• Brand Names: U.S.: Velcade®
• Brand Names: Canada: Velcade®
• Mexican Brand Names: Velcade
• Pharmacologic Category: Antineoplastic Agent;Proteasome Inhibitor

• It is used to treat multiple myeloma.
• It is used to treat lymphoma.
• It is used to treat amyloidosis.
• Bortezomib harms cancer cells causing their death.

How to take

• It is given as a shot into a vein.
• It may be given as a shot into the fatty part of the skin.

Missed Dose

• Call your doctor for an office visit.

Storage

• This drug will be given to you in a hospital or doctor's office. You will not store it at home.

Warnings

• Unsafe side effects may happen. This drug cannot be taken while you are taking some other drugs. Check all the drugs you are taking with your doctor.

Avoid

• If you have an allergy to bortezomib, boron, mannitol, or any other part of this drug.
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs. Make sure to tell about the allergy and what signs you had. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding.

Precautions

• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), talk with your doctor.
• If you have heart disease, talk with your doctor.
• If you have high blood pressure, talk with your doctor.
• If you have liver disease, talk with your doctor.
• Have your blood work checked often. Talk with your doctor.
• Check all drugs you are taking with your doctor. This drug may not mix well with some other drugs.
• Do not take St John's wort with this drug. This drug may not work as well.
• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
• Avoid multivitamins, natural products, and diet aids that have extra vitamin C.
• Avoid green tea and green tea extracts.
• Use birth control that you can trust to stop pregnancy while taking this drug.

Side Effects

• Low white blood cell count or low platelet count.
• Blurred eyesight. Use care when driving or doing other tasks that call for clear eyesight.
• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over a few minutes when sitting or lying down. Be careful climbing.
• Upset stomach or throwing up. Many small meals, good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Hard stools (constipation). Drinking more liquids, working out, or adding fiber to your diet may help. Talk with your doctor about a stool softener or laxative.
• Loose stools.
• Low blood pressure.
• Anemia.
• Viral infection.
• Fever.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Muscle pain.
• Headache.

Contact a healthcare provider

• If you think there was an overdose, call your local poison control center or ER right away.
• Signs of a very bad reaction to the drug. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet.
• Trouble breathing.
• Sudden change in eyesight.
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Very loose stools.
• Not able to eat.
• Cough that does not go away.
• Very bad swelling.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Change in thinking clearly and with logic.
• Any bruising or bleeding.
• Any rash.
• Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse.

General Statements

• If you have a very bad allergy, wear an allergy ID at all times.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most drugs may be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• In Canada, take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Call your doctor for help with any side effects. If in the U.S., you may also call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or if in Canada, you may also call Health Canada's Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including OTC, natural products, or vitamins.

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