Bleomycin

Generic name: bleomycin [ BLEE-oh-MYE-sin ]
Brand names: Blenoxane, Bleo 15k
Dosage form: injectable powder for injection (15 units; 30 units)
Drug class:Antibiotics / antineoplastics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Dec 4, 2020. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is bleomycin?

Bleomycin is used to treat:

• squamous cell carcinoma (a skin cancer that can affect the mouth, throat, nose and sinuses, penis, vagina, or cervix);

• Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;

• testicular cancer; and

• malignant pleural effusion (a build-up of fluid in the outer tissues of the lungs, caused by certain types of cancer).

Bleomycin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

While you are being treated with bleomycin, be sure you can get medical help quickly in case you have any serious side effects.

Call your doctor at once if you feel tired, light-headed, or short of breath, or if you have chest pain or discomfort, a dry cough, a decreased appetite, or weight loss.

Before taking this medicine

You should not be treated with bleomycin if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• lung disease or breathing problems;

• kidney disease; or

• liver disease.

Bleomycin may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

You should ...