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Overview: Vincristine is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a health care provider to treat certain cancers. Common side effects include hair loss, constipation, and loss of muscle. Serious side effects are less common but may include allergic reactions, kidney problems, breathing problems, or blood disorders. Call your health care provider right away if you get a fever, rash, swelling, a reduced need to pee, or shortness of breath.

Uses

What is vincristine used for?

Vincristine is used to treat certain people with the following types of cancer. 

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

How does vincristine work (mechanism of action)?

Vincristine 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 vincristine supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Oncovin
  • Vincasar

Dosage forms and strengths

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

How should I store vincristine?

Vincristine 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 vincristine?

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

  • Hair loss
  • Blood disorders (see below)
  • Nerve problems (see below)
  • Constipation
  • Trouble walking
  • Problem with reflexes
  • Muscle loss

There may be other side effects of vincristine 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 vincristine?

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

Severe Allergic Reactions. Vincristine 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. Vincristine can cause blood disorders, such as low white blood cell levels (leukopenia). Keep all of your appointments with your health care provider to have your blood cell counts checked, and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of blood disorders.

  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale or yellowish skin
  • Frequent infections
  • Unusual weakness or tiredness

Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when using vincristine due to a high level of uric acid. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.

  • Reduced need to pee
  • Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • A hard time catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
  • Confusion
  • Nausea
  • Seizures

Sudden Breathing Problems. Vincristine may cause the muscles around your airways to tighten (bronchospasm) right after you use it, instead of relaxing these muscles. In some cases, this can be serious. Tell your health care provider right away if your breathing gets worse instead of better right after using vincristine.

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 vincristine. Tell your health care provider if you have pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Tissue Damage. Vincristine 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 vincristine?

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

  • Oncovin
  • Vincasar
  • Vincristine
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific vincristine products they stock.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease. If you have a demyelinating form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, you should not use vincristine. Demyelinating means that the protective layer of your nerves are damaged. Tell your health care provider about any nerve issues you have had. 

What should I know about vincristine before using it?

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

You should take steps to prevent constipation while you are using vincristine. Some strategies may include drinking plenty of fluids and eating enough fiber. Ask your health care provider if you need help preventing constipation. 

Hair loss is common with vincristine. If you lose hair while using vincristine, hair will likely grow back, even while you are still using vincristine. If you have concerns, talk to your health care provider. 

Using vincristine may make it hard for you to become pregnant or 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 vincristine?

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 vincristine 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.

  • Nerve problems
  • Muscle problems
  • Breathing problems
  • Kidney problems
  • Liver problems
  • Blood disorder problems, such as low platelets or low white blood cells
  • Current or prior infection
  • Prior cancer
  • Prior or current radiation treatment

Other Medicines and Supplements. Vincristine may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using vincristine, 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. Vincristine may cause harm to a fetus. You should avoid getting pregnant while using vincristine. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. 

Breastfeeding. It is not known if vincristine passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your health care provider will let you know if you should stop breastfeeding or stop vincristine.

Interactions

Does vincristine interact with foods or drinks?

You should avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using vincristine. Grapefruit can interfere with your body’s ability to break down vincristine. 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 vincristine, but heavy drinking can slow your immune response and make it harder for your body to fight cancer.

Does vincristine 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 vincristine.

  • St. John’s wort, which is a supplement that may be used to treat depression
  • Any other chemotherapy medicine to treat cancer, such as mitomycin-C 
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek, and others), which is a medicine to control seizures
  • 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
  • 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

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of vincristine. 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 vincristine. 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 vincristine?

If you or someone else has used too much vincristine, 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 vincristine?

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

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