Clolar Side Effects

Generic name: clofarabine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 29, 2023.

Note: This document contains side effect information about clofarabine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Clolar.

Applies to clofarabine: intravenous solution.

Serious side effects of Clolar

Along with its needed effects, clofarabine (the active ingredient contained in Clolar) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking clofarabine:

More common

Abdominal or stomach pain or tenderness
area rash
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blood in the urine or stools
bloody nose
blurred vision
burning or stinging of the skin
chest pain
chills
clay-colored stools
cold or flu-like symptoms
confusion
cough or hoarseness
dark urine
decreased urine output
diarrhea
difficult or labored breathing
dilated neck veins
dizziness
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
facial swelling
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
feeling of warmth
fever
flushing, redness of the skin
headache
irregular breathing
itching in the genital area
itching or skin rash
joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
lightheadedness
loss of appetite
lower back or side pain
nausea
nervousness
pain
painful cold sores or blisters on the lips, nose, eyes, or genitals
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
pounding in the ears
rapid, shallow breathing
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
redness, swelling, or skin pain
scaling of the skin on the hands and feet
severe abdominal or stomach cramps with pain
slow or fast heartbeat
small red or purple spots on the skin
sneezing
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
sweating
swelling of the ankles, feet, or lower legs
swelling or inflammation of the mouth
swollen glands
tenderness
tightness in the chest
tingling of the hands and feet
troubled breathing with exertion
ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth
unpleasant breath odor
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusually warm skin
vomiting
vomiting of blood
warmth on the skin
watery and severe diarrhea, which may also be bloody
weight gain
yellow eyes or skin

Less common

Agitation
bloating
blue lips and fingernails
chest pain or discomfort
cloudy urine
constipation
coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
darkened urine
decrease or increase in the amount of urine
decreased level of consciousness
depression
difficult, fast, or noisy breathing
dry mouth
general feeling of discomfort or illness
hives
hostility
hyperventilation
increased sweating
indigestion
irritability
muscle aches and pains
muscle twitching
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
rapid weight gain
restlessness
seizures
shaking
shivering
stuffy or runny nose
swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, or hands
trouble sleeping

Incidence not known

Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
red irritated eyes
red skin lesions, often with a purple center

Other side effects of Clolar

Some side effects of clofarabine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Back pain
bone pain
bruises on the skin
cracked lips
difficulty with moving
difficulty with swallowing
discouragement
dry skin
fear
feeling sad or empty
feeling unusually cold
injection site pain
itching, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth on the skin at the injection site
lack or loss of strength
loss of interest or pleasure
muscle pain or stiffness
pain in the limbs
pain in the rectum
right upper stomach pain and fullness
skin discoloration
sore mouth or tongue
swollen joints
tiredness
trouble concentrating
unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
unusually warm skin
weight loss
white patches with diaper rash

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to clofarabine: intravenous solution.

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Vomiting (78%), nausea (73%), diarrhea (56%), abdominal pain (35%), gingival or mouth bleeding (17%), mucosal inflammation (16%)

Common (1% to 10%): Upper abdominal pain, oral mucosal petechiae, proctalgia, stomatitis, cecitis, pancreatitis

Postmarketing reports: GI hemorrhage (including fatalities)^[Ref]

Other

Very common (10% or more): Pyrexia (39%), chills (34%), fatigue (34%), pain (15%), edema (12%), asthenia (10%)^[Ref]

Hematologic

Very common (10% or more): Leukopenia (88%), anemia (83%), lymphopenia (82%), thrombocytopenia (81%), neutropenia (64%), febrile neutropenia (55%), nonfebrile neutropenia (10%)^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Very common (10% or more): Pruritus (43%), rash (38%), petechiae (26%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (16%), erythema (11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Rash pruritic

Postmarketing reports: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) (including fatal cases)^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Headache (43%), anxiety (21%), lethargy (10%), somnolence (10%)

Common (1% to 10%): Agitation^[Ref]

Hepatic

Very common (10% or more): SGPT elevated (81%), SGOT elevated (74%), bilirubin elevated (45%)

Common (1% to 10%): Jaundice, hyperbilirubinemia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Very common (10% or more): Tachycardia (35%), hypotension (29%), flushing (19%), hypertension (13%)

Common (1% to 10%): Pericardial effusion^[Ref]

Respiratory

Very common (10% or more): Epistaxis (27%), dyspnea (13%), pleural effusion (12%), pneumonia (10%), respiratory distress (10%), respiratory syncytial virus infection, sinusitis

Common (1% to 10%): Upper respiratory tract infection, tachypnea, pulmonary edema^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Very common (10% or more): Pain in extremity (34%), myalgia (16%), back pain (12%), bone pain (11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Very common (10% or more): Irritability (11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Mental status change^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Very common (10% or more): Hematuria (13%)^[Ref]

Renal

Very common (10% or more): Creatinine elevated (50%)^[Ref]

Oncologic

Common (1% to 10%): Tumor lysis syndrome^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Immunologic

Very common (10% or more): Sepsis, including septic shock (17%), catheter related infection (12%), herpes simplex (10%)

Common (1% to 10%): Clostridium colitis, bacteremia, staphylococcal bacteremia, staphylococcal sepsis, candidiasis, cellulitis, herpes zoster, oral candidiasis, bacterial infection, enterococcal bacteremia, escherichia bacteremia, escherichia sepsis, fungal infection, fungal sepsis, gastroenteritis adenovirus, infection, influenza, parainfluenza virus infection, pneumonia fungal, pneumonia primary atypical, staphylococcal infection^[Ref]