ABVD Information

Index

Introduction

Proper Use

Precautions

Side Effects that require prompt Doctor notification

Side Effects that you may want to discuss at your next Doctor appointment

Long Term Side Effects

Dosage Information

Introduction

The information that follows conforms to my "more is better" philosophy. If you are looking for lots of information about rare symptoms that you will probably never get, this is the place for you. However, if you have even the slightest tendency to become concerned about things that will probably never happen, I strongly suggest you look elsewhere.

By the way whether you decide to view all my ABVD information or not, you should look at Li Spark's excellent MOPP and ABVD information.

ABVD consists of several drugs which are used to treat some kinds of cancer. ABVD is being used to treat my Hodgkin's. These drugs are:

• Adriamycin - belongs to the general group of drugs known as anthracycline antibiotics.
• Bleomycin - belongs to the group of drugs called antitumor antibiotics.
• Vinblastine - belongs to the group of drugs known as antineoplastic agents.
• DTIC - belongs to the group of drugs called alkylating agents.

These drugs disrupt the growth of cancer cells, which are then destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by these drugs, other effects can occur. Some effects may not occur for months or years after the drugs are used.

Before taking these drug, discuss the following with your doctor:

• If you are pregnant, breast feeding, or planning children in the future, inform your doctor before you begin treatment. These drugs may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking them at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Man and women who are taking these drugs need to use some kind of birth control. However, do not use oral contraceptives ("the Pill") without checking with your doctor.

• Many cancer drugs may cause sterility which could be permanent. Sterility has been reported with Adriamycin. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

• If you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

• If you smoke (Bleomycin).

• If you have any of the following medical problems.

Medical Problem	Related Drugs
Chicken pox	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC
Congestive heart failure	Adriamycin
Gout	Adriamycin, Vinblastine
Heart disease	Adriamycin
Infection	Vinblastine, DTIC
Kidney disease	Bleomycin, DTIC
Kidney stones	Adriamycin, Vinblastine
Liver disease	Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, DTIC
Lung disease	Bleomycin
Shingles	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC

Proper use of these drugs

• While you are taking Adriamycin and Vinblastine your doctor may want you to drink extra fluids so that you will pass more urine. This will help prevent kidney problems and keep your kidneys working well.

• These drugs can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Try to continue to receive these drugs, even if you begin to feel ill. Ask you doctor or nurse for ways to lessen these effects.

Precautions while taking these drugs

Precaution	Related Drug
While you are being treated and after you stop treatment, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's okay. Also try to avoid other people who have recently taken the oral polio vaccine.	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC
If the drug accidentally leaks out of the vein into which it is given, it may damage the tissue and cause scarring. Tell the nurse right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the place of injection.	Adriamycin, Vinblastine
This drug can lower you blood counts. Follow your doctor's warnings for lowered blood counts.	Adriamycin, Vinblastine
Tell all other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.	Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, DTIC

Side Effects that require prompt Doctor notification

• The side effects listed below are derived from the technical literature about these drugs. Remember that everyone's experience is unique. The fact that this list is so enormous doesn't mean that you or your loved one will be sick with all these symptoms all the time!

• Because of the way these drugs act on the body, there is a chance that they can cause other side effects that may not occur until months or years after the drugs are used. These very rarely can include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia.

• Although most of the following side effects will probably not occur, if they do occur you need to call your doctor.

Side Effect	Related Drug	More Common	Less Common	Rare
Black, tarry stools	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X (D)	X (A,V)
Blood in stools	Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X (D)	X (V)
Blood in urine	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X (D)	X (A,V)
Chills	Bleomycin	_	X	_
Confusion	Bleomycin	_	X	_
Constipation	Vinblastine	_	X	_
Cough	Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	X (B)	X (A,V,D)	_
Darkening or redness of skin (after x-ray treatment)	Adriamycin	_	X	_
Difficulty in walking	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Dizziness	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Double vision	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Drooping eyelids	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Faintness	Bleomycin	_	X	_
Fast or irregular heartbeat	Adriamycin	_	X	_
Fever or chills	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X	_
Headache	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Hoarseness	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X	_
Jaw pain	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Joint pain	Adriamycin, Vinblastine	_	X	_
Lower back or side pain	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X	_
Mental depression	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Numbness or tingling in fingers and toes	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Pain in fingers and toes	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Pain in testicles	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Pain or redness at place of injection	Adriamycin, Vinblastine	_	X	_
Painful or difficult urination	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X	_
Pinpoint red spots on skin	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X (D)	X (A,V)
Red streaks along injected vein	Adriamycin	_	X	_
Redness, pain or swelling at site of injection	DTIC	X	_	_
Shortness of breath	Adriamycin, Bleomycin, DTIC	X (B)	X (A)	X (D)
Skin rash or itching	Adriamycin	_	_	X
Sores in mouth or on lips	Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	X (A,B)	X (V)	X (D)
Stomach pain	DTIC	_	_	X
Sweating	Bleomycin	_	X	_
Swelling of face	DTIC	_	_	X
Swelling of feet or lower legs	Adriamycin, Vinblastine	_	X	_
Unusual bleeding or bruising	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X (D)	X (A,V)
Vomiting	Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine , DTIC	X (A,B,D)	X (V)	_
Weakness	Vinblastine	_	_	X
Wheezing	Adriamycin, Bleomycin	_	X (B)	X (A)
Yellow eyes or skin	DTIC	_	_	X

Side Effects that you may want to discuss at your next doctor appointment

• The Following side effects may occur but you do not need to notify your Doctor immediately unless they bother you or you have questions about them:

Side Effects	Related Drug	More Common	Less Common	Rare
Changes in fingernails or toenails	Bleomycin	_	X	_
Darkening of soles of feet, palms, or nails	Adriamycin	_	X	_
Darkening or thickening of the skin	Bleomycin	X	_	_
Diarrhea	Adriamycin	_	X	_
Feelings of uneasiness	DTIC	_	X	_
Fever (3-6 hours after dose)	Bleomycin	X	_	_
Flushing of face	DTIC	_	X	_
Itching of skin	Bleomycin	X	_	_
Loss of appetite	Bleomycin, DTIC	X	_	_
Loss of hair - usually temporary	Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	X (A,B)	X (V,D)	_
Muscle pain	Vinblastine, DTIC	_	X	_
Nausea	Adriamycin, Vinblastine, DTIC	X (A,D)	X (V)	_
Numbness of face	DTIC	_	X	_
Reddish urine, which may stain clothes. (first 1 or 2 days after each dose.)	Adriamycin	X	_	_
Skin rash or colored bumps on fingertips, elbows, or palms	Bleomycin	X	_	_
Skin redness or tenderness	Bleomycin	X	_	_
Swelling of the fingers	Bleomycin	X	_	_
Weight loss	Bleomycin	_	X	_

Long Term Side Effects

• After you stop receiving these drugs, they may still produce some side effects that need attention. Notify your doctor for any of the following:

Side Effect	Related Drug
Cough	Bleomycin
Irregular heartbeat	Adriamycin
Shortness of breath	Adriamycin, Bleomycin
Swelling of feet and lower legs	Adriamycin

• Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Report any problems to your doctor.

Dosage Information

Drug	Standard Dose	My Dose
Adriamycin	25 mg/m2	50 mg
Bleomycin	10 units/m2	20 units
Vinblastine	6 mg/m2	12 mg
DTIC	375 mg/m2	786 mg