Treanda is a brand-name intravenous (IV) infusion prescribed for certain kinds of white blood cell cancer. Treanda contains the active ingredient bendamustine.

Treanda is a chemotherapy drug that’s FDA-approved to treat certain forms of:

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): CLL affects a kind of white blood cell called a lymphocyte.
  • B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that’s indolent and has progressed (worsened) during treatment with rituximab: B-cell NHL affects white blood cells known as B cells. “Indolent” means slow growing.

For details, see the “Treanda uses” section later in the article.

Drug details

You’ll find key information about Treanda below.

  • Drug class: alkylating agent
  • Drug form: IV infusion (an injection into a vein that lasts a certain length of time) given by a healthcare professional
  • Generic available? no
  • Prescription required? yes
  • Controlled substance? no
  • Year of FDA approval: 2008

Treanda is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

Both Treanda and Bendeka (bendamustine) contain the same active ingredient, bendamustine. This means bendamustine is the ingredient that makes Treanda and Bendeka work.

Also, the FDA has approved Treanda and Bendeka to treat certain forms of these types of cancer:

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) affects a kind of white blood cell called a lymphocyte.
  • B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that’s indolent: B-cell NHL affects white blood cells known as B cells. “Indolent” means slow growing.

For details about these conditions, see the “Treanda uses” section later in the article.

Infusion times

Both Treanda and Bendeka are given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional. An infusion is an injection into your vein that’s given over a period of time. You’ll typically have Treanda and Bendeka infusions on 2 days every 3 or 4 weeks.

Treanda infusions take 30 minutes when treating CLL and 60 minutes when treating B-cell NHL.

Bendeka infusions take only 10 minutes for either CLL or NHL.

Infusion devices

Like Treanda and Bendeka, the medication Belrapzo contains the active ingredient bendamustine. Belrapzo is also given as an infusion.

Treanda contains an ingredient called N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) that won’t work with some devices that healthcare professionals use to infuse drugs. That means they can’t use Treanda with certain infusion devices. Bendeka and Belrapzo, on the other hand, do not contain this ingredient. So Bendeka and Belrapzo are suitable for use with more infusion devices than Treanda.

Treanda can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Treanda. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

For more information on the possible side effects of Treanda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may concern or bother you.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to report to the FDA a side effect you’ve had with Treanda, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Mild side effects of Treanda can include:

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: This is a partial list of mild side effects from Treanda. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or visit Treanda’s prescribing information.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect details” below.

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

  • Infections, such as pneumonia. Symptoms can include:
    • chills
    • sweating
    • fever
    • cough
    • stuffy nose
  • Infusion reactions. Symptoms can include:
    • chills
    • fever
    • itchiness
    • rash
    • anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction that makes it hard to swallow and breathe)
  • Tumor lysis syndrome (a condition in which cancer cells release harmful chemicals into your blood). Symptoms can include:
    • diarrhea
    • feeling restless or irritable
    • hallucinations
    • muscle cramps
    • nausea, vomiting, or both
    • urinating less often
    • weakness or fatigue
  • Severe skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Symptoms can include:
    • blisters
    • body aches
    • trouble swallowing
    • fever
    • peeling or shedding skin
    • rash that’s red or purple
    • widespread skin pain
  • Liver damage. Symptoms can include:
    • dark-colored urine
    • fatigue
    • loss of appetite
    • nausea, vomiting, or both
    • abdominal pain
    • jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the white of the eyes)
  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (a severe brain infection). Symptoms can include:
    • vision problems
    • weakness
    • confusion
    • personality changes
    • memory problems
  • Other cancers, such as myelodysplastic syndrome (certain cancers of the bone marrow and blood), non-melanoma skin cancers (such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), and acute myeloid leukemia (a kind of blood cell cancer). Symptoms can include:
    • fatigue
    • feeling short of breath
    • bruising or bleeding easily

Other serious side effects, explained in more detail below in “Side effect details,” include:

Side effect details

You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. Here’s some detail on several of the side effects this drug may cause.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Treanda.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
  • trouble breathing or talking

Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Treanda. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Blood disorders

Treanda may cause a number of blood disorders, which occur when your blood cells don’t work properly.

