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Overview: Vinorelbine is an intravenous infusion given by a health care provider to treat certain people with lung cancer. Common side effects include nausea and vomiting, constipation, and tiredness. Serious side effects are less common but may include nerve problems, liver problems, blood disorders, or trouble breathing. Call your health care provider right away if you get a fever, burning, tingling, or numbness, rash, swelling, chest pain, or shortness of breath.

Uses

What is vinorelbine used for?

Vinorelbine is commonly used to treat certain people with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Vinorelbine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does vinorelbine work (mechanism of action)?

Vinorelbine is a type of medicine called chemotherapy. It works by stopping cancer cells from growing correctly. This can stop or slow the growth of cancer and make the tumors shrink.

How is vinorelbine supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Navelbine

Dosage forms and strengths

Vinorelbine is available in an injectable form that is given by a health care provider.

How should I store vinorelbine?

Vinorelbine is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. You will not store it at home.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of vinorelbine?

The most common side effects of vinorelbine are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Blood disorders (see below)
  • Increase in liver function tests
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation (see below)
  • Tiredness
  • Injection site reactions
  • Nerve problems (see below)

There may be other side effects of vinorelbine that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of vinorelbine?

While less common, the most serious side effects of vinorelbine are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Vinorelbine may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Blood Disorders. Vinorelbine can cause blood disorders, such as low red blood cells (anemia), low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia), and low neutrophil levels (neutropenia). Attend all of your appointments with your health care provider to have your blood cell counts checked. Stop using vinorelbine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of blood disorders.

  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale or yellowish skin
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Frequent infection
  • Unusual weakness or tiredness
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are about to pass out
  • Headache
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when using vinorelbine. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stomach or belly pain
  • Fever
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Itching
  • Loss of appetite
  • Light-colored poop
  • Dark-colored urine (pee)
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Severe Constipation. Constipation is common with vinorelbine. Some people using vinorelbine have severe constipation. Some needed to go to the hospital and had a gut blockage, tear, or hole in their gut. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and eat fiber while using vinorelbine. Your health care provider may recommend you use medicine, such as a laxative, while you are using vinorelbine. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of severe constipation.

  • New stomach pain
  • Nausea and vomiting

Lung Inflammation. Vinorelbine can cause inflammation in your lungs, also called interstitial lung disease. Vinorelbine can also cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These conditions can be serious or even life-threatening. They can happen even up to about a week after your dose. Get emergency help if you have wheezing or trouble breathing. You may also have a cough, fever, or chest pain.

Nerve Problems. Nerves are the fibers that carry sensations from your body to the brain. Damage to these nerves, called peripheral neuropathy, can happen in people who are using vinorelbine. Call your health care provider if you have pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Tissue Damage. Vinorelbine is given as an infusion into a vein. If the medicine does not go into your vein, it could damage nearby tissue. Your infusion may need to be stopped, and you may need treatment to prevent further tissue damage. Tell your health care provider right away if you have pain, swelling, warmth, or skin color changes where the medicine is given.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use vinorelbine?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take vinorelbine.

  • Navelbine
  • Vinorelbine
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in vinorelbine.

What should I know about vinorelbine before using it?

Vinorelbine is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic.

If you can become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while using vinorelbine and for at least six months after your last dose. If you are able to get your partner pregnant, you should use effective birth control while using vinorelbine and for at least three months after your last dose.

Using vinorelbine may make it hard for you to get your partner pregnant. If you have concerns, talk to your health care provider.

What should I tell my health care provider before using vinorelbine?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if vinorelbine is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

  • Blood disorder problems, such as low platelets or low white blood cells
  • Current or prior infection
  • Liver problems
  • Stomach or bowel problems
  • Nerve problems
  • Breathing problems

Other Medicines and Supplements. Vinorelbine may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using vinorelbine, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. Vinorelbine may cause harm to a fetus. You may need a test to make sure you are not pregnant before using vinorelbine. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant, think you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if vinorelbine passes into breast milk. You should not breastfeed while using vinorelbine and for nine days after your last dose. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Interactions

Does vinorelbine interact with foods or drinks?

You should avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using vinorelbine. Grapefruit can interfere with your body’s ability to break down vinorelbine. This can lead to high levels of the medicine and an increased risk of side effects. See the Side Effects section for more details.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect vinorelbine, but heavy drinking can slow your immune response and make it harder for your body to fight cancer.

Does vinorelbine interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before using vinorelbine.

  • A calcium channel blocker, such as diltiazem (Cardizem CD and others) or verapamil (Verelan, Verelan PM), which is a medicine used for high blood pressure or other conditions
  • Fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), ketoconazole, posaconazole (Noxafil), or voriconazole (Vfend), which are medicines used for fungal infections
  • A macrolide antibiotic, such as clarithromycin or erythromycin (Ery-Tab and others), which is a medicine used for bacterial infections

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of vinorelbine. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with vinorelbine. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much vinorelbine?

If you or someone else has used too much vinorelbine, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of vinorelbine?

Missing doses of vinorelbine can cause it to not work as well over time. So, it is important not to miss or skip doses. Vinorelbine is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital. Your health care provider will make sure you are receiving vinorelbine as scheduled.

If you miss an appointment to get your vinorelbine dose, call to make another appointment as soon as possible.