Bendeka (bendamustine) is a brand-name drug prescribed for certain cancers in adults. It’s given as an intravenous infusion by a healthcare professional. The dosage depends on the type of cancer being treated and other factors.

Specifically, Bendeka is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:

Bendeka belongs to a drug class called alkylating agents. Bendeka is available in a generic version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Bendeka, including its strength and how the medication is given. For a comprehensive look at Bendeka, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Bendeka provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Bendeka dosage that’s right for you.

Below is information about Bendeka’s form, strength, and dosages.

Bendeka form

Bendeka comes as a solution in a vial. This solution is mixed with another liquid and is given by intravenous (IV) infusion. An infusion is an injection into your vein over a period of time.

You’ll receive the IV infusion in a hospital, doctor’s office, or infusion center.

Bendeka strength

Bendeka comes in one strength of 100 milligrams (mg) per 4 milliliters (mL) of solution.

Typical dosages

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.

Dosage for CLL

Doctors may use Bendeka to treat CLL. The dosing is based on body surface area (BSA), which is expressed in square meters (m2). Your doctor calculates your BSA from your height and weight. The dosing is written as a number of mg per m2 (mg/m2).

If your doctor uses Bendeka for your CLL, the recommended dose is 100 mg/m2. You’ll receive Bendeka as an IV infusion. The infusion will likely take about 10 minutes.

You’ll receive Bendeka on days 1 and 2 of a 28-day treatment cycle. You may have up to 6 cycles. Cycles are periods of days with treatment, followed by rest periods without it.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Dosage for NHL

Bendeka is also used for treating certain cases of slow-growing B-cell NHL. It’s used when NHL has worsened during or within 6 months of rituximab treatment. As with CLL, the dose is based on body surface area (BSA). See the section above for details on BSA-based dosing.

The recommended dose for B-cell NHL is 120 mg/m2. You’ll receive Bendeka as an IV infusion. The infusion will likely take about 10 minutes.

You’ll receive it on days 1 and 2 of a 21-day treatment cycle. You may have up to 8 cycles. Cycles are periods of days with treatment, followed by rest periods without it.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Long-term treatment

Bendeka is not typically used as a long-term treatment. Instead, it’s meant to be used for up to six 28-day cycles or for up to eight 21-day cycles. Both approaches equal up to 24 weeks of cyclical treatment.

If you and your doctor determine that Bendeka is safe and effective, you’ll use it for as long as your doctor advises, up to 24 weeks.

Before you start receiving Bendeka infusions, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you. Talk with them if you have questions about how long you can expect Bendeka treatment to last.

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

  • your age
  • your body weight, height, and BSA
  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using Bendeka to treat
  • side effects you may have with Bendeka

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your dosage.

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor may need to delay, adjust, or stop treatment if you have certain side effects, such as harmful effects involving your skin, brain, liver, or blood cells.

Also, your doctor may delay your treatment or lower your dose if you develop bone marrow suppression (decreased bone marrow activity). It’s a side effect of Bendeka that can result in abnormal blood cell counts.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take and any health conditions you have. And tell them right away if you experience any new or worsening side effects.

Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you the IV infusion of Bendeka. They’ll mix Bendeka with another liquid to prepare it for the infusion. You’ll likely go to your doctor’s office, an infusion center, or a hospital to receive your infusion. The infusion takes about 10 minutes, but your visit will be longer.

During and after your infusion, you’ll need to let your doctor know about any side effects you may have. Below are tips on how to do this:

  • During and after your infusion, tell your doctor if you feel nauseated, vomit, or have diarrhea. They may give you medication to help relieve these side effects. Also, tell your doctor if you have any other symptoms. Tell them right away if you develop a rash, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face. These symptoms may indicate an allergic reaction. If you have a severe allergic reaction, they’ll likely stop your treatment with Bendeka.
  • If you develop fever, itchiness, rash, or chills after your infusion, let your doctor know. These may be symptoms of a reaction to your infusion. If you experience a reaction like this, your doctor may need to give you medication before future infusions to help prevent these reactions. If you have severe reactions, they’ll likely stop your treatment with Bendeka.
  • Remember to tell your doctor if you experience any symptoms of infection. Tell them if you’re very tired, short of breath, or not feeling well. Report any changes in vision, speech, movement, thinking, memory, or behavior. Mention any changes to your skin condition or sensation. Noting changes such as these will help your doctor assess you for harmful effects.

If you have questions about how Bendeka is given, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also learn more about it in the manufacturer’s brochure.

If you miss your appointment for a Bendeka infusion, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. They can advise you on when to receive your next dose.

If you need help remembering your appointments, try writing calendar reminders, setting alarms, or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Bendeka.

Is the dosage of Bendeka similar to the dosage of Venclexta?

No, the forms and how often you receive or take each drug are different. Bendeka is given by IV infusion for 2 days at the start of a 21- or 28-day treatment cycle. Venclexta (venetoclax) is an oral tablet that’s usually taken daily.

The dose in milligrams for each drug also differs because they have different active ingredients. Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you.

To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Bendeka to start working?

Bendeka affects people differently. It’s hard to say when it will be effective for you. Because of how Bendeka works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body.

Your cancer may respond to Bendeka fully or only partially. Sometimes, cancer doesn’t respond to Bendeka.

To see whether Bendeka is working and how your cancer is responding, your doctor will monitor you. To do this, they’ll perform blood tests and exams, and the results will tell them how treatment is progressing.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your progress or what to expect with Bendeka treatment.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Bendeka for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

If you have questions about the dosage of Bendeka that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Bendeka. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Bendeka: For information about other aspects of Bendeka, refer to this article.
  • Details about cancer: For details about leukemia, see our leukemia hub. For information about cancer in general, see our cancer hub.

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 another 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.