In clinical trials, the following blood disorders were seen:

  • anemia (low red blood cell levels)
  • leukopenia (low levels of white blood cells)
  • lymphocytopenia, also called lymphopenia (low levels of white blood cells called lymphocytes)
  • neutropenia (low levels of white blood cells called neutrophils)
  • thrombocytopenia (low levels of platelets, which are cells that help your blood clot)

During Treanda treatment, your doctor will monitor your blood work to see whether you have a blood disorder. Depending on your results, they may delay one of your doses or switch you to a different medication.

If you have questions about blood disorders while taking Treanda, talk with your doctor.

Fever

Fever may occur with Treanda. This can be severe in some cases. A fever is considered severe if it’s higher than 104.0°F (40.0°C) for 24 hours or longer.

If you develop a fever while taking Treanda, tell your doctor. A fever can be a sign of an infection or an allergic reaction. For a mild fever with no signs of infection, your doctor may want you to keep using Treanda. For a severe fever, they may pause or stop your treatment or switch you to a different drug.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are common with Treanda use.

In clinical trials, these side effects occurred in people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and people with B-cell NHL. But rates of nausea and vomiting were much higher in people with B-cell NHL.

If you experience nausea or vomiting while taking Treanda, tell your doctor. They’ll help determine the cause. If the nausea and vomiting aren’t too bothersome, your doctor may recommend that you keep using Treanda. In other instances, they may pause your treatment or switch you to a different drug.

Fatigue

A lack of energy, known as fatigue, is a common side effect of Treanda. In clinical trials, fatigue was more common among people taking Treanda for B-cell NHL than people taking the drug for CLL.

If you feel fatigued during Treanda treatment, tell your doctor. They’ll help determine the cause. If the fatigue isn’t too bothersome, they may recommend that you keep using the drug. In other instances, they may pause your treatment or switch you to a different medication.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Treanda.

Is Treanda a type of chemotherapy?

Yes, Treanda is a type of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs work by destroying rapidly growing cells in the body. Because cancer cells grow and divide faster than healthy cells, chemotherapy is effective at killing cancer cells.

Treanda is a kind of chemotherapy known as an alkylating agent. It works by interfering with the DNA of cancer cells to stop them from dividing and growing.

Can Treanda cause hair loss?

Hair loss wasn’t reported as a side effect of Treanda in clinical trials.

Hair loss is a common side effect of some chemotherapy drugs. But it doesn’t seem to occur very often with Treanda.

If you’re concerned about hair loss during your Treanda treatment, talk with your doctor.

Are older adults able to take Treanda?

Yes. Older adults can take Treanda. But it’s important to note that in clinical trials of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), cancers in older adults didn’t respond quite as well to Treanda as cancers in people younger than age 65 years. But that doesn’t mean Treanda doesn’t work in older adults.

Specifically, in clinical trials:

  • Treanda’s overall response rate (the percentage of people who had fewer or no signs of cancer after treatment) was lower for people 65 years and older
  • Treanda prevented progression (worsening) of CLL for longer in some people younger than 65 years
  • Treanda was considered equally effective for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) treatment in people older and younger than 65 years

If you’re an older adult and have questions about Treanda, talk with your doctor.

Do I need any tests before I start can taking Treanda?

Yes, you’ll need to have tests that evaluate your liver function before you start taking Treanda. This is because the drug can cause liver damage, which has been fatal in some people, although this is rare. To make sure Treanda isn’t harming your liver, your doctor will keep monitoring your liver function during your Treanda treatment.

And if you’re able to become pregnant, your doctor will likely recommend taking a pregnancy test before you start using Treanda. The drug can harm a fetus, so it’s important that you’re not pregnant when you take the drug. (See the “Treanda and pregnancy” section for more information.)

If you have questions about tests you may need before your Treanda treatment, talk with your doctor.

Will Treanda cure my cancer?

No. Treanda doesn’t cure cancer. The drug works to help prevent your cancer from worsening and help you reach remission. This is a stage in which test results show that there aren’t any cancer cells in your body and you no longer have symptoms. It’s possible that you could stay in remission or the cancer could come back later on.

If you have questions about how Treanda can treat your cancer, talk with your doctor.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Treanda, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Note: Some of the drugs listed here are prescribed off-label to treat these specific conditions. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved to treat one condition is prescribed to treat a different condition.

Alternatives for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) include:

  • other chemotherapy drugs, such as:
    • other brands of bendamustine, including Bendeka and Belrapzo
    • chlorambucil (Leukeran)
    • cyclophosphamide
  • targeted therapies, such as:
    • rituximab (Rituxan, Truxima)
    • ofatumumab (Arzerra)
    • obinutuzumab (Gazyva)
    • venetoclax (Venclexta)
  • immunotherapies, such as:
    • lenalidomide (Revlimid)
    • CAR T-cell therapy

For more information on medications used to treat CLL, refer to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website, which maintains a list of drugs approved for treating leukemias, including CLL.

Alternatives for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat B-cell NHL that’s indolent include:

  • other chemotherapy drugs, such as:
    • other brands of bendamustine, including Bendeka and Belrapzo
    • chlorambucil
    • cyclophosphamide
    • doxorubicin
    • vincristine
  • targeted therapies, such as:
  • immunotherapies, such as:

For more information on medications used to treat B-cell NHL that’s indolent, refer to the National Cancer Institute website, which maintains a list of drugs approved for treating lymphomas, including NHL.

You may wonder how Treanda compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Treanda and Venclexta are alike and different.

Ingredients

Treanda contains the active ingredient bendamustine.

Venclexta contains the active ingredient venetoclax.

Uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Treanda to treat certain forms of these types of cancer:

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): CLL affects a kind of white blood cell called a lymphocyte.
  • B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that’s indolent: B-cell NHL affects white blood cells known as B cells. “Indolent” means slow growing.

For details about these conditions, see the “Treanda uses” section later in the article.

Venclexta is FDA-approved to treat:

So both Treanda and Venclexta are FDA-approved for treating CLL.

Drug forms and administration

Venclexta comes as a tablet that you swallow.

You will receive Treanda as an intravenous (IV) infusion that’s given by a healthcare professional. An infusion is an injection into your vein that’s given over a period of time.

Side effects and risks

Treanda and Venclexta are both used to treat CLL. Therefore, these medications can cause some similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects.

Mild side effects

These lists contain some of the most common mild side effects that can occur with Treanda, with Venclexta, or with drugs (when taken individually).

Serious side effects

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Treanda, with Venclexta, or with both drugs (when taken individually).

Effectiveness

A clinical study has directly compared the use of bendamustine (the active ingredient in Treanda) and Venclexta in treating CLL

Researchers looked at people with CLL who had previously received at least one treatment for CLL. In the study, some people received bendamustine with another drug called rituximab for 6 months. Other people received Venclexta and rituximab for 6 months.

The researchers found that the people who took Venclexta and rituximab had a lower risk of their cancer spreading or getting worse, compared with people who received bendamustine and rituximab.

The overall response rate (people whose cancer had a complete or partial response to treatment) was 72% for people who took bendamustine and rituximab. This was compared with 92% for people who took Venclexta and rituximab. The overall response rate is the percentage of people who had fewer or no signs of cancer after treatment.

Costs

Treanda and Venclexta are both brand-name drugs. Treanda is available as a generic drug called bendamustine. There are currently no generic forms of Venclexta. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics.

The costs of Treanda infusions and Venclexta tablets will vary depending on your prescribed dose and other factors such as your insurance coverage.

Like Venclexta (above), the drug Zevalin (ibritumomab tiuxetan) has similar uses to those of Treanda. Here’s a comparison of how Treanda and Zevalin are alike and different.

Ingredients

Treanda contains the active ingredient bendamustine.

Zevalin contains the active ingredient ibritumomab tiuxetan.

Uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Treanda to treat certain forms of these types of cancer:

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): CLL affects a kind of white blood cell called a lymphocyte.
  • B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that’s indolent: B-cell NHL affects white blood cells known as B cells. “Indolent” means slow growing.

For details about these conditions, see the “Treanda uses” section.

Zevalin is approved by the FDA to treat:

  • B-cell NHL that’s low-grade or follicular as well as relapsed or refractory in adults.
  • NHL that’s follicular and was previously untreated. The drug is for adults who have had a partial or complete response to chemotherapy.

Drug forms and administration

Treanda and Zevalin each come as an intravenous (IV) infusion that’s given by a healthcare professional. An infusion is an injection into your vein that’s given over a period of time.

