Vindesine (Eldisine)

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

Vindesine belongs to a group of drugs called vinca alkaloids. These drugs are often called plant alkaloids because the first of these drugs was developed from the periwinkle plant (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, a portacath or a PICC line. These are tubes that give the drug into a major vein near your collar bone. The tube is put in before you start your treatment and stays in as long as it is needed.

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

Vindesine side effects are listed below. You can use the links to find out more about each side effect or go to the cancer drug side effects section.

More than 10 in every 100 people have one or more of the side effects listed below.

Temporary drop in the number of blood cells made by the bone marrow, causing

• 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)

Some of these side effects can be life threatening, particularly infections. You should contact your hospital if you have any of these  effects. Your doctor will check your blood counts regularly to see how well your bone marrow is working.

Other common side effects include

• Tiredness (fatigue) during and after treatment – 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
• Numbness and tingling in fingers and toes (peripheral neuropathy) may cause problems doing fiddly things, such as doing up buttons – this often goes back to normal when the treatment ends but for some people may be long term
• 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 talk to your doctor about your fertility before starting treatment if having a baby is important to you
• 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 or nurse 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

Between 1 and 10 in every 100 people have one or more of these.

• Inflammation around the drip site – if you notice any signs of redness, pain, 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 is easily controlled with anti sickness injections and tablets – if your sickness isn't controlled, tell your doctor or nurse as you can try other anti sickness medicines
• Muscle weakness
• A skin rash
• A sore mouth

Fewer than 1 in 100 people have these.

• Headaches
• 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

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.

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.

You should not have immunisations with live vaccines while you are having this treatment 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.

It is 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 not many people in the UK have oral vaccines now. So there is usually no problem in being with any baby or child who has recently had any vaccination in the UK. You might need to make sure that you aren't in contact with anyone who has had oral polio, cholera or typhoid vaccination recently, particularly if you live abroad.