bendamustine

bendamustine

Treanda

Indications

Action

Pharmacokinetics

Time/action profile (blood levels)

Contraindications/Precautions

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

Central nervous system

• fatigue
• weakness

Respiratory

• cough

Gastrointestinal

• nausea (most frequent)
• vomiting (most frequent)
• diarrhea

Dermatologic

• toxic epidermal necrolysis
• stevens-johnson syndrome
• skin reactions

Hematologic

• anemia (most frequent)
• leukopenia
• neutropenia
• thrombocytopenia

Metabolic

• hyperuricemia

Miscellaneous

• malignancy (life-threatening)
• tumor lysis syndrome (life-threatening)
• allergic reactions including anaphylaxis
• fever (most frequent)
• infusion reactions

Interactions

Drug-Drug interaction

Route/Dosage

Availability

Nursing implications

Nursing assessment

• Monitor for bone marrow depression. Assess for bleeding (bleeding gums, bruising, petechiae, guaiac stools, urine, and emesis) and avoid IM injections and taking rectal temperatures if platelet count is low. Apply pressure to venipuncture sites for 10 min. Assess for signs of infection during neutropenia; anemia may occur; monitor for increased fatigue, dyspnea, and orthostatic hypotension.
• Monitor for symptoms of infusion reactions (fever, chills, pruritus, rash). May rarely cause severe allergic and anaphylactic reactions, especially in second and subsequent cycles. Discontinue therapy if severe reactions occur. Ask patient about symptoms suggestive of infusion reactions after first cycle of therapy. Consider using antihistamines, antipyretics, and corticosteroids in patients who previously experienced Grade 1 or 2 reactions. Consider discontinuation of therapy in patients with Grade 3 or 4 reactions.
• Assess for tumor lysis syndrome. Usually occurs during first cycle of bendamustine. May lead to acute renal failure and death. Maintain adequate volume status, close monitoring of blood chemistry, especially potassium and uric acid levels, and use allopurinol during first 1–2 wk of therapy in high risk patients.
• Assess for skin reactions (rash, toxic skin reactions, bullous exanthema). Withhold or discontinue therapy if reactions are progressive or severe. If non-hematologic toxicity is ≥ Grade 3, reduce dose to 50 mg/m² on Days 1 and 2 of each cycle.
• Monitor intake and output, appetite, and nutritional intake. Assess for nausea and vomiting. Administration of an antiemetic before and during therapy and adjusting diet as tolerated may help maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and nutritional status.
• Monitor IV site for redness, swelling, pain, infection, and necrosis frequently during an after infusion. Extravasation may cause erythema, marked swelling, and pain.
• Lab Test Considerations: Monitor CBC with differential and platelet count before and during therapy. The hematologic nadirs occur wk 3. Recovery usually occurs in 28 days. Withhold dose and notify physician if ANC is ≥1 × 10⁹/L and platelet count is ≥75,000 × 10⁹/L.For patients treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: If hemotologic toxicity ≥Grade 3, reduce dose to 50 mg/m² on Days 1 and 2. If Grade 3 or greater toxicity recurs, reduce dose to 25 mg/m² on Days 1 and 2. For patients treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: If hematologic toxicity ≥Grade 4, reduce dose to 90 mg/m² on Days 1 and 2. If Grade 4 or greater toxicity recurs, reduce dose to 60 mg/m² on Days 1 and 2.
  • Monitor blood chemistry, especially serum potassium and uric acid before and periodically during therapy. Allopurinol may be used during first wk of therapy to prevent tumor lysis syndrome.

Potential Nursing Diagnoses

Implementation

• high alert: Fatalities have occurred with chemotherapeutic agents. Before administering, clarify all ambiguous orders; double check single, daily, and course-of-therapy dose limits; have second practitioner independently double-check original order, calculations, and infusion pump settings.

• Intravenous Administration

• pH: 2.5–3.5.
• Prepare solution in a biologic cabinet. Wear gloves and safety glasses while handling medication. Discard equipment in designated containers.
• Intermittent Infusion: Diluent: Withdraw volume needed and transfer to 500 mL of 0.9% NaCl or 2.5% dextrose/0.45% NaCl. Mix thoroughly. Solution should be clear, colorless to pale yellow. Do not administer solutions that are discolored or contain a precipitate. Concentration: 0.2–0.7 mg/mL.
  • Diluted solution is stable for 24 hr when refrigerated or 2 hr at room temperature; administration must be completed within this period. Solution contains no preservatives; discard unused solution.
• Rate: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia—Administer 100 mg/m² over 30 min. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—Administer 120 mg/m² over 60 min.
• Additive Incompatibility: Do not admix or dilute with other solutions or medication.

Patient/Family Teaching

• Instruct patient to notify health care professional if fever; chills; sore throat; signs of infection; lower back or side pain; difficult or painful urination; shortness of breath; fatigue; bleeding gums; bruising; petechiae; or blood in urine, stool, or emesis occurs. Caution patient to avoid crowds and persons with known infections. Instruct patient to use soft toothbrush and electric razor. Caution patients to avoid alcoholic beverages and products containing aspirin or NSAIDs; may precipitate gastric bleeding.
• Instruct patient to notify health care professional immediately if symptoms of allergic reactions (rash, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing) or nausea, vomiting or diarrhea occur.
• May cause tiredness. Caution patient to avoid driving and other activities requiring alertness until response to medication is known.
• Instruct patient not to receive any vaccinations without advice of health care professional.
• Advise patient this medication may have teratogenic effects. Contraception should be used by both men and women during and for at least 3 mo following completion of therapy. Advise women not to breast feed during therapy.
• Emphasize need for periodic lab tests to monitor for side effects.

Evaluation/Desired Outcomes

• Improvement in hematologic parameters.