Before you receive Zevalin, you’ll need an infusion of rituximab (Rituxan).

Side effects and risks

Treanda and Zevalin are both used to treat forms of B-cell NHL. Therefore, these medications can cause some similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects when used to treat B-cell NHL.

Mild side effects

These lists contain some of the most common mild side effects that can occur with each drug or with both Treanda and Zevalin (when taken individually).

Serious side effects

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Treanda, with Zevalin or with both drugs (when taken individually).

* Zevalin has boxed warnings for these side effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

Effectiveness

These drugs haven’t been directly compared in clinical studies, but studies have found both Treanda and Zevalin to be effective for treating B-cell NHL.

Costs

Treanda and Zevalin are both brand-name drugs. Treanda is available as a generic drug called bendamustine. There are currently no generic forms of Zevalin. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics.

Treanda typically costs significantly less than Zevalin. The actual price you’ll pay for either drug depends on factors such as your insurance coverage.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Treanda to treat certain conditions. Treanda may also be prescribed off-label for other conditions. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved to treat one condition is prescribed to treat a different condition.

Treanda for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

“Leukemia” refers to cancers of the blood cells or bone marrow. Treanda is FDA-approved to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of leukemia that affects lymphocytes. These are a kind of white blood cell. Normal lymphocytes flow through your blood, helping your body fight infections.

Cancerous lymphocytes don’t work like normal lymphocytes. They don’t help fight infections. As the number of cancerous lymphocytes increases, they start crowding out normal lymphocytes.

For details about this condition, you can refer to our cancer hub.

What Treanda does

Treanda works by stopping cells from growing and dividing. This stops cancer cells from expanding and spreading. But Treanda doesn’t affect just cancer cells. The drug attacks all multiplying cells in the body, which can cause serious side effects. (See the “Treanda side effects” section above to learn more.)

Treanda hasn’t been compared with first-line treatments for CLL other than the drug chlorambucil (Leukeran). (“First-line” refers to the first treatment used for a condition.)

Effectiveness

In clinical trials, Treanda has been shown to extend the time until people’s cancer progressed (got worse).

Treanda for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Treanda is used to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that has grown or spread while you’ve taken (or within 6 months of taking):

  • a drug called rituximab (Rituxan), or
  • a treatment that includes rituximab

“Lymphoma” refers to a type of cancer of the lymphatic system. Specifically, the cancer develops from lymphocytes, which are a kind of white blood cell.

Treanda is approved to treat a type of lymphoma called B-cell NHL that’s indolent. “B-cell” means that the cancer begins in B cells, which are a specific kind of lymphocyte. “Indolent” means that the cancer grows and spreads slowly and may not cause any symptoms.

For details about this condition, you can refer to our cancer hub.

What Treanda does

Treanda works by keeping cells from growing and dividing. This stops cancer cells from expanding and spreading. But Treanda doesn’t affect just cancer cells. The drug attacks all multiplying cells in the body, which can cause serious side effects. (See the “Treanda side effects” section above to learn more.)

Effectiveness

In clinical trials, Treanda has been shown to keep indolent B-cell NHL from progressing (getting worse). Specifically, in people whose previous rituximab treatment stopped being effective, Treanda was effective in treating indolent B-cell NHL.

Off-label uses for Treanda

In addition to the uses listed above, Treanda may be prescribed off-label for other purposes. Off-label drug use is when a drug that’s approved for one or more uses is prescribed for a different one that’s not approved. Below are examples of off-label uses for Treanda.

Treanda for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in combination with Rituxan

Treanda isn’t FDA-approved to treat NHL with the drug Rituxan (rituximab). However, doctors might sometimes prescribe bendamustine (the active drug in Treanda) for this purpose, according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines.

A clinical study looked at people with NHL that was indolent (slow-growing) or mantle cell. They received one of two treatments:

  • bendamustine and Rituxan
  • Rituxan, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP)

The bendamustine and Rituxan treatment was more effective and had fewer side effects than R-CHOP.

If you have any questions about the use of bendamustine and Rituxan in treating NHL, talk with your doctor.

Treanda for Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Treanda is not approved by the FDA to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But doctors might sometimes prescribe bendamustine (the active drug in Treanda) off-label for this condition.

