Aflibercept

Uses

Precaution

Side Effects

Uses

What is Aflibercept for?

Aflibercept blocks the growth of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells. It is used in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Precaution

What precautions should I take when taking or using Aflibercept?

Notify your doctor at least 4 weeks before going for any surgical procedures e.g. biopsy, tooth extraction etc. as Aflibercept may need to be temporarily withheld.

Side Effects

What are some common side effects of Aflibercept?

Increased blood pressure that may cause headache or vision problems
Protein loss in urine
Diarrhea or mild abdominal pain
If you are receiving this together with chemotherapy, the chances of having low blood counts may increase slightly.

Please seek medical attention if any of the following occurs:

Unusual bleeding problems such as nosebleed, coughing blood, blood in vomit or stools
Signs of blood clot e.g. painful leg swelling, sudden breathlessness, chest pain or stroke symptoms
Wounds that do not heal or are slow to heal
Sudden severe abdominal pain accompanied with fever, constipation, nausea or vomiting
Fever of 38° C or higher
Severe diarrhea (more than 4 episodes a day) and dehydration

Disclaimers

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System, and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity, and Watsons), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.