Afinitor Side Effects

Generic name: everolimus

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Mar 27, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Afinitor Side Effects associated with everolimus. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Afinitor.

Applies to everolimus: oral tablet, oral tablet for suspension.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. It may also cause birth defects if the father is using it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. Female patients should use an effective form of birth control during treatment with this medicine and for at least 8 weeks after the last dose. Male patients who have female partners should use effective birth control during treatment with Afinitor® or Afinitor® Disperz and for 4 weeks after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

If you are planning to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine. Some men and women using this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

This medicine may cause a serious lung problem called interstitial lung disease or non-infectious pneumonitis. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, chills, cough, fever, or trouble breathing.

Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

While you are being treated with everolimus (the active ingredient contained in Afinitor) and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Everolimus may lower your body's resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live virus vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.

Everolimus can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, which increases the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor right away if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor right away if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

This medicine may increase your risk for getting skin cancer. When you begin taking this medicine:

• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.
• Apply a sunblock product that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher if you have a fair complexion.
• Apply a sunblock lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.
• Do not use sunlamps, tanning beds, or tanning booths.
• If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after using this medicine.

Everolimus may cause a serious allergic reaction called angioedema, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. This may occur more often when it is used with certain heart and blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors (eg, captopril [Capoten®], enalapril [Vasotec®], fosinopril [Monopril®], quinapril [Accupril®], ramipril [Altace®]). Check with your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, a large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals, trouble breathing, or chest tightness while you are using this medicine.

If you have a kidney or liver transplant, this medicine may increase your risk for having a blood clot in the new kidney. This usually occurs within the first 30 days after the kidney transplant. Check with your doctor right away if you are making less urine, or if you have pain in your groin, lower back, side, or stomach, dark urine, fever, nausea, or vomiting.

This medicine may also prevent you from healing correctly after an injury. Do not take this medicine at least 1 week before surgery and at least 2 weeks after a surgery. Call your doctor right away if you have blood, fluid, or pus in your incision, your incision opens up, or if it is red, warm, painful, or swollen.

This medicine may also increase your risk of bleeding and cause delay in wound healing. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers. Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.

This medicine may increase your cholesterol and fats in the blood. If this condition occurs, your doctor may give you or your child some medicines that can lower the amount of cholesterol and fats in the blood.

Make sure any doctor who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may worsen the side effects from radiation treatment.

If you are taking this medicine after a kidney transplant, it may increase your risk for developing rare and serious virus infections, including polyoma virus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), progressive multiple leukoencephalopathy (PML), and BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN). The BK virus may affect how your kidneys work and cause a transplanted kidney to fail. Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decreased frequency or amount of urine, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain.

This medicine may cause thrombotic microangiopathy (damage in the smallest blood vessels), hemolytic uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Tell your doctor right away if you have a change in mental status, dark or bloody urine, decreased urine output, difficulty speaking, fever, pale color of the skin, pinpoint red spots on the skin, seizures, severe chest pain, sudden weakness in the arms or legs, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellow eyes or skin.

Everolimus may cause mouth ulcers and sores in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have pain, discomfort, or open sores in your mouth while you are using this medicine. You may use a special mouthwash (eg, dexamethasone alcohol-free oral solution) or mouth gel to treat these ulcers. Ask your doctor what type of products to use.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check with your doctor if you notice a change in your blood or urine sugar tests.

Tell your doctor if you are taking a corticosteroid or another medicine that may weaken your immune system. This may increase your risk for developing a serious infection.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, cannabidiol, St. John's Wort) or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Afinitor

Along with its needed effects, everolimus 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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking everolimus:

Other side effects of Afinitor

Some side effects of everolimus 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to everolimus: oral tablet, oral tablet dispersible.

