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Medications for Bladder Cancer

Other names: Cancer, Bladder

A malignant tumor growth within the bladder. Bladder cancers usually arise from the transitional cells of the bladder (the cells lining the bladder).

These tumors may be classified based on their growth pattern as either papillary tumors (meaning they have a wart-like lesion attached to a stalk) or nonpapillary tumors. Nonpapillary tumors are much less common, but they are more invasive and have a poorer prognosis.

Drugs used to treat Bladder Cancer

The medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Keytruda Qlex
New approval
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
berahyaluronidase alfa / pembrolizumab systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous uncategorized agents, anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
November 21, 2025
Inlexzo
New approval
Rate Add review Rx D N
Generic name:
gemcitabine systemic
Drug class:
antimetabolites
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
September 9, 2025
Zusduri
New approval
Rate Add review Rx N N
Generic name:
mitomycin systemic
Drug class:
antibiotics/antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
June 12, 2025
Imfinzi
New approval
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
durvalumab systemic
Drug class:
anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
March 28, 2025
cisplatin
Rate Add review Rx D N
Generic name:
cisplatin systemic
Drug class:
alkylating agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
mitomycin
Rate Add review Rx N N
Generic name:
mitomycin systemic
Brand names:
Mutamycin, Zusduri
Drug class:
antibiotics/antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Keytruda
7.3 7 reviews for Keytruda to treat Bladder Cancer Rx D N
Generic name:
pembrolizumab systemic
Drug class:
anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
January 8, 2020
pembrolizumab
7.0 8 reviews for pembrolizumab to treat Bladder Cancer Rx D N
Generic name:
pembrolizumab systemic
Brand name:
Keytruda
Drug class:
anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
durvalumab
6.0 1 review for durvalumab to treat Bladder Cancer Rx N
Generic name:
durvalumab systemic
Brand name:
Imfinzi
Drug class:
anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
atezolizumab
Off-label
5.0 1 review for atezolizumab to treat Bladder Cancer Rx N
Generic name:
atezolizumab systemic
Drug class:
anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Off-label:
Yes
gemcitabine
Rate Add review Rx D N
Generic name:
gemcitabine systemic
Brand name:
Inlexzo
Drug class:
antimetabolites
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
methotrexate
Off-label
Rate Add review Rx ✕ N ✕
Generic name:
methotrexate systemic
Drug class:
antimetabolites, antirheumatics, antipsoriatics, other immunosuppressants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
Mutamycin
Rate Add review Rx N N
Generic name:
mitomycin systemic
Drug class:
antibiotics/antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
doxorubicin
Rate Add review Rx D N
Generic name:
doxorubicin systemic
Drug class:
antibiotics/antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Padcev
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
enfortumab vedotin systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
December 15, 2023
Tepadina
Rate Add review Rx D N
Generic name:
thiotepa systemic
Drug class:
alkylating agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Balversa
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
erdafitinib systemic
Drug class:
multikinase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
April 12, 2019
thiotepa
Rate Add review Rx D N
Generic name:
thiotepa systemic
Brand name:
Tepadina
Drug class:
alkylating agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
erdafitinib
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
erdafitinib systemic
Brand name:
Balversa
Drug class:
multikinase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Adstiladrin
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
nadofaragene firadenovec systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
December 16, 2022
Anktiva
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
nogapendekin alfa inbakicept systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
FDA approval date:
April 22, 2024
enfortumab vedotin
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
enfortumab vedotin systemic
Brand name:
Padcev
Drug class:
miscellaneous antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
nadofaragene firadenovec
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
nadofaragene firadenovec systemic
Brand name:
Adstiladrin
Drug class:
miscellaneous antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
berahyaluronidase alfa / pembrolizumab
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
berahyaluronidase alfa / pembrolizumab systemic
Brand name:
Keytruda Qlex
Drug class:
miscellaneous uncategorized agents, anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
nogapendekin alfa inbakicept
Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
nogapendekin alfa inbakicept systemic
Brand name:
Anktiva
Drug class:
miscellaneous antineoplastics
For consumers:
dosage, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph

Frequently asked questions

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Topics under Bladder Cancer

Learn more about Bladder Cancer

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Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Available for purchase by prescription only.
OTC Available for purchase over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Available for purchase by prescription or over-the-counter.
Alcohol The medication interacts with alcohol (if marked with "✕").
New approval The FDA has approved this medication within the past year.
Off-label The FDA may not approve this medication for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded access Expanded access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
✕ Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.

Further information

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