Thiotepa Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 12, 2023.

Applies to thiotepa: injection powder for solution.

Serious side effects of thiotepa

Along with its needed effects, thiotepa 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 thiotepa:

More common

• bleeding gums
• blood in the urine
• blurred or double vision
• confusion
• coughing up blood
• cracked lips
• diarrhea
• difficulty with breathing or swallowing
• difficulty with walking
• dizziness
• drooping eyelids
• headache, sudden, severe
• increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
• jaw pain
• nausea and vomiting
• nosebleeds
• numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes
• pain in the fingers and toes
• paralysis
• prolonged bleeding from cuts
• red or black, tarry stools
• red or dark brown urine
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, tongue, or inside the mouth
• weakness

Incidence not known

• absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• bloated abdomen
• cough or hoarseness
• fast heartbeat
• fever or chills
• hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
• joint or muscle pain
• lower back or side pain
• pain and fullness in the right upper abdomen or stomach
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• red, irritated eyes
• redness of the skin
• stopping of menstrual bleeding
• tightness in the chest
• troubled breathing with exertion
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weight gain
• yellow eyes and skin

Other side effects of thiotepa

Some side effects of thiotepa 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:

Incidence not known

• abdominal or stomach pain
• blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
• loss of appetite
• pain at the injection site
• stopping of menstrual bleeding
• weight loss

For healthcare professionals

Applies to thiotepa: injectable powder for injection, intravenous powder for injection.

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, febrile neutropenia, anemia, pancytopenia
• Common (1% to 10%): Hemorrhage
• Frequency not reported: Bone marrow depression, hematopoietic suppression,

Granulocytopenia

thromboembolism, venous thromboembolism^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Myelodysplastic syndrome, acute nonlymphocytic

leukemia^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Allergic reaction (e.g., rash, urticaria, laryngeal edema, asthma, anaphylactic shock, wheezing)^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Injection site edema, injection site inflammation, injection site pain
• Frequency not reported: Contact dermatitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea, stomatitis, esophagitis, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, enteritis, colitis, mucosal inflammation
• Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, GI perforation, ileus
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): GI ulcer
• Frequency not reported: Oral mucositis^[Ref]

Renal

• Very common (10% or more): Hemorrhagic cystitis (after intravesical or IV administration)
• Common (1% to 10%): Oliguria, renal failure, cystitis, hematuria, dysuria, blood creatinine increased, blood urea increased
• Frequency not reported: Urinary retention^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome, epistaxis
• Common (1% to 10%): Pulmonary edema, cough, pneumonitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypoxia, pulmonary arterial hypertension
• Frequency not reported: Apnea^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dizziness, headache, encephalopathy, convulsion, paresthesia
• Common (1% to 10%): Intracranial aneurysm, extrapyramidal disorder, cognitive disorder, cerebral hemorrhage
• Frequency not reported: Leukoencephalopathy^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Rash, alopecia, pruritus
• Common (1% to 10%): Erythema
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pigmentation disorder, erythrodermic psoriasis
• Frequency not reported: Severe toxic skin reactions (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, contact dermatitis), skin discoloration (following topical use or exposure), local irritation (comparable to mild radiation cystitis following bladder instillation)^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Amenorrhea, azoospermia, vaginal hemorrhage
• Common (1% to 10%): Impairment of fertility in male, female infertility, menopausal symptoms
• Frequency not reported: Interference with spermatogenesis^[Ref]

Ocular

• Very common (10% or more): Vision blurred, conjunctivitis
• Common (1% to 10%): Cataract^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Hearing impaired, ototoxicity, tinnitus, pyrexia, asthenia, chills, multi-organ failure, pain
• Frequency not reported: Fatigue, weakness, febrile reaction, discharge from a subcutaneous lesion may occur as the result of breakdown of tumor tissue^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Increased susceptibility to infections, sepsis, acute graft versus host disease, chronic graft versus host disease
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Toxic shock syndrome^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Back pain, myalgia, arthralgia^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Anorexia, decreased appetite, hyperglycemia
• Common (1% to 10%): Tumor lysis syndrome (occurring secondary to, spontaneous, or treatment related rapid destruction of malignant cells); features include hyperkalemia, hyperuricemia, and hyperphosphatemia with hypocalcemia (renal damage and arrhythmias can follow), weight increased, blood amylase increased^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Confusion, mental status changes
• Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Delirium, nervousness, hallucination, agitation^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): Venoocclusive liver disease, hepatomegaly, jaundice, blood bilirubin increased, transaminases increased, gamma

Glutamyltransferase, increased blood alkaline, phosphatase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Arrhythmia
• Common (1% to 10%): Tachycardia, cardiac failure, lymphoedema, hypertension, embolism
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cardiomyopathy, myocarditis^[Ref]

Endocrine

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

Further information

Thiotepa side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer