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Bendamustine
If you have chronic lymphocytic leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, your healthcare provider may recommend chemotherapy treatment with bendamustine. This prescription medicine works to kill cancer cells by disrupting their multiplication process. Possible side effects may include diarrhea, fatigue, and vomiting. This drug is given intravenously for two days in a row every 21 to 28 days.
Bendamustine (Treanda®) is a prescription medication approved to treat certain cancers of the blood cells. Specifically, it is used in people who have been newly diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or for those who have a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that has become worse despite treatment with another medication. It belongs to a group of drugs known as alkylating agents.
(Click What Is Bendamustine Used For? for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)
Just like any medicine, bendamustine can cause side effects. As with other chemotherapy medicines, the side effects can be significant and potentially serious. Talk with your healthcare provider about ways to prevent or lessen reactions to this drug.
Common side effects of bendamustine include but are not limited to:
- A decrease in blood cell counts
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea.
(Click Bendamustine Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH, BCPP
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD