What Is Bortecad 2mg Injection?
Bortecad 2mg Injection contains bortezomib as its active ingredient, at a strength of 2mg per vial. It is made by Oncocare Cadila. It comes as a powder that is turned into a solution before use. This drug belongs to a group called proteasome inhibitors, used in cancer care to slow down abnormal cell growth.
How does this injection works?
Bortezomib blocks a part of the cell called the proteasome. Think of the proteasome as the cell’s waste disposal unit. It breaks down old proteins so the cell can keep working. Cancer cells depend on this disposal system more than normal cells do. When bortezomib shuts it down, waste proteins pile up inside the cancer cell. The cell dies off. This slows down the growth of cancer cells, particularly in bone marrow cancers.
Uses
Bortecad 2mg Injection is mainly used for multiple myeloma. This is a cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. It is also used for a type of lymphoma called mantle cell lymphoma in some patients. Adults may start this injection after one round of treatment, or when newly diagnosed, depending on their case. The decision on who should get it, and for how long, sits with the treating oncologist.
Common side effects include:
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Loose stools
- Tiredness
- Low platelet counts
- Tingling or numbness in fingers and toes
- Low blood pressure on standing up
- Swelling at the injection spot
How to store this injection?
- Store the unopened vial under 30 C, away from light and out of reach of children.
- Do not freeze it.
- Once mixed into a solution, trained staff give the injection shortly after preparation.
- It is not stored at home for later use.
Usage suggestion
This injection is not given to people with a known allergy to bortezomib or boron. Anyone with certain nerve conditions needs a full check first. Bortezomib can affect nerves in the hands and feet. Pregnant women, and women trying to conceive, should tell their doctor before starting. It can harm a developing baby. People with liver disease need a dose review before treatment begins. This decision rests with the doctor, not the patient.
Tell your doctor about any tingling, numbness or burning in your hands or feet. This is called peripheral nerve damage. It can build up over several cycles. Also mention any fever, unusual bruising, or bleeding gums right away. Bortezomib can lower blood cell counts. Report chest pain or sudden breathlessness the same day. These need urgent medical care.
