Gammar IV Side Effects

Generic name: immune globulin intravenous

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 19, 2024.

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

Applies to immune globulin intravenous: intravenous solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress closely for any problems that may be caused by this medicine. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause fever, chills, flushing, headaches, nausea, and vomiting, especially if you are receiving it for the first time or if you have not received it for more than 8 weeks. Check with your doctor or nurse right away if you have any of these symptoms.

This medicine is made from donated human blood. Some human blood products have transmitted certain viruses to people who have received them, although the risk is low. Human donors and donated blood are both tested for viruses to keep the transmission risk low. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.

This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hives, chest pain, dizziness or lightheadedness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine. Certain people, including those with IgA (an immunoglobulin) deficiency and antibodies against IgA and a history of hypersensitivity to human immunoglobulin products should not use this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you start to have a stiff neck, drowsiness, fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, painful eye movements, or eye sensitivity to light. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called aseptic meningitis syndrome (AMS).

This medicine may cause bleeding (hemolysis) or hemolytic anemia. Tell your doctor right away if you have stomach or back pain, dark urine, decreased urination, difficulty with breathing, an increased heart rate, tiredness, or yellow eyes or skin after you receive the medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you start having chest pain, difficult, fast, or noisy breathing, blue lips and fingernails, fever, pale skin, increased sweating, coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum, or swelling of the legs and ankles after receiving this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious lung problem.

Check with your doctor right away if you start having red or dark brown urine, lower back or side pain, sudden weight gain, swollen face, arms, or legs, decreased urine output, or any problems with urination after you receive this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

Your blood pressure might get too high while you are using this medicine. This may cause headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision. You might need to measure your blood pressure at home. If you think your blood pressure is too high, call your doctor right away.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

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 or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Gammar IV

Along with its needed effects, immune globulin intravenous (the active ingredient contained in Gammar IV) 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 immune globulin intravenous:

Other side effects of Gammar IV

Some side effects of immune globulin intravenous 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 immune globulin intravenous: intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution.

General adverse events

The most common adverse events were headache, cough, fatigue, infusion site reaction, nausea, urticaria, sinusitis, blood pressure increased, diarrhea, dizziness, and lethargy.^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Cough increased (54%), rhinitis (51%), pharyngitis (41%), asthma (29%), upper respiratory tract infection (25%), cough (22%), bronchitis (19%), epistaxis (10.5%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis, pharyngolaryngeal pain, pharyngitis, nasal congestion
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bronchospasm
• Frequency not reported: Dyspnea, wheezing
• Postmarketing reports: Apnea, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), transfusion associated lung injury (TRALI), cyanosis, hypoxemia, pulmonary edema, bronchospasm, pulmonary embolism, hyperventilation, hypoxia, throat tightness, respiratory failure^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Hypotension (25%), tachycardia (25%), diastolic hypertension (21%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Blood pressure increased, blood pressure diastolic decreased, palpitations
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tachycardia, hypertension, blood pressure systolic decreased, blood pressure systolic increased, blood pressure fluctuation
• Frequency not reported: Myocardial infarction
• Postmarketing reports: Cardiac arrest, thromboembolism, vascular collapse, changes in blood pressure, flushing, cyanosis, bradycardia, thrombophlebitis, pallor vena cava thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (64.9%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, lethargy, migraine, vertigo, sensory disturbance
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tinnitus, tremor, dysgeusia
• Frequency not reported: Aseptic meningitis, death from cerebrovascular hemorrhage, sleepiness
• Postmarketing reports: Coma, loss of consciousness, seizures, photophobia, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, convulsion, paresthesia, syncope, dysesthesia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (28%), nausea (22.2%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Vomiting, upper abdominal pain, stomach discomfort
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal distension, flatulence
• Frequency not reported: Gingival bleeding
• Postmarketing reports: Abdominal pain, dyspepsia^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fatigue (38%), fever/pyrexia (38.6%), pain (25.5%), ear pain (18%), chills (19.4%), asthenia (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Influenza-like illness, blood lactate dehydrogenase increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hot flush, feeling jittery
• Frequency not reported: Increased body temperature
• Postmarketing reports: Rigors, chest pain/discomfort^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): Transient borderline elevation in liver enzyme (13%), blood unconjugated bilirubin increased (10.5%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Blood conjugated bilirubin increased, blood total bilirubin increased, hyperbilirubinemia, alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, hepatic enzymes increased
• Postmarketing reports: Hepatic dysfunction, jaundice, non-infectious hepatitis^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Anemia (10.5%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hematocrit decreased, positive direct antiglobulin (Coombs/DAT) test
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hemoglobin decreased, white blood cell count increased, anisocytosis
• Frequency not reported: Autoimmune pure red cell aplasia, Coombs negative hypochromic anemia, hemolysis, decrease in hemoglobin level, active bleeding, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia
• Postmarketing reports: Pancytopenia, leukopenia, hemoglobinuria/hematuria/chromaturia, lymphadenopathy^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Local pain and/or irritation (15.2%), injection site reaction (13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Infusion site pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Infusion site inflammation, injection site edema, injection site pruritus, injection site swelling, migration of implant^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Hyperhidrosis, flushing, urticaria, pruritus, dermatitis exfoliative NOS, rash macular, eczema
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Exanthema, erythema multiforme, acne
• Frequency not reported: Mild to moderate hives, itching, recurrence of chronic cellulitis
• Postmarketing reports: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, epidermolysis, bullous dermatitis, rash, angioedema, dermatitis, erythema^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity
• Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic shock, anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Backache (11.8%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Joint pain/effusion, back pain, fibromyalgia, myalgia, arthralgia, muscle spasms, neck pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Leg cramps, musculoskeletal stiffness, pain in extremity^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Fluid retention, dehydration
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Loss of appetite
• Postmarketing reports: Fluid overload^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary hemosiderin positive, proteinuria
• Frequency not reported: Increase in serum creatinine
• Postmarketing reports: Renal failure^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety, agitation, insomnia
• Postmarketing reports: Restlessness^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vision blurred, conjunctivitis, maculopathy
• Postmarketing reports: Photophobia, retinal vein thrombosis, eye pain, visual disturbance^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Frequency not reported: Infection^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Gammar IV 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