In one study, researchers found that a treatment of bendamustine and a drug called brentuximab vedotin was effective in treating Hodgkin’s lymphoma that had stopped responding to treatment.

If you have any questions about the use of Treanda in treating Hodgkin’s lymphoma, talk with your doctor.

Treanda for multiple myeloma

Treanda isn’t FDA-approved to treat multiple myeloma, but doctors might sometimes prescribe it for this condition.

One 2013 clinical study looked at people with multiple myeloma. Researchers found that more people who received bendamustine and prednisone experienced complete remission than people who received melphalan and prednisone.

With complete remission, test results show that there aren’t any cancer cells in your body and you no longer have symptoms.

If you have any questions about the use of Treanda in treating multiple myeloma, talk with your doctor.

Treanda and children

It’s unknown if Treanda is safe and effective in treating children.

Treanda can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.

Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe.

Treanda and other medications

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Treanda. This list doesn’t contain all drugs that may interact with Treanda.

Before taking Treanda, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Treanda and certain medications that may increase the level of Treanda in your body

Treanda gets metabolized (broken down) in the body by an enzyme called CYP1A2. Enzymes are proteins that aid chemical changes in your body.

Certain medications keep your body from making CYP1A2, so they may stop your body from breaking down Treanda. This can result in the Treanda level in your body becoming too high, which may increase your risk for side effects. (For more about side effects, see the “Treanda side effects” section above.)

Examples of medications that can keep your body from making CYP1A2 include:

  • fluvoxamine (Luvox, Luvox CR)
  • ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
  • birth control pills containing ethinyl estradiol, such as Yaz and Lo Loestrin Fe
  • allopurinol (Zyloprim, Aloprim)

Note: The use of Treanda and allopurinol together may also cause severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Before you take Treanda, ask your doctor if any medications that you use can interact with Treanda. They may suggest different treatments.

Treanda and herbs and supplements

There aren’t any herbs or supplements that have been specifically reported to interact with Treanda. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Treanda.

Treanda and foods

There aren’t any foods that have been specifically reported to interact with Treanda. If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Treanda, talk with your doctor.

The Treanda dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using Treanda to treat
  • your age
  • your height and weight
  • other medical conditions you may have
  • whether you’ve previously had side effects from Treanda

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Treanda is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional. An infusion is an injection into your vein that’s given over a period of time.

Specifically, Treanda comes in two forms. One is a single-dose vial of liquid solution that’s available in two strengths: 45 mg/0.5 mL and 180 mg/2 mL.

The other form is a single-dose vial of powder that’s mixed with a liquid solution. The powder is available in two strengths: 25 mg and 100 mg.

Dosage for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The recommended dose of Treanda for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is 100 mg per meter squared (m2) of body surface area. Your doctor will determine your body surface area based on your height and weight.

Eacjh dose will be split between two infusions, which last 30 minutes each. You’ll receive them on days 1 and 2 of a 28-day cycle. You can receive up to six cycles of Treanda for CLL.

If you have side effects from Treanda, your doctor may lower your dose to help you better tolerate the drug. (For more about side effects, see the “Treanda side effects” section above.)

Dosage for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The recommended dose of Treanda for B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that’s indolent (slow growing) is 120 mg per meter squared (m2) of body surface area. Your doctor will determine your body surface area by using your height and weight.

The dose will be split between two infusions, which last 60 minutes each. You’ll receive them on days 1 and 2 of a 21-day cycle. You can receive up to eight cycles of Treanda for this type of NHL.

If you have side effects from Treanda, your doctor may lower your dose to help you better tolerate the drug. (For more about side effects, see the “Treanda side effects” section above.)

What if I miss an infusion appointment?

If you miss an appointment for an infusion, call your clinic or doctor’s office right away. The staff will work with you to reschedule your appointment as soon as possible. It’s important not to miss a dose.

To help make sure that you don’t miss an appointment, try setting a reminder on your phone. A medication timer may be useful, too.

Will I need to use this drug long term?

Treanda is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Treanda is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term. You can receive up to six cycles of Treanda for CLL, and up to eight cycles for B-cell NHL that’s indolent.

Note: You can refer to this Treanda dosage article for more details.

