How do you take Bevacizumab?

This is not a medicine you take at home by yourself. It is given as an IV infusion (drip into your vein) in a hospital or cancer treatment center by a trained doctor or nurse. The dose depends on your body weight and the type of cancer being treated, and it is usually given once every 2 or 3 weeks. Your oncologist (cancer doctor) will decide your exact dose and schedule.

What are the side effects of Bevacizumab?

High blood pressure, nosebleeds or bleeding from minor cuts that takes longer to stop, feeling very tired and weak, headaches, and loss of appetite or diarrhea

Who should not take Bevacizumab?

People who are allergic to bevacizumab or any of its ingredients, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people who have had recent surgery or wounds that have not fully healed, people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, and people with a history of serious bleeding disorders or blood clots.

Prescription

Monoclonal antibody (targeted cancer therapy / anti-angiogenic agent)

Bevacizumab

Last reviewed July 2026

Who is this for?

For adults (18+). Standard adult dosing applies: see the How to Take tab for full instructions.

What is this drug?

Bevacizumab (sold as Avastin in Nigeria) is a powerful cancer medicine given as a drip into your vein that works by blocking the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors, essentially starving the cancer of its blood supply.

How it works

Binds to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), preventing its interaction with VEGF receptors on endothelial cells and thereby inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and new blood vessel formation. This starves tumors of their blood supply, reducing tumor growth and metastasis.

What is it used for?

Certain types of cancer including colon cancer, rectal cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, brain tumors (glioblastoma), cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and some eye conditions where abnormal blood vessels grow

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Cancer Treatment

Prescription Required

You need a doctor's prescription to buy this drug.

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What to watch out for

Only receive this medicine at a certified cancer treatment center or teaching hospital, never from unverified sources as counterfeit cancer drugs are dangerous and can cost you your life. Avastin is very expensive, so confirm the authenticity of the product with your hospital pharmacist. Report any unusual bleeding, sudden belly pain, or signs of stroke to your doctor immediately. Do not wait or try to manage it at home.

Common Side Effects

High blood pressure
nosebleeds or bleeding from minor cuts that takes longer to stop
feeling very tired and weak
headaches
and loss of appetite or diarrhea

Serious Side Effects

Serious bleeding anywhere in the body (vomiting blood, blood in stool, or heavy bleeding that won't stop) requires immediate hospital visit. A hole developing in the stomach or intestine causing sudden severe belly pain is a medical emergency. Stroke symptoms like sudden numbness
confusion
trouble speaking
or severe headache require you to rush to the nearest hospital.

Drug Interactions

Bevacizumab can increase bleeding risk when combined with blood thinners like warfarin or aspirin, so tell your doctor about all medicines you take. It may interact with other cancer drugs like sunitinib, increasing the risk of dangerous side effects. Always inform your oncologist about any herbal medicines or supplements you use, including popular Nigerian herbal remedies.

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Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Warning

Bevacizumab is NOT safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding as it can seriously harm your unborn baby, and you must use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose.

Who Should NOT Take This

People who are allergic to bevacizumab or any of its ingredients
pregnant or breastfeeding women
people who have had recent surgery or wounds that have not fully healed
people with uncontrolled high blood pressure
and people with a history of serious bleeding disorders or blood clots.

How to Store

Avastin must be stored in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C, which is critical in Nigeria's hot climate. Do not freeze it. Do not shake the vial. It should be kept in its original packaging to protect from light. This medicine is handled by hospital pharmacies, so storage is usually managed by healthcare professionals.

For information only: not medical advice. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before changing your medication.