Description
What are ONCO BCG and what it is used for:
The ONCO BCG 40 mg vaccine is an immunotherapy used for the treatment of flat urothelial cell carcinoma in situ of urinary bladder and as adjunctive therapy after the transurethral resection of the primary or relapsing superficial noninvasive papillary tumors which are limited to the bladder mucosa.
Dosage: BCG vaccine should be given intradermally. Treatment must be started 10 to 15 days after performing the TUR. The treatment schedule is a weekly repeated instillation with the medication during the initial 42 days, after an instillation in the 8’th week and 12’th week and then monthly instillations for the 4 months. The duration of maintenance treatment should be evaluated on the basis of the tumour classification and clinical diagnosis.
Treatment Reactions:
The common adverse effects of Onco BCG 40 mg are as follows: Frequency, urgency of the micturition and dysuria usually may occur from 2nd or 3rd instillation onwards. Cystitis and granulomatous inflammatory reactions also may occur. Low-medium grade fever, malaise or flu like syndrome usually may occur after 4 hours of the instillation and disappear within 24-48 hours.
Warning & Precautions
- Onco BCG for the immunotherapy should not be recommended intravenously, intramuscularly or subcutaneously.
- If the Onco BCG is accidentally given to a patient who is an immuno compromised (e.g., an infant with the SCID), it may cause disseminated or life threatening infection.
- This vaccine is not safe for use during pregnancy.
- Adverse reactions are more common and potentially more severe in those who are with the poor immune function.
- Except in the neonates, a tuberculin skin test must always be performed prior to the administering BCG.
- People with reactive tuberculin skin tests must be screened for the active tuberculosis.
- BCG should be avoided in certain people who have IL-12 receptor pathway defects.
- Avoid exposing the contents to the light prior to and after the reconstitution.
- Use immediately after the reconstitution and discard unused portions.
- Adequate HIV assays should be recommended in-patients who are at the risk of the HIV infection.
- ONCO-BCG is sensitive to the most antibiotics specifically to the ant tubercular medications such as Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Rifampicin and PAS (Para-amino Salicylic Acid).
