Warning: This medicine may cause permanent infertility. Discuss sperm or egg storage options with your doctor before starting treatment.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Bendamustine Viatris and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- Medicines causing excessive immunosuppression (cyclosporine, tacrolimus)
- Fluvoxamine (used for depression)
- Ciprofloxacin and aciclovir (used for infections)
- Cimetidine (used for ulcers)
- Viral vaccines
- Medicines that inhibit blood formation in bone marrow
Alcohol & Driving
Bendamustine Viatris may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Take precautions until you know how the medicine affects you.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Bendamustine Viatris affects you. This medicine may cause sleepiness, dizziness, lack of coordination, or fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, do not drive or operate dangerous equipment.
Getting Up Slowly
If you feel light-headed, dizzy, or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly helps your body adjust to changes in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or worsens, talk to your doctor.
Storage
Store below 25°C in a cool, dry place protected from light. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
Since Bendamustine Viatris is given under medical supervision, overdose is very unlikely. However, if you experience side effects after treatment, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia: 13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no set time limit for treatment. Duration depends on your specific disease and how you respond to treatment. Typically, cycles are repeated every 3-4 weeks for up to 6 cycles, but your doctor will determine the best schedule for you.
Contact your doctor immediately if you think you may be getting an infection, or if you develop fever, chills, cough, sore throat, or lower back or side pain. Bendamustine Viatris lowers your white blood cell count, making you more susceptible to infections.
Check with your doctor before having any dental work. Be careful when using toothbrushes, toothpicks, or dental floss, as the medicine can lower your platelet count and increase bleeding risk. Your healthcare team may recommend special ways to clean your teeth and gums.
Be careful not to cut yourself when using sharp objects like razors or nail cutters. Avoid people with infections. The medicine lowers your blood cell counts, increasing your risk of bleeding and infection.
Yes, your doctor will do blood tests regularly to monitor your white blood cell and platelet counts, and to check how well the medicine is working. Treatment cannot start if your counts are too low, and your doctor may adjust doses based on these results.
Always tell any doctor, nurse, dentist, or pharmacist that you are taking Bendamustine Viatris. If you’re having surgery, inform the surgeon or anesthetist, as it may affect other medicines used during surgery.
Yes, this medicine may cause permanent infertility. Women of childbearing age must use effective contraception during treatment. Men should not conceive children during treatment and for up to 6 months afterward. Discuss sperm or egg storage options with your doctor before starting treatment.
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.