bevacizumab
Other Name: Avastin®; Mvasi®; Zirabev®; Bambevi®, Abevmy®, Aybintio®, Vegzelma™
mixed into larger bags of fluids
- For treating certain types of colorectal, lung, brain, ovarian, cervical, kidney and other cancers. It may be used alone or with other chemotherapy drugs, depending on the type of cancer.
- Bevacizumab is available as a biosimilar medication. See our biosimilar pamphlet for more information.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have/ had:
- high blood pressure
- surgery in the last 28 days (or will be having surgery or dental procedures)
- heart problems (including heart attack or stroke)
- kidney problems
- coughed up blood or had other bleeding
- any allergies
- high blood pressure
Remember to:
- Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
- Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
Talk to your health care team about:
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How this treatment may affect your sexual health.
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How this treatment may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This treatment may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
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If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must:
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►Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until 6 months after your last treatment dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
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Do not breastfeed while on this treatment, and for at least 6 months after the last dose.
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This drug is given by injection into a vein.
- Bevacizumab will be given over a longer period of time for the first cycle. If you have no problems with this infusion, it will be given over a shorter time for the following cycles.
- Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.
- If you missed your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
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What should I do if I feel unwell, have pain, a headache or a fever?
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Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
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Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
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If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
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How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
- You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
OR
- 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
If you do have a fever:- Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
- Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
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Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
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Talk to your health care team before you start taking Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
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Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
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The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting bevacizumab. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Keep this paper during your treatment so that you can refer to it if you need to.
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Unusual bleeding or bruising (may be severe) What to look for?
What to do?
If you have signs of bleeding:
If you have bleeding that does not stop or is severe (very heavy), you must get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if you have any signs of bleeding. If you have bleeding that doesn’t stop or is severe, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
High blood pressure (may be severe) What to look for?
What to do?
If you have a severe headache get emergency help right away as it may be a sign your blood pressure is too high. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Proteins in Urine (may be severe) Your health care team may do urine tests to check for proteins in your pee. What to look for?
What to do? Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Headache, mild joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Diarrhea What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
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Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day) |
Blood clots What to look for?
A blood clot in your lungs can cause: coughing, problems breathing, pain in your chest or coughing up blood. A blood clot in you brain (stroke) can cause: trouble seeing, speaking, or using your arms and legs. A blood clot in your heart (heart attack) can cause: chest pain, shortness of breath and pain in your belly or arms. What to do? Get emergency medical help right away. |
Get emergency medical help right away |
Nausea and vomiting (generally mild) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
If you have nausea or vomiting:
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Talk to your health care team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if severe |
Constipation What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent constipation:
To help treat constipation:
Ask your health care team for the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Trouble Sleeping Your medications may cause trouble sleeping. It may get better once your body gets used to the medication or when your treatment ends. What to look for?
What to do? Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Low appetite What to look for?
Ask your health care team for the Loss of Appetite pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Heart problems What to look for?
What to do? Get emergency medical help right away.
|
Get emergency medical help right away |
Rash; dry, itchy skin What to look for?
What to do? To prevent and treat dry skin:
Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Fever, chills, infection What to look for?
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do?
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. |
If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Hoarseness (raspy voice) What to look for?
What to do? Let your doctor know if this bothers you.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- Red dots on skin, pale skin and/or severe tiredness, passing little or no pee or dark-coloured pee
- Flushing, swollen lips, face or tongue, wheezing and/or throat tightness, usually during or shortly after the drug is given
- Severe belly pain, bloating or feeling of fullness and severe constipation or sudden, severe pain in belly or stomach area
- Teeth, mouth or jaw pain and swelling, poor healing of mouth sores, unusual discharge from gums, loosening of teeth and the feeling of numbness or heaviness in the jaw
- Severe headache, fainting, seizures, confusion and vision loss
- Wounds that take longer to heal or not fully heal
- High fever and red, very painful swelling of the skin, which may feel hot or turn purplish
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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August 2023 Modified Other names section
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.