Alimta Side Effects

Generic Name: pemetrexed

Please note - some side effects for Alimta may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Alimta - for the Consumer

Alimta

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Alimta:

Constipation; diarrhea; hair loss; loss of appetite; mouth sores; nausea; pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site; tiredness or weakness; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); burning or tingling sensation; chest pain; chills; decreased amount of urine; fever; increased difficulty breathing; mood or mental changes; persistent cough; persistent sore throat; persistent vomiting or diarrhea; red, swollen, or peeling skin; severe stomach pain; severe tiredness or weakness; shortness of breath; trouble swallowing; unusual bruising or bleeding.

Alimta Side Effects - for the Professional

Alimta

The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) with single-agent use are fatigue, nausea, and anorexia. Additional common adverse reactions when used in combination with cisplatin include vomiting, neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, stomatitis/pharyngitis, thrombocytopenia, and constipation. (6.1)

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Eli Lilly and Company at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch

Side Effects by Body System

Other

Side effects below show the incidence of CTC grade 3/4 toxicities in patients who received both pemetrexed and cisplatin along with vitamin supplementation including daily folic acid and vitamin B12.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea (84%), vomiting (58%), constipation (44%), anorexia (35%), stomatitis/pharyngitis (28%), diarrhea without colostomy (26%), dehydration (7%), and dysphagia/esophagitis/odynophagia (6%) have been reported. Colitis has been reported rarely.

General

General side effects including fatigue (80%), chest pain (40%), fever (17%), and other constitutional symptoms (11%) have been reported.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects including dyspnea (66%) and interstitial pneumonitis have been reported.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects including neutropenia (58%), leukopenia (55%), anemia (33%), and thrombocytopenia (27%) have been reported.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects including rash/desquamation (22%) have been reported.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects including neuropathy/sensory effects (17%) have been reported.

Renal

Renal side effects including creatinine elevation (16%), and renal failure (2%) have been reported.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects including mood alterations/depression (14%) have been reported.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects including thrombosis/embolism (7%) have been reported.

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects including infection without neutropenia (1%), infection with grade 3 or grade 4 neutropenia (6%), infection/febrile neutropenia-other (3%), and febrile neutropenia (1%) have been reported.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects including allergic reactions (2%) have been reported.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.