Multiple Myeloma Treatment With Velcade Dex

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that attacks plasma cells. Multiple myeloma causes an increase in the number of abnormal cells that create abnormal antibodies which show up in the blood or urine. Velcade Dex is a combination drug treatment using Velcade and Dexamethasone that targets these plasma cell membranes and inhibits their growth.

Velcade

• Velcade is approved by the FDA for use in all stages of multiple myeloma. The length of treatment will depend upon how well the drug is working, the side effects encountered and the stage of cancer. Velcade is administered by IV injections spread out over a period of nine separate six-week cycles. During the first four cycles it is given twice weekly and once a week during the last five cycles. There needs to be at least three days in between doses.

  Antivirals are usually given along with Velcade in order to prevent an outbreak of shingles. According to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 25 percent of patients who received Velcade and did not receive preventative medication went on to develop shingles. Shingles is a painful rash that occurs because the dormant chicken pox virus is reactivated.

Dexamethasone

• Dexamethasone is a steroid drug that is used to treat a variety of diseases like arthritis, asthma, lupus, and multiple sclerosis as well as multiple myeloma. Recent studies have added Dexamethasone to the treatment regimes of patients receiving Velcade. This combination therapy has shown promising results. The University of Florida Shands Cancer Center reported on a study where patients were treated with Velcade Dex and showed a partial response rate of 65 percent.

Side Effects

• Peripheral neuropathy is a side effect of Velcade Dex. The drug can worsen symptoms like numbness and burning of the feet and hands that were pre-existing. It can also cause the symptoms to appear in patients who have never had them before. If the symptoms are severe, a change in either the dose or scheduling of Velcade may be indicated. Patients who receive Velcade should be carefully monitored for neuropathy symptoms like pain, burning sensations, tingling and numbness.

  Velcade can cause serious side effects to the heart and lungs. Hypotension is common and may cause problems in patients who had low blood pressure before starting the therapy. Velcade can worsen congestive heart failure or bring on its onset and pulmonary diseases have also been reported after using this drug. These diseases include inflammation of the lungs, pneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome.

  According to drugs.com, in addition to the previously mentioned serious side effects Velcade uses may experience less serious side effects like nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, heartburn, back pain, bone pain, loss of appetite, rash, cough and insomnia.

Precautions

• It is not known if Velcade is safe for pregnant women, nursing mothers or children. Women should not become pregnant while taking Velcade and should discontinue nursing since many drugs are passed through to breast milk. Patients with pre-existing diabetes should be monitored closely since Velcade appears to have an effect on blood sugar levels.