Avastin Solution

Avastin Solution is used for:

Treating certain types of advanced lung cancer. It is also used to treat certain types of brain, breast, kidney, colon, or rectal cancer. It is used with other cancer medicines.

Avastin Solution is a monoclonal antibody. It works by decreasing the formation and growth of new blood vessels in the tumor by blocking the action of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This helps to slow the growth and spread of cancer.

Do NOT use Avastin Solution if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Avastin Solution
• you have a tear or hole in your stomach or intestines
• you have a wound that is not healing well or has split apart
• you have recently coughed up blood or you have had surgery within the last 28 days
• you are taking sunitinib

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Avastin Solution:

Some medical conditions may interact with Avastin Solution. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances, including mouse or murine proteins
• if you have a history of high blood pressure or heart problems (eg, congestive heart failure, heart disease), blood vessel problems, blood clotting problems, or coughing up blood
• if you have kidney problems, high amounts of protein in your urine, a low blood sodium level, or a wound that has not fully healed, or if you are scheduled for surgery
• if you have nerve problems or a history of stomach or bowel problems

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Avastin Solution. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Sunitinib because a certain type of severe anemia (eg, hemolytic anemia) may occur

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Avastin Solution may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Avastin Solution:

Use Avastin Solution as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Avastin Solution is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using Avastin Solution at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use Avastin Solution. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
• Do not use Avastin Solution if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged.
• Do not shake Avastin Solution.
• If you miss a dose of Avastin Solution, contact your doctor immediately to establish a new dosing schedule.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Avastin Solution.

Important safety information:

• Avastin Solution may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Avastin Solution with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• If nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite occurs, ask your doctor or pharmacist for ways to lessen these effects.
• Avastin Solution may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.
• Avastin Solution may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.
• Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine while you are using Avastin Solution.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Avastin Solution before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Lab tests, including blood pressure and urine protein levels, may be performed while you use Avastin Solution. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Avastin Solution with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially the risk of blood clotting problems (eg, heart attack, stroke).
• Avastin Solution should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Avastin Solution may cause harm to the fetus. Do not become pregnant while you are using it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Avastin Solution while you are pregnant. If you are able to become pregnant, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the use of effective birth control while taking Avastin Solution and for at least 6 months following the last dose of Avastin Solution. It is not known if Avastin Solution is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Avastin Solution. Do not become pregnant or breast-feed immediately after you stop Avastin Solution. Avastin Solution can stay in your body for a long time after you stop using it. Talk with your doctor about when it may be safe to become pregnant or breast-feed.

Possible side effects of Avastin Solution:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include severe headache.

Avastin Solution is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Avastin Solution at home, store Avastin Solution as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Avastin Solution, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Avastin Solution is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Avastin Solution. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.