Brentuximab Vedotin Injection

Receiving brentuximab vedotin injection may increase the risk that you will develop progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML; a rare infection of the brain that cannot be treated, prevented, or cured and that usually causes death or severe disability). Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a condition that affects your immune system. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any medications that suppress the immune system. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop receiving brentuximab vedotin injection and call your doctor immediately: decreased strength or weakness on one side of the body; difficulty walking; loss of coordination; headache; confusion; difficulty thinking clearly; memory loss; changes in mood or usual behavior; difficulty speaking; or vision changes.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain tests to check your body’s response to brentuximab vedotin injection.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving brentuximab vedotin injection.

🔔 Why is this medication prescribed?

Brentuximab vedotin injection is used alone or in combination with other chemotherapy medications to treat adult patients with certain types of Hodgkin lymphoma. It is also used alone or in combination with other chemotherapy to treat certain types of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), other certain types of peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL; a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL; a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) in adult patients. Brentuximab vedotin is used in combination with other chemotherapy in pediatric patients 2 years or older as first treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma. Brentuximab vedotin injection is in a class of medications called antibody-drug conjugates. It works by killing cancer cells.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

Brentuximab vedotin injection comes as a powder to be mixed with fluid and injected over 30 minutes intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a medical office or hospital. Brentuximab vedotin is usually injected once every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on what you are being treated for, for as long as your doctor recommends that you receive treatment.

Brentuximab vedotin injection may cause serious allergic reactions, which usually occur during the infusion of the medication or within 24 hours of receiving a dose. You may receive certain medications before your infusion to prevent an allergic reaction if you had a reaction with previous treatment. Your doctor will watch you carefully while you are receiving brentuximab vedotin. If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor immediately: fever, chills, rash, hives, itching, or difficulty breathing.

Your doctor may need to delay your treatment, adjust your dose, or stop your treatment if you experience certain side effects. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with brentuximab vedotin injection.