Prescription medication · Anti-VEGF (Off-Label Ophthalmic)

bevacizumab (ophthalmic)

Also sold as Avastin. Avastin is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread).

Data updated 2026-05-15

1
Recall record

bevacizumab (ophthalmic) (Avastin) is a prescription Anti-VEGF (Off-Label Ophthalmic). Avastin is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread).

Avastin is a medicine that blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It is used to treat several types of cancer.

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What it does

Avastin is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread).

Common side effects

Nosebleeds, Headache, High blood pressure

Key warnings

Avastin can cause serious side effects.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from bevacizumab (ophthalmic)'s FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

Avastin blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF helps tumors grow new blood vessels. By blocking VEGF, Avastin can help slow or stop the growth of cancer.

Serious Warnings

Avastin can cause serious side effects. It can cause holes in your stomach or intestines, problems with wound healing, and severe bleeding. It can also cause blood clots in your arteries or veins, high blood pressure, and problems with your kidneys. In rare cases, it can cause a brain condition called Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES). Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects.

Common Questions

What if I need surgery?
Tell your doctor if you plan to have surgery. You should stop taking Avastin at least 28 days before any planned surgery.
Can Avastin affect my heart?
Yes, Avastin can sometimes cause congestive heart failure. Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of heart failure, such as shortness of breath or swelling in your ankles.
Will Avastin interact with other medications I am taking?
Avastin's effect on other drugs is minimal. However, always inform your doctor of all medications you are taking.
What should I do if I have an infusion reaction?
If you have an infusion reaction, such as chills, shaking, or high blood pressure, tell your doctor or nurse right away. They may need to slow down or stop the infusion.
Can Avastin cause problems with my ovaries?
Yes, Avastin can cause ovarian failure in women. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.
How often will I need to see the doctor while taking Avastin?
Your doctor will want to see you regularly to monitor you for side effects and to check how well the medicine is working.
What if my blood pressure goes up?
Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure. If it gets too high, they may need to give you medicine to lower it or stop Avastin until your blood pressure is under control.
Can Avastin cause kidney problems?
Yes, Avastin can cause kidney problems, including protein in your urine. Your doctor will check your urine regularly.
What kind of bleeding is considered serious?
Any severe or unusual bleeding should be reported to your doctor immediately.
What are the common side effects of bevacizumab (ophthalmic)?
The registry lists Nosebleeds, Headache, High blood pressure, Runny nose, Protein in your urine among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for bevacizumab (ophthalmic). These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
What drug class is bevacizumab (ophthalmic)?
bevacizumab (ophthalmic) belongs to the Anti-VEGF (Off-Label Ophthalmic) drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Avastin is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread).
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for bevacizumab (ophthalmic)?
The FDA label for bevacizumab (ophthalmic) contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.
Has bevacizumab (ophthalmic) been recalled?
There is 1 recall associated with bevacizumab (ophthalmic) products. Lack of Assurance of Sterility. Check the recalls section below for full details and affected products.

Active Recalls

Class II August 29, 2025

Lack of Assurance of Sterility

Fagron Compounding Services

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What the FDA Data Shows for bevacizumab (ophthalmic)

The FDA label for bevacizumab (ophthalmic) (sold under brand names such as Avastin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anti-VEGF (Off-Label Ophthalmic) class. Avastin is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread). Official labeling lists 11 commonly reported side effects, including Nosebleeds, Headache, High blood pressure.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: January 6, 2025

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page