How It Works
Bleomycin is an anticancer medicine used
to stop tumor growth.
Why It Is Used
Although nongenital warts are not
cancerous, bleomycin injection is sometimes used to kill skin cells,
effectively stopping
wart growth.
Bleomycin is injected into warts
that have been resistant to other treatments. It is usually used as a last
resort because the shot can cause burning or pain at the site of the injection.
How Well It Works
There is no consistent proof on
how effective bleomycin is for warts.
Side Effects
All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.
Here are some important things to think about:
- Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
- Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
- If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Call
911
or other emergency services right away if you have:
- Trouble breathing.
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor if you have:
Common side effects of this medicine include:
- Pain at the site of injection during and after the injection into a wart.
- Skin rash or skin color changes.
- Scarring.
- Itching.
- Nail damage or loss.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug
Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Bleomycin should not be used in people with
Raynaud's phenomenon or
peripheral arterial disease.
Tell your doctor if you have problems with circulation. Bleomycin injections can cause paleness or coldness when injected into the fingers to treat warts.
Taking medicine
Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.
There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Taking Medicines as Prescribed.
Advice for women
Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant. If you need to use this medicine, talk to your doctor about how you can prevent pregnancy.
Checkups
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Last Revised
|
September 7, 2012 |