Velcade (Bortezomib) for Amyloidosis

Overview
Velcade is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with multiple myeloma or mantle cell lymphoma. Velcade is sometimes prescribed off-label to treat amyloidosis. It is safe for people with impaired kidney function or diabetes. Velcade is also referred to by its drug name, bortezomib.

Velcade is used as a targeted therapy for amyloidosis, and is a member of a class of drugs called proteasome inhibitors. Velcade is believed to work by targeting proteasomes inside abnormal cells, keeping them from digesting and discarding unwanted proteins. These proteins then build up in the abnormal cells, which leads to cell death.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Velcade is given as an injection either intravenously (into your vein) or subcutaneously (under your skin) by a health care professional. Velcade is usually given in a health clinic or doctor’s office. It should be taken exactly as prescribed by the physician.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Velcade lists common side effects that include fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fever, decreased appetite, and nerve pain.

Serious side effects listed for Velcade include heart and lung disorders, hypotension (low blood pressure), anemia (low blood cell count), liver failure, and fetal harm.

For more details about this treatment, visit:
Velcade – Takeda
What is Velcade? — Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation