Bendeka

Bendeka is a prescription medication used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL. It is also used to treat a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, or NHL. Bendeka belongs to a group of drugs called alkylating agents. These work by killing existing cancer cells and limiting the growth of new cancer cells.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of Bendeka include fever, nausea, and vomiting. Bendeka may also cause tiredness. Avoid driving any vehicle or operating any dangerous tools or machinery if they experience this side effect.

Bendeka is a prescription medication used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CLL is a type of cancer of the white blood cells. Bendeka is also used to treat a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL). NHL is cancer that begins in a type of white blood cell that normally fights infection.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Common side effects of Bendeka include:

• nausea
• fatigue (tiredness) 
• fever
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• cough
• headache
• difficulty breathing
• rash
• sores or white patches in the mouth
• a decrease in blood counts 

This is not a complete list of Bendeka side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medications that block the enzyme CYP1A2 such as zileuton (Zyflo), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), mexiletine (Mexitil), propafenone (Rythmol), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin), cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), birth control pills, acyclovir (Zovirax), ticlopidine (Ticlid), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• medications that increase the activity of the enzyme CYP1A2 such as montelukast (Singulair), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), phenobarbital

Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this medication. Tell your doctor if you smoke. 

This is not a complete list of Bendeka drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Bendeka including the following:

• Mild or serious allergic reactions. Immediately report rash, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing during or soon after infusion.
• A decrease in white blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts. Report shortness of breath, significant fatigue, bleeding, fever, or other signs of infection.
• Bendeka may also cause tiredness. Avoid driving any vehicle or operating any dangerous tools or machinery if you experience this side effect.
• Nausea and Vomiting. Tell your doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Your doctor may prescribe treatment to manage these side effects.
• Rash. Mild rash or itching may occur during treatment with Bendeka. Immediately report severe or worsening rash or itching.
• Harm to your unborn baby. Women should not become pregnant throughout treatment and for 3 months after treatment with Bendeka has stopped.

Do not take Bendeka if you are allergic to Bendeka or to any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Bendeka, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before receiving Bendeka, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Bendeka, mannitol (Osmitrol), or any other medications
• have or have ever had kidney or liver disease
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you plan to father a child. You or your partner should not become pregnant while you are receiving Bendeka. You should use birth control to prevent pregnancy in yourself or your partner during your treatment with Bendeka and for 3 months afterward. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that will work for you. If you or your partner becomes pregnant while receiving Bendeka, call your doctor. Bendeka can harm the fetus
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
• you should know that Bendeka may make you tired. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
• tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this medication.

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

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category D. Bendeka caused problems in animals, when a single dose was administered to pregnant animals. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Bendeka can cause harm to your unborn baby.

If you become pregnant while taking Bendeka, contact your doctor immediately.  

Women should not become pregnant while receiving Bendeka and for 3 months after therapy has stopped. In addition, men receiving Bendeka, should use reliable contraception for the same time period. 

It is not known if Bendeka is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants and the fact harm was evident in animal studies, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. Women should avoid breastfeeding while receiving Bendeka. 

Receive Bendeka exactly as prescribed.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be dosed by a healthcare professional:

• When treating Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the typical dose is 100 mg/m2 (surface area dosing) infused into the vein over 10 minutes on Days 1 and 2 of a 28-day cycle, up to 6 cycles.
• When treating Indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), the typical dose is 120 mg/m2 infused intravenously over 10 minutes on Days 1 and 2 of a 21­ day cycle, up to 8 cycles. 

The dose may be adjusted if you experience certain toxicities.

If this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if an overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.