General adverse events

The most common side effects included stomatitis, infection, rash, fatigue, diarrhea, edema, peripheral edema, anemia, nausea, hyperlipidemia, headache, abdominal pain, fever, asthenia, cough, constipation, hypertension, urinary tract infection, leukopenia, and decreased appetite.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Hypercholesterolemia (85%), cholesterol increased (77%), glucose increased (75%), alkaline phosphatase increased (74%), triglycerides increased (73%), bicarbonate decreased (56%), hypertriglyceridemia (52%), creatinine increased (50%), hypophosphatemia (49%), phosphate decreased (40%), calcium decreased (37%), appetite decreased (30%), potassium decreased (29%), weight decreased (28%), anorexia (25%), hyperlipidemia (21%), hyperkalemia (18%), sodium decreased (16%), dyslipidemia (15%), hyperglycemia (14%), hypomagnesemia (14%), hypokalemia (12%), diabetes mellitus (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dehydration, blood urea increased, acidosis, gout, hypercalcemia, hyperuricemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, potassium increased^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased hemoglobin (92%), elevated partial thromboplastin time (72%), anemia (up to 61%), WBC decreased (58%), lymphocytes decreased (54%), platelets decreased (54%), neutropenia (46%), leukopenia (37%), albumin decreased (33%), neutrophils decreased (31%), lymphopenia (20%), thrombocytopenia (19%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hemorrhage, leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pure red cell aplasia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Stomatitis (78%), diarrhea (50%), constipation (38%), abdominal pain (36%), nausea (32%), vomiting (29%), dry mouth (up to 11%), gastroenteritis (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal distention, dyspepsia, dysphagia, epigastric discomfort, flatulence, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gingival hypertrophy, hematemesis, hemorrhoids, ileus, mouth ulceration, oral candidiasis, oral pain, peritonitis^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fatigue (45%), peripheral edema (45%), edema (39%), asthenia (33%), pyrexia (31%), mucosal inflammation (19%), incision site pain (16%), procedural pain (15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Mucosal inflammation, irritability, blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, non-cardiac chest pain, chills, incisional hernia, edema^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Rash (59%), cellulitis (29%), nail disorders (22%), acne (22%), pruritus (21%), dry skin (13%), alopecia (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dermatitis acneiform, erythema, folliculitis, hand-foot syndrome, hirsutism, hyperhidrosis, hypertrichosis, night sweats, onychoclasis, onychomycosis, oral herpes skin exfoliation, skin lesion, tinea pedis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Angioedema, herpes zoster^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Respiratory tract infection (31%), cough (30%), dyspnea (24%), epistaxis (22%), pneumonitis (19%), oropharyngeal pain (11%), streptococcal pharyngitis (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Nasopharyngitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, bronchitis, sinusitis, pleural effusion, rhinorrhea, atelectasis, nasal congestion, pulmonary edema, sinus congestion, wheezing
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hemoptysis, acute respiratory distress syndrome^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Amenorrhea (17%), urinary tract infection (16%), hematuria (12%), dysuria (11%), menorrhagia (10%), menstrual irregularities (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Urethritis, bladder spasm, micturition urgency, pollakiuria, polyuria, pyuria, urinary retention, erectile dysfunction ovarian cyst, scrotal edema, blood luteinizing hormone increased, vaginal hemorrhage, blood follicle stimulating hormone increased, metrorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, delayed menstruation^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (20%), back pain (15%), extremity pain (14%), muscle spasms (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Osteomyelitis, jaw pain, joint swelling, muscular weakness, myalgia, osteonecrosis, osteopenia, osteoporosis, spondylitis^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): AST increased (69%), ALT increased (51%), hepatitis C (11%), bilirubin increased (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Transaminases increased^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (30%), dysgeusia (22%), dizziness (12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Tremor, paresthesia, hemiparesis, hypoesthesia, lethargy, neuralgia, somnolence, syncope
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Ageusia^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Behavioral disturbances (21%), insomnia (17%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Depression, agitation, anxiety, hallucination^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Hypertension (30%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Angina pectoris, hot flush, atrial fibrillation, congestive cardiac failure, hypotension, palpitations, tachycardia, venous thromboembolism (including deep vein thrombosis)^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Infections (50%)
• Common (1% to 10%): BK virus infection, bacteremia, candidiasis, influenza, otitis media, sepsis^[Ref]

Renal

• Common (1% to 10%): Renal failure, proteinuria, pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis, interstitial nephritis, renal artery thrombosis^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Cataract, conjunctivitis, blurred vision, eyelid edema^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Common (1% to 10%): Cushingoid, hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

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

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Afinitor cost per month?
• How long can you take Afinitor for?
• How long can you take everolimus?
• What is everolimus used for and how does it work?
• How does Afinitor work?

Further information

Afinitor 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.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer