Amifostine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 22, 2024.

Applies to amifostine: intravenous powder for solution.

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 any unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Low blood pressure (hypotension) may occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms: blurred vision, confusion, severe dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness, sweating, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Serious skin reactions can occur during treatment or weeks after starting this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have a fever, chills, cough, sore throat, swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin, or yellow skin or eyes while using this medicine. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis. This 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 receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause nausea or vomiting in most people, sometimes even after receiving medicines to prevent it. Ask your doctor or nurse about other ways to control these side effects.

This medicine may cause hypocalcemia (low calcium in the blood). Check with your doctor if you have stomach cramps, confusion, convulsions, trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat, mood or mental changes, muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face, or numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet.

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

Serious side effects of amifostine

Along with its needed effects, amifostine 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 amifostine:

Other side effects of amifostine

Some side effects of amifostine 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 amifostine: intravenous powder for injection.

Cardiovascular adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Hypotension (62%)
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Chest pain, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, exacerbation of preexisting hypertension, tachycardia, bradycardia
• Frequency not reported: Flushing/feeling of warmth, arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation/flutter, supraventricular tachycardia) sometimes associated with hypotension or hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (96%), vomiting
• Frequency not reported: Hiccups, diarrhea^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Chills/feeling of coldness, malaise, pyrexia, somnolence, rigors^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Severe hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Erythema multiforme, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systematic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Toxicoderma, bullous dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis
• Frequency not reported: Rash/erythema, pruritus, urticaria, inflammation, cutaneous eruptions^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Seizures, syncope
• Frequency not reported: Dizziness^[Ref]

Metabolic

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

Local

• Frequency not reported: Injection site pain, injection site bruising, injection site

Swelling, phlebitis^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Diplopia, blurred vision^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Dyspnea, apnea, hypoxia, respiratory arrest, laryngeal edema
• Frequency not reported: Sneezing, cough^[Ref]

Renal

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Renal failure^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Amifostine 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