Avastin (bevacizumab) is a brand-name injection that’s prescribed for certain cancers. Avastin has interactions with some other drugs and certain vaccines. Examples include solriamfetol (Sunosi) and panitumumab (Vectibix).
Avastin is prescribed for treating the following cancers in adults in certain situations:
- metastatic colorectal cancer (metastatic means the cancer has spread beyond where it started to other parts of your body)
- non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- recurrent (cancer that has returned) glioblastoma
- metastatic kidney cancer
- certain forms of cervical cancer
- certain cancers affecting the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or peritoneum
- metastatic or unresectable liver cancer
For some uses, Avastin is prescribed along with chemotherapy medications, such as paclitaxel, cisplatin, or topotecan. These medications have their own interactions, which are not covered in this article. But for certain cancers, Avastin is approved for use on its own without chemotherapy.
Avastin comes as a solution for intravenous (IV) infusion. A healthcare professional will give you the infusion.
An interaction occurs when one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected.
To learn more about Avastin’s interactions, keep reading.
Before you start treatment with Avastin, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Avastin interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Avastin and other interactions” section.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Avastin. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Avastin. Some of these interactions are described in detail in “Drug interactions in depth.”
| Drug class or drug name | Drug examples | Interaction result with Avastin |
|---|---|---|
| panitumumab (Vectibix) | — | may increase the risk of side effects of Avastin or panitumumab |
| solriamfetol (Sunosi) | — | may increase the risk of high blood pressure or increased heart rate as a side effect of Avastin or solriamfetol |
There are no known interactions between Avastin and alcohol. However, Avastin is sometimes prescribed together with certain chemotherapy medications. And some chemotherapy medications can interact with alcohol.
If you have questions about drinking alcohol while receiving Avastin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can provide specific information on whether its safe for you to consume alcohol based on your treatment plan.
Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Avastin.
Solriamfetol (Sunosi)
Avastin can interact with solriamfetol (Sunosi). This medication is prescribed to adults to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) related to either narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Interaction result: Receiving treatment with Avastin and taking solriamfetol may increase the risk for increased blood pressure or increased heart rate as a side effect of Avastin or solriamfetol.
Interaction explained: Both Avastin and solriamfetol can cause increased blood pressure or increased heart rate as a side effect. Taking these medications together may raise your risk for increased blood pressure or increased heart rate as a side effect. This combination may also cause a more severe increase in blood pressure or heart rate than either medication causes when taken on its own.
Steps you or your doctor may take: Depending on your heart rate and blood pressure, your doctor may recommend a different treatment than solriamfetol if you’re prescribed Avastin. For example, if you already have high blood pressure, your doctor may want to avoid this combination. In other cases, your doctor may prescribe these medications together but closely monitor your blood pressure and heart rate throughout treatment.
Panitumumab (Vectibix)
Avastin may interact with panitumumab (Vectibix), which is prescribed to adults to treat metastatic colorectal cancer in certain situations. (Avastin is also prescribed to adults to treat metastatic colorectal cancer in certain situations, plus other uses.)
Interaction result: Receiving treatment with Avastin and panitumumab at the same time to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, in addition to chemotherapy, may increase the risk for side effects of Avastin or panitumumab.
Interaction explained: Some studies show combining Avastin and panitumumab with chemotherapy to treat metastatic colorectal cancer increased the risk for side effects caused by either medication. Combining Avastin and panitumumab is not recommended in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for treating metastatic colorectal cancer.
That said, guidelines do not account for every situation. Some studies show that healthcare professionals may consider combining Avastin and panitumumab with chemotherapy to treat metastatic colorectal cancer in certain situations.
Steps you or your doctor may take: Your doctor will likely avoid prescribing Avastin and panitumumab together with chemotherapy as the first treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. That said, exceptions do exist. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your treatment regimen for colorectal cancer.
Avastin may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Avastin.
Avastin interactions with supplements
It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.
Avastin interactions with herbs
There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Avastin. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Avastin treatment.
Avastin interactions with vitamins
There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Avastin. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Avastin.
Avastin interactions with food
There were no reports of food interactions with Avastin. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Avastin, talk with your doctor.
Avastin interactions with vaccines
Avastin may interact with live vaccines. A live vaccine contains live but weakened pieces of the virus or bacterium it’s meant to defend against. When your immune system is healthy, live vaccines usually won’t cause infection.
But Avastin can weaken your immune system. So if you get a live vaccine, your immune system may not be able to fight the virus or bacterium. This may cause you to become sick or develop symptoms of the illness the vaccine is meant to prevent.
Examples of live vaccines to avoid during Avastin treatment include:
- measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- chickenpox
- flu vaccine (nasal spray form)
Before starting Avastin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any vaccines you may need.
Avastin interactions with lab tests
Avastin may interfere with the purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculosis skin test. This test is used to check whether you have tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease that affects the lungs. Treatment with Avastin can make this test less effective. Avastin may cause a false-negative result, meaning the test shows you don’t have TB when you actually do.
If you’re prescribed Avastin, your doctor may recommend different tests to determine if you have TB.
AVASTIN INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBDCannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Avastin. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Avastin. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Avastin treatment plan.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Avastin. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Avastin may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.
Health conditions or factors that might interact with Avastin include:
- Prior radiation treatment to the pelvis: Rarely, Avastin can cause perforations (holes) in your digestive tract as a side effect. You may be at higher risk for this side effect if you’ve previously received radiation treatment to your pelvis. Your doctor can help determine if Avastin treatment is safe for you.
- Varices with active bleeding or bleeding in the past 6 months before receiving Avastin: Doctors may avoid prescribing Avastin if you’ve had varices (large or swollen blood vessels) that bled within the past 6 months, or are actively bleeding. Avastin treatment can cause bleeding as a side effect. It’s not known whether Avastin is safe to take if you have or recently have had variceal bleeding. Your doctor can help determine if Avastin treatment is safe for you.
- High blood pressure: Avastin can increase blood pressure as a side effect, which can worsen high blood pressure. Your doctor will closely monitor your blood pressure if they prescribe Avastin to you. If you already have high blood pressure, your doctor may adjust the dosages of medications you take to treat it. They may also prescribe additional antihypertensive medications.
- Kidney condition (besides kidney cancer): Avastin can cause kidney injury as a side effect. If you have an existing kidney condition besides kidney cancer (such as chronic kidney disease), your doctor may closely monitor your kidney health if they prescribe Avastin to you. (Avastin is also prescribed to treat kidney cancer in certain situations. But Avastin may worsen other kidney conditions.) They may stop your Avastin treatment if your kidney function worsens.
- Heart failure: Treatment with Avastin may cause or worsen heart failure as a side effect. If you have heart failure, ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of receiving Avastin treatment.
- Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Avastin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Avastin. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
- Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Avastin while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Avastin may have on a child who is breastfed. But due to the risk for side effects, doctors typically recommend you avoid breastfeeding during Avastin treatment and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
- Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Avastin is safe to receive while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Avastin. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.
You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Avastin. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:
- Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
- Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
- Create a
medication listTrusted Source , which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.
It’s also important to read the Avastin label and other
If Avastin doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
