Hizentra Side Effects

Generic name: immune globulin subcutaneous

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 7, 2025.

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

Applies to immune globulin subcutaneous: subcutaneous solution.

Precautions

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

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 or swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after using 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.

This medicine may increase your risk of developing blood clots. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have swelling and pain in your arms, legs, or stomach, chest pain, loss of sensation, confusion, problems with muscle control or speech, or trouble breathing.

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).

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.

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.

This medicine is made from donated human blood. Some human blood products have transmitted certain viruses (eg, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) 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.

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.

While you are being treated with immune globulin injection, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval.

Serious side effects of Hizentra

Along with its needed effects, immune globulin subcutaneous (the active ingredient contained in Hizentra) 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 immune globulin subcutaneous:

Other side effects of Hizentra

Some side effects of immune globulin subcutaneous 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 subcutaneous: subcutaneous solution.

General adverse events

The most common adverse events were local reactions, headache, diarrhea, fatigue, back pain, nausea, pain in extremity, and cough.^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Local reactions (49%), infusion site erythema, injection site pain
• Common (1% to 10%): Injection site swelling, injection site bruising
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Injection site edema
• Postmarketing reports: Infusion site ulcer^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (29.2%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Migraine, dizziness, somnolence
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Burning sensation
• Postmarketing reports: Tremor, paresthesia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (18.8%), nausea (12.2%), vomiting, abdominal pain
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain upper, abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain lower^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Erythema (10.8%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Rash, pruritus, urticaria^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity
• Postmarketing reports: Allergic-anaphylactic reactions (e.g. swollen face or tongue and pharyngeal edema, pyrexia, chills, dizziness, hypertension or changes in blood pressure, malaise)^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypotension
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hot flush
• Postmarketing reports: Chest discomfort (including chest pain), tachycardia^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fatigue (12.5%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pain in extremity, pain, contusion, hematoma
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anti-GAD antibody positive
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hematoma^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Cough (10.4%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Oropharyngeal pain
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Nasopharyngitis
• Postmarketing reports: Dyspnea, laryngospasm^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Pain in extremity
• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, arthralgia, chills, myalgia^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Coombs direct test positive^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Hizentra 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