Epanova and Vinblastine Sulfate

• Generic Name: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Dosage Forms: capsule, gelatin coated
• Other Brand Names: Divista, Fish Oil, Lovaza, MegaKrill, Nature's Bounty Red Krill Oil, Prenatal DHA, TheraTears Nutrition, Vascazen, Vayarin, Wellbaby DHA, Dry Eye Omega Benefits, Animi-3, Cardio Omega Benefits, EPA Fish Oil, Fish Oil Ultra, Flex Omega Benefits, Icar Prenatal Essential Omega-3, Marine Lipid Concentrate, MaxEPA, MaxiTears Dry Eye Formula, MaxiVision Omega-3 Formula, Mi-Omega NF, Mom's Omega Advantage, Omega Essentials, Sea-Omega, Sea-Omega 30, TherOmega, Mi-Omega, Omacor, Proepa, Super-EPA, Omega-500, Omega-3, Sea-Omega 70, Animi-3 with Vitamin D, Omega Essentials Basic, TherOmega Sport, Triple Strength Red Krill Oil, Salmon Oil, Dual Spectrum Omega-3, Disney Omega-3 Gummies, Epanova, Ovega-3 Vegetarian, Omega-3 D-3 Wellness Pack, Vayacog, Vayarin Plus, Triklo

Epanova is a prescription medicine used along with a low fat and low cholesterol diet to lower very high triglyceride (fat) levels in adults.

It is not known if it changes your risk of having inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). It is not known if it prevents you from having a heart attack or stroke. It is not known if it is safe and effective in children.

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to omega-3-carboxylic acids or any of the other ingredients.

Before taking Epanova, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:

have diabetes have a low thyroid problem (hypothyroidism) have a liver problem have a pancreas problem are allergic to fish or shellfish are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, as it is not known if Epanova will harm your unborn baby are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, as Epanova can pass into your breast milk.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The usual dosage is 2 grams (2 capsules) or 4 grams (4 capsules) once daily without regard to meals.

You should take the exact dose your doctor prescribes.

Do not change your dose or stop treatment without talking to your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if you miss one whole day of dosing, do not double your catch up dose. Swallow capsules whole. Do not break open, crush, dissolve, or chew capsules before swallowing. If you cannot swallow the capsules whole, tell your doctor. You may need a different medicine. Your doctor should start you on a diet that is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, and low in added sugars. You should start this diet before your treatment, and continue during your treatment. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your triglycerides, bad cholesterol and liver function levels during your treatment.

Epanova may cause serious side effects, including:

increases in the results of blood tests used to check your liver function (ALT and AST) and your bad cholesterol levels (LDL-C) possible allergic reactions if you are also allergic to fish or shellfish

The most common side effects include:

diarrhea upset stomach abdominal pain or discomfort burping

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also:

Epanova side effects (in more detail)

• Generic Name: vinblastine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Velban

In combination chemotherapy as first- or second-line therapy for Hodgkin’s disease.

Often used with doxorubicin, bleomycin, and dacarbazine (known as the ABVD regimen) as first-line therapy for Hodgkin’s disease.

Under investigated in other combination regimens (e.g., Stanford V regimen: doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, vincristine, mechlorethamine, etoposide, and prednisone) for the treatment of advanced Hodgkin's disease.

Testicular Cancer

For the treatment of advanced nonseminomatous testicular carcinoma, combination chemotherapy regimens containing vinblastine, cisplatin, and bleomycin have been used; however, most clinicians recommend regimens containing cisplatin and bleomycin, in combination with etoposide rather than vinblastine, as first-line therapy, particularly because of the reduced risk of neuromuscular toxicity and evidence suggesting greater efficacy in poor-risk patients.

A regimen of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and either vinblastine or etoposide currently is considered by most clinicians to be the standard initial salvage (i.e., second-line) regimen in patients with recurrent testicular cancer.

AIDS-related Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Has been used alone or in combination chemotherapy for the palliative treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma.

Single-agent therapy with vinblastine is considered an alternative regimen.

Combination chemotherapy with a vinca alkaloid (vinblastine or vincristine) also has been a preferred regimen, but many clinicians currently consider a liposomal anthracycline (doxorubicin or daunorubicin) the first-line therapy of choice for advanced AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma.

Combination chemotherapy with conventional antineoplastic agents (e.g., bleomycin, conventional doxorubicin, etoposide, vinblastine, vincristine) has been used for more advanced disease (e.g., extensive mucocutaneous disease, lymphedema, symptomatic visceral disease).

A liposomal anthracycline for the treatment of advanced AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma produces similar or higher response rates with a more favorable toxic effects profile than combination therapy with conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

Classic Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Single-agent vinblastine has been used for the treatment of classic Kaposi's sarcoma.

Bladder Cancer

In combination regimens with cisplatin and methotrexate, with or without doxorubicin, as first- or second-line therapy for invasive and advanced bladder cancer.

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

In combination with cisplatin and mitomycin (MVP) as an alternative regimen for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Currently preferred regimens for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer include the combination of cisplatin or carboplatin, with another agent, such as paclitaxel, docetaxel, vinorelbine, or gemcitabine.

Melanoma

Used in combination regimens (e.g., cisplatin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine, with or without interferon alfa and aldesleukin) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Superiority of combination regimens compared with dacarbazine alone not established, and dacarbazine monotherapy currently is a systemic treatment of choice for metastatic melanoma.

Brain Tumors

In combination with cisplatin and bleomycin or as monotherapy (second-line) for the treatment of intracranial germ cell tumors.

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Has been used in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Slow IV infusions of vinblastine or the use of vinblastine-loaded platelets has reportedly been effective in some cases for the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Palliative treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, including lymphocytic lymphoma (nodular and diffuse, poorly and well differentiated), histiocytic lymphoma, and advanced stages of mycosis fungoides; however, other agents currently are preferred.

Letterer-Siwe Disease

Treatment of Letterer-Siwe disease.