Avapritinib Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 25, 2025.

Applies to avapritinib: oral tablet.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before starting avapritinib treatment. Men and women should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for up to 6 weeks after treatment. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine or within 6 weeks after the last dose, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain). Make sure your doctor knows if you have a bleeding disorder, or any medical condition that increases your chance of bleeding. Call your doctor right away if you have confusion, headache, sudden, severe weakness, nausea, or vomiting.

This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior, trouble sleeping, or hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there). It may also make you drowsy, dizzy, confused, or less alert than you are normally. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know this medicine affects you.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.

If you plan 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).

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, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of avapritinib

Along with its needed effects, avapritinib 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 avapritinib:

Other side effects of avapritinib

Some side effects of avapritinib 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 avapritinib: oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most common adverse reactions (20% or greater) were edema, nausea, fatigue/asthenia, cognitive impairment, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, increased lacrimation, abdominal pain, constipation, rash, dizziness, and hair color changes.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Flushing (up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Intracranial hemorrhage, cardiac failure, congestive cardiac failure, hypotension

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Rash (up to 23%), hair color changes (up to 21%), alopecia (up to 13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, pruritus, photosensitivity

Rash includes maculo-papular rash, erythematous rash, macular rash, generalized rash, and papular rash.

Endocrine

• Common (1% to 10%): Thyroid disorders (e.g., hyperthyroid, hypothyroid)

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 64%), vomiting (up to 38%), diarrhea (up to 37%), abdominal pain (up to 31%), constipation (up to 23%), dyspepsia (up to 16%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Large intestine perforation

Abdominal pain includes upper abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, lower abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, and epigastric discomfort.

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased hemoglobin (up to 81%), decreased leukocytes (up to 62%), decreased neutrophils (up to 54%), decreased platelets (up to 64%), decreased lymphocytes (up to 34%), increased INR (up to 24%), increased activated partial thromboplastin time (up to 14%), hemorrhage (up to 11%), increased lymphocytes (up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hematoma

Hematoma includes contusion, hematoma, and pelvic hematoma.

Hemorrhage includes epistaxis, gingival bleeding, hematochezia, rectal hemorrhage, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and retinal hemorrhage.

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): Increased bilirubin (up to 69%), increased AST (up to 51%), increased ALT (up to 19%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Cholelithiasis

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased calcium (up to 50%), decreased appetite (up to 38%), decreased phosphate (up to 49%), decreased potassium (up to 34%), decreased albumin (up to 31%), decreased magnesium (29%), decreased sodium (28%), increased alkaline phosphatase (24%), decreased weight (up to 13%), increased potassium (up to 11%)

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pain in extremity

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Cognitive impairment (up to 48%), dizziness (up to 22%), headache (up to 17%), dysgeusia/ageusia (up to 15%)

Cognitive impairment/effects include memory impairment, cognitive disorder, confusional state, disturbance in attention, amnesia, mental impairment, mental status changes, encephalopathy, dementia delirium, disorientation, abnormal thinking, mental disorder, and retrograde amnesia.

Ocular

• Very common (10% or more): Increased lacrimation (up to 33%)

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Edema (up to 79%), fatigue/asthenia (up to 61%), pyrexia (up to 14%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Herpes zoster

Edema includes face swelling, conjunctival edema, eye edema, eyelid edema, orbital edema, periorbital edema, face edema, mouth edema, pharyngeal edema, peripheral edema, edema, generalized edema, localized edema, peripheral swelling, and testicular edema.

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Sleep disorders (up to 16%), mood disorders (up to 13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Speech disorders
• Frequency not reported: Hallucinations

Sleep disorders include insomnia, and somnolence.

Mood disorders include agitation, anxiety, depression, depressed mood, dysphoria, irritability, mood altered, nervousness, personality change, and suicidal ideation.

Renal

• Very common (10% or more): Creatinine increased (up to 29%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Dyspnea (up to 17%), pleural effusion (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Respiratory tract infection, cough

Respiratory tract infection includes pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis and respiratory tract infection.

See also:

Further information

Avapritinib 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