VINCRISTINE
INTRODUCTION:
Molecular Description of Vincristine
What is Vincristine?
Vincristine is one of the supplements used mainly in chemotherapy medication, it is the type of treatment used to treat cancer. It is a type of drug used to treat many types of cancer in many patients. Vincristine treats many types of cancers like breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, blood cancer, kidney cancer, and lung cancer. Oncovin is the brand name of Vincristine.
WHY VINCRISTINE?
Besides many anti-cancer drugs like alkylating agents, antimetabolites, hormones, interferons, etc., Vincristine is used because these drugs may or may not stop the spreading of cancer cells. But this drug most probably helps to stop the spread of cancer cells in the human body.
MECHANISM OF ACTION:
- Vincristine is a drug that is among the group of alkaloids.
- It stops the cancer cell by separating it into two cells.
- Thus it helps to stop the growth of cancer in the human body.
- Vincristine belongs to a group of alkaloids that is made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.
- Vincristine is an organic compound.
- These drugs stop the growth of cancer cells at the mitosis stage in the growth of cancer.
- This drug kills the cancer cells by separating them.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
- This drug can be given to patients in the form of injections as intravenous injection or infusion(IV).
- This drug should be injected only in veins.
- This should be injected according to the correct measures and not to exceed the limit and follow according to the doctors.
- Usually, Vincristine will be given once a week depending on the condition of cancer cells in an affected body.
- It could be diluted in 30ml injection and can be injected as an IV for 5-10 minutes for adults.
- For children, doctors may decrease the quantity of the drug as per their body condition.
WARNINGS:
- Vincristine is to be injected only in the vein.
- It should be injected properly without leaking because if this drug leaks it may cause serious damage to the skin.
- This should not be injected via any intrathecal route that may cause fatal issues in patients.
- While injecting Vincristine, beforehand should monitor the blood pressure rate of an affected person as this drug may increase blood pressure, especially persons who already have blood pressure must be under the whole consideration of the doctor.
- This is a drug that should be taken at correct measures if it exceeds the limit may cause bleeding, lowers the number of platelets count, rashes, etc.,
PRECAUTIONS:
While taking this drug, the patient should not be vaccinated or immunized. The affected person must stay away from the person who is vaccinated. This may cause side effects to the cancer patients who are getting treated with vincristine. This drug should not be leaked to any other body parts including the eye which may cause inflammation of the eye. The patients who are taking this drug must be careful and report to the doctor if they get these symptoms:
- Pain or redness of an area
- Inflammation
- Dizziness
- Urine problems
- Skin problems
- Diarrhea
- Bleeding in any area
- Loss of appetite
SIDE EFFECTS:
Long term of using vincristine can cause neural-based problems. There are common side effects of chemotherapy such as hair loss, loss of appetite, drowsiness, weight loss, back pain, bleeding gums, tired-looking face, skin dryness and darkening of skin, mental depression like stress, and lack of sweat. This drug can sometimes cause vomiting sensation and nausea. Sometimes it may cause liver damage due to radiation used in chemotherapy. So these processes should be highly maintained and monitored by doctors.
FAQs:
- Could vincristine be supplied through tablets either by injecting them?
- Does vincristine cure leukemia?
- What is the average usage count of vincristine in chemotherapy missions?
- Is the use of this drug painful?
- Are there no other drugs that could treat cancer better than vincristine?
