Uses of Bortezomib

Bortezomib is used to treat progressive multiple myeloma when anticancer therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation becomes unsuitable to treat the disease (alone or in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin/dexamethasone).

It is also used to treat untreated mantle cell lymphoma (with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone when hematopoietic stem cell transplantation becomes unsuitable to treat the disease).

Therapeutic Category

Bortezomib: Antineoplastic agents

How Bortezomib works

Bortezomib works by inhibiting proteasomes (enzymes responsible for breaking down proteins into smaller compounds for cells) which leads to an imbalance in the cancer cell thus resulting in its destruction and thereby treating multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma in affected individuals.

Common side effects of Bortezomib

• Fluid retention
• Difficulty or problems in sleeping
• Altered level of consciousness, confusion
• Dizziness, abnormal vision
• Chest discomfort, sweating
• Cough, hiccups
• Ringing in the ears, ear discomfort
• Difficulty swallowing
• Infection or inflammation of the stomach and intestine
• Throat pain, decreased appetite
• Infection of the urinary tract
• Nausea or vomiting
• Constipation with or without bloating (can be severe)
• Diarrhoea, Tiredness, weakness
• Muscle or bone pain
• Low or high blood pressure
• Headache
• Vertigo (spinning sensation), light-headedness
• Itching of the skin
• Lumps on the skin or dry skin
• Facial blushing or tiny broken capillaries
• Redness of the skin
• Dehydration
• Heartburn, bloating, belching, wind, stomach pain, bleeding from your bowels or stomach
• Weight loss
• Loss of taste
• Muscle cramps, muscle spasms, muscle weakness, pain in your limbs
• Blurred vision
• Nose bleeds
• Hair loss and abnormal hair texture

When to consult your doctor

Consult your doctor if you experience:

• Meningitis, epstein-barr virus infection, genital herpes
• Tonsillitis, mastoiditis
• Post-viral fatigue syndrome
• Grade 4 neuropathy (life-threatening damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves) and/or severe autonomic neuropathy (nerve damage that controls automatic body functions)
• Signs of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (neurological disorder) such as clumsiness or loss of coordination, difficulty walking and facial drooping
• Signs of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (rare rapidly evolving neurological disorder) such as seizure, hypertension, headache, lethargy, confusion, blindness
• Signs of peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage that occurs in hands and feet) such as gradual onset of numbness, prickling or tingling in feet or hands, sharp, jabbing, throbbing or burning pain and extreme sensitivity to touch
• Acute diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disorders (group of lung disorders) such as shortness of breath, coughing (typically nonproductive), decreased exercise tolerance, and weakness.
• Signs of allergy such as serum-sickness-type reaction
• Signs of auto immune disorders such as proliferative glomerulonephritis

Health Tips for Bortezomib

• Bortezomib will be given to you only by a doctor or a nurse into a vein as an intravenous infusion. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition
• Bortezomib can affect bone density. Your doctor may recommend calcium and vitamin D supplements to support bone health
• Regular follow-up appointments with your doctor are important to monitor your progress and assess the effectiveness of the treatment
• Drink plenty of fluids while taking Bortezomib, as this can help to prevent nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation
• Before receiving Bortezomib, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine such as Ketoconazole, Omeprazole, Dexamethasone, Ritonavir, etc
• Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and avoiding excessive sun exposure
• Bortezomib is not recommended for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women