There aren’t any known interactions between Treanda and alcohol at this time. However, drinking a lot of alcohol may worsen some side effects of Treanda, such as nausea, vomiting, or fatigue.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Treanda, talk with your doctor.

As with all medications, the cost of Treanda can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan if you have one, and your location.

Your insurance plan may require you to get prior authorization before approving coverage for Treanda. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide if the drug will be covered.

If you’re not sure if you’ll need to get prior authorization for Treanda, contact your insurance company.

Financial assistance

If you need financial support to pay for Treanda, help is available.

NeedyMeds lists programs that may provide assistance in lowering the cost of Treanda. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, visit the website.

Treanda is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional. An infusion is an injection into your vein that’s given over a period of time. The length of the infusion depends on the type of cancer that Treanda is being used to treat:

How often Treanda is given

How often Treanda is given depends on the type of cancer it’s being used to treat:

  • CLL: You’ll receive an infusion on days 1 and 2 of a 28-day cycle. You can receive up to six cycles of Treanda for CLL.
  • B-cell NHL that’s indolent: You’ll receive an infusion on days 1 and 2 of a 21-day cycle. You can receive up to eight cycles of Treanda for NHL.

Here’s some information on what occurs with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and how Treanda works to treat them.

What happens with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

CLL affects a kind of white blood cell known as a lymphocyte. Normally, lymphocytes help your body fight infection. But cancerous lymphocytes don’t fight infections. As the number of cancerous lymphocytes grows, your body begins to lose its ability to fight infection.

What happens with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system. These cancers begin in the lymph tissue and develop from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Normally, these cells help your body fight infection. But cancerous lymphocytes don’t fight infections. As the number of cancerous lymphocytes grows, your body begins to lose its ability to fight infection.

How Treanda works

Treanda is a kind of chemotherapy drug. “Chemotherapy” refers to drugs that attack and destroy rapidly growing cells in the body. This includes cancer cells because they grow and divide at a faster rate than noncancerous cells.

Treanda works by keeping cells from growing and dividing. This stops cancer cells from expanding and spreading. But Treanda doesn’t affect just cancer cells. The drug attacks all growing cells in the body, which can cause serious side effects. (For more about side effects, see the “Treanda side effects” section above.)

How long does it take to work?

Treanda begins working as soon as it enters your bloodstream to stop cancer cells from growing and dividing, even if you don’t feel different. Your doctor will help set up a plan to monitor your progress.

Using Treanda while you’re pregnant may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) and pregnancy loss.

Treanda use during pregnancy hasn’t been studied in humans. But animal studies showed that when the drug was given to pregnant females, the offspring had an increased risk of congenital anomalies or death.

If you’re pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using Treanda. They may suggest a different treatment for you.

Using Treanda while you’re pregnant may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) and pregnancy loss. See below for information about birth control needs during and after Treanda treatment.

Note: Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “female” and “male” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

For females using Treanda

If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use an effective form of birth control while taking Treanda. You should keep using birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose of the drug.

Also, you’ll likely need to take a pregnancy test to make sure you aren’t pregnant before starting Treanda treatment.

For males using Treanda

If your sexual partner can become pregnant, males should use an effective method of birth control, such as condoms, while taking Treanda. You should keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose of the drug.

If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor. They can review your birth control needs and help answer any questions you have.

You should not breastfeed while taking Treanda and for at least 1 week after your last dose.

If you’re breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before using Treanda. They can recommend the best ways to feed your child and what cancer treatments are right for you.

This drug comes with several precautions. Before taking Treanda, talk with your doctor about your health history. Treanda may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:

  • Pregnancy: Using Treanda while you’re pregnant may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) and pregnancy loss. For more information, please see the “Treanda and pregnancy” section above.
  • Breastfeeding: You shouldn’t breastfeed while taking Treanda and for at least 1 week after your last dose of the drug.
  • Past infections: Using Treanda may cause past infections to become active again. These infections include hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus (a type of herpes virus), herpes zoster (known as chickenpox or shingles), herpes simplex, and tuberculosis (TB). If you’ve had an infection, tell your doctor before you use Treanda. They’ll need to treat the infection before you can start taking the drug.
  • Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Treanda or any of its ingredients, your doctor won’t prescribe Treanda for you. Ask your doctor what other treatments are better choices for you.

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Treanda, see the “Treanda side effects” section above.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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