What are the possible side effects of alemtuzumab?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Get emergency medical help if you have symptoms of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: purple spots on the skin or in the mouth, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), tiredness, fever, feeling short of breath, fast heart rate, speech or vision changes, confusion, seizure, dark or blood in your urine, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Alemtuzumab may cause a brain infection that can lead to disability or death. Tell your doctor if you have problems with speech, thought, vision, or muscle movement. These symptoms can get worse quickly.
Some side effects may occur during or shortly after the injection. Tell your caregiver if you feel weak, feverish, chilled, dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, or have a rash, wheezing, chest pain, trouble breathing, swelling in your mouth or throat, or fast, slow, or irregular heartbeats.
Alemtuzumab can cause your immune system to attack cells and organs in your body. This can lead to serious medical problems that may occur months to years after you receive Campath or Lemtrada. Call your doctor at once if you have:
- unusual bleeding or bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual periods, blood in your urine or stools, coughing up blood, problems with speech, weakness on one side, neck pain, severe headache, drooping of your face;
- a mole that has changed in size or color, cough, wheezing, chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood;
- an overactive immune system --fever, swollen glands, rash, feeling unsteady or less alert, trouble waking, seizure;
- liver problems --loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- kidney problems --swelling in your lower legs, weight gain, loss of appetite, sudden pain in your stomach and back, urine that looks pink/brown or foamy;
- signs of infection --fever, chills, sore throat, cough, mouth sores, skin sores or blisters, tingling, burning pain, pale or yellowed skin, pain or burning when you urinate, dark urine, feeling light-headed, cold hands and feet;
- signs of tuberculosis --cough, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, and feeling very tired;
- signs of a stroke or tear in an artery --sudden severe headache, weakness on one side of your body, drooping in your face, slurred speech;
- gallbladder problems --fever, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain;
- symptoms of Autoimmune encephalitis --personality or mood changes, hallucinations, agitation, confusion, short term memory loss, movement disorders;
- symptoms of Adult onset Still's disease --high fever, pain, stiffness with or without swelling in multiple joints, rash;
- thyroid problems --sweating, feeling cold, fast heartbeats, feeling nervous or tired, eye swelling, weight gain or loss, constipation; or
- symptoms of thyroid cancer --a lump or swelling in your neck or throat, trouble swallowing, hoarse voice, or a new cough (not caused by a cold).
Common side effects may include:
- reactions to the injection, rash, itching, tingling, hives;
- stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- infections (fever, chills, runny or stuffy nose, mouth or throat pain, painful urination);
- chest pain or tightness, coughing up blood;
- dizziness, tiredness, trouble sleeping;
- headache, joint pain, back pain, pain in your arms or legs; or
- thyroid problems, flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.