Velcade (bortezomib) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat the following blood cancers in adults:

Velcade is approved to treat untreated or relapsed forms of these cancers. (With relapse, cancer cells are found after being undetectable for a period of time following treatment.)

Velcade comes as a powder in a single-dose vial that’s mixed with liquid to form a solution. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give Velcade by IV or subcutaneous injection.

Velcade belongs to a class of drugs known as proteasome inhibitors. The drug is available in a generic version called bortezomib.

Dosage summary

Below is information about Velcade’s form, strengths, and typical starting dosage:

Velcade formStrengths*Typical starting dosage
powder in a single-dose vial• 1 milligram per milliliter of solution (mg/mL) when it’s given by IV injection
• 2.5 mg/mL when it’s given as a subcutaneous injection 		1.3 mg per meter squared† (mg/m2)

* Velcade comes in one strength of 3.5 mg of bortezomib per vial. However, the strength of your dose depends on how your doctor administers it.
† Meters squared is a measurement that’s calculated using your height and weight.

For more information about the dosage of Velcade, including its strengths and how the drug is given, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Velcade, see this article.

Below is information about Velcade’s dosages for multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.

Velcade form

Velcade comes as a powder in a single-dose vial that’s mixed with liquid to form a solution. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give Velcade by IV or subcutaneous injection.

Velcade strength

Velcade comes in one strength: 3.5 milligrams (mg) of bortezomib per vial.

The strength of your dose depends on how you’ll receive Velcade:

  • IV dosing is given in a strength of 1 mg per milliliter of solution (mg/mL)
  • subcutaneous dosing is given in a strength of 2.5 mg/mL

Typical dosages

The dose of Velcade your doctor prescribes is measured in mg per meter squared (mg/m2). This measurement depends on your body surface area, which is calculated using your height and weight.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for multiple myeloma that has not yet been treated

The recommended starting dose of Velcade for untreated multiple myeloma is 1.3 mg/m2. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you this dose by IV or subcutaneous injection. You and your doctor will decide which injection is best for you. The dosing schedule is the same with either injection.

For this condition, Velcade is typically prescribed with the chemotherapy drugs melphalan and prednisone. Along with these drugs, the recommended maintenance (long-term) dose for Velcade is 9 treatment cycles lasting 6 weeks each.

  • for cycles 1 to 4, you’ll receive Velcade two times per week
  • for cycles 5 to 9, you’ll receive Velcade on a weekly dosing schedule (once per week)

Note: After each dose of Velcade, your doctor will wait at least 72 hours to give your next dose.

Dosage for mantle cell lymphoma that has not yet been treated

The recommended starting dose of Velcade for untreated mantle cell lymphoma is 1.3 mg/m2. Your doctor will give you this dose by IV injection for 6 treatment cycles. Each cycle will last 3 weeks.

Typically, Velcade is prescribed as part of a “VcR-CAP” drug regimen or cycle. This regimen includes the following medications:

In this regimen, Velcade is typically given before rituximab. It’s given twice weekly for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, there are 10 days of rest. This means you won’t be given any medications during this time. After the 10 days, you’ll begin another cycle of VcR-CAP.

If your condition responds to treatment at cycle 6, your doctor may recommend two more cycles of the VcR-CAP regimen.

Note: After each dose of Velcade, your doctor will wait at least 72 hours to give your next dose.

Dosage for multiple myeloma that has relapsed

To treat relapsed multiple myeloma, the recommended dose of Velcade is 1.3 mg/m2. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you this dose by IV or subcutaneous injection. You and your doctor will decide which injection is best for you. The dosing schedule is the same with either injection.

For this condition, Velcade is given twice weekly for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, there are 10 days of rest. This means you won’t be given any medications during this time.

Your doctor may also prescribe a maintenance (long-term) dosing schedule for this condition. This includes 1.3 mg/m2 once weekly for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, there are 13 days of rest. You and your doctor will determine how long you’ll receive this dosing schedule.

If your condition responded to Velcade treatment in the past, but it relapsed 6 months later, your doctor may recommend restarting treatment. They’ll likely continue treatment with that last dose that you were able to tolerate. You’ll receive this dose twice weekly for 3 weeks. This will be repeated for a total of 8 treatment cycles. For this use, your doctor may prescribe Velcade alone or with dexamethasone.

Note: After each dose of Velcade, your doctor will wait at least 72 hours to give your next dose.

Dosage for mantle cell lymphoma that has relapsed

To treat relapsed mantle cell lymphoma, the recommended Velcade dose is 1.3 mg/m2. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you this dose by IV or subcutaneous injection. You and your doctor will decide which injection is best for you. The dosing schedule is the same with either injection.

For this condition, Velcade is given twice weekly for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, there are 10 days of rest. This means you won’t be given any medications during this time. You and your doctor will determine how long you’ll receive this dosing schedule.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Velcade’s dosage and their answers.

Could my doctor prescribe a 1.5 mg/m2 dose of Velcade?

Possibly. The recommended starting dose of Velcade for multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma is 1.3 milligrams per meter squared* (mg/m2).

However, your doctor may prescribe a 1.5 mg/m2 dose of Velcade for off-label use. Off-label use means prescribing a medication or a dose in a way that hasn’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you have questions about this dose of Velcade, talk with your doctor. They’ll determine if this dose is right for you.

* Meters squared is a measurement that’s calculated using your height and weight.

Is a dose calculator available for Velcade?

Your doctor will calculate your dose of Velcade based on your body surface area (BSA). This measurement is based on your height and weight. And it helps determine what dose of medication is right for you.

Velcade’s typical starting dose is 1.3 mg/m2. Before giving this dose, your doctor will calculate your BSA. Then, they’ll multiply your BSA by 1.3 to find the total Velcade dose that’ll be given for each injection. (Velcade is given by IV or subcutaneous injection by a healthcare professional. To learn more, see “Velcade form” in the “Velcade dosage” section above.)

If you have questions about how your Velcade dose is calculated, talk with your doctor.

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

  • what type of cancer you have
  • your height and weight
  • changes in your weight
  • changes in certain blood test results
  • serious side effects* that you may develop from Velcade treatment
  • other medical conditions you may have

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor may decrease your Velcade dosage or stop treatment if you:

* To learn more about side effects of Velcade, see this article.

Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give your Velcade dose by IV (into a vein) or subcutaneous (under the skin) injection.

Velcade comes as a powder in a single-dose vial. Your doctor will determine how much liquid to add to the vial to get the dose that’s right for you. (To learn more about how your dose is calculated, see “Is a dose calculator available for Velcade?” in the “Frequently asked questions” section above.)

The strength of your dose depends on how you’ll receive Velcade:

  • IV dosing is given in a strength of 1 milligram per milliliter of solution (mg/mL)
  • subcutaneous dosing is given in a strength of 2.5 mg/mL

If your doctor gives you Velcade subcutaneously, they’ll give it to you in your thigh or abdomen. They’ll also choose a different injection site each time. This is to help prevent irritation and tissue damage.

If you have questions about how Velcade is given, talk with your doctor.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Velcade for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. If you have questions about the dosage of Velcade that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

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

  • More about Velcade. For information about other aspects of Velcade, refer to this article.
  • Side effects. To learn about side effects of Velcade, see this article. You can also look at the Velcade prescribing information.
  • Drug comparison. Find out how Velcade compares with Kyprolis and Ninlaro.
  • Details about multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. For more information about your condition, our cancer hub might be helpful, as well as this list of lymphoma articles.

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.