Increlex Side Effects

Generic name: mecasermin

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 18, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Increlex.

Applies to mecasermin: subcutaneous solution Side Effects associated with mecasermin. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Increlex.

Applies to mecasermin: subcutaneous solution.

Precautions

Your doctor will need to check your child's progress at regular visits while your child is using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Talk with your doctor if you notice, or the child feels, that this medicine is causing too much growth.

This medicine may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Symptoms include: anxiety, blurred vision, chills, cold sweats, coma, confusion, cool, pale skin, depression, dizziness, fast heartbeat, headache, increased hunger, nausea, nervousness, nightmares, seizures, shakiness, slurred speech, or unusual tiredness or weakness. It is important to have a source of sugar including orange juice, candy, soda, glucose gel, or milk, if these symptoms occur.

Learn what to do if your child's blood sugar gets too low. Teach family members and friends what they can do to help if the child has low blood sugar.

You should avoid participating in high risk activities, including driving, within 2 to 3 hours after receiving the medicine, especially at the beginning of mecasermin (the active ingredient contained in Increlex) treatment.

This medicine may cause serious types of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if your child has a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after your child receive the medicine.

This medicine may cause intracranial hypertension (increased pressure in the head). Check with your doctor right away if your child has blurred vision, change in ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow, headache, or nausea and vomiting.

This medicine may enlarge your child's tonsils. Call your doctor right away if your child has swollen tonsils, snoring, trouble with breathing or swallowing, or fluid in the ear. Your doctor may want to check your child's tonsils regularly while using this medicine.

This medicine may cause a dislocation in the hip bone. Check with your doctor right away if your child has a limp or pain in the hip or knee.

Using this medicine may increase your child's risk of getting cancer. Talk to your child's doctor if you have concerns about this risk.

This medicine contains benzyl alcohol which may cause serious reactions (eg, gasping syndrome) for a newborn or premature infant. Discuss this with your doctor if you are concerned.

Do not take other medicines unless thy 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 Increlex

Along with its needed effects, mecasermin 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 mecasermin:

More common side effects

• anxiety
• bluish skin color of the fingertips
• blurred vision
• breathlessness
• chest pain
• chills
• cold sweats
• coma
• confusion
• cool, pale skin
• depression
• dizziness
• fast heartbeat
• headache
• increased hunger
• loss of hearing
• nausea
• nervousness
• nightmares
• rapid growth of normal cells of the thymus (no symptoms)
• seizures
• shakiness
• slurred speech
• thickening of the skin
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

• change in the ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
• chest tightness
• cough
• difficult or labored breathing
• difficulty with swallowing
• hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
• itching or hives at the injection site
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• limp
• pain in the hip or knee
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• redness of the skin
• vomiting

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking mecasermin:

Symptoms of overdose

• anxiety
• arm or leg pain
• backache
• changes in vision
• excessive sweating
• extreme weakness
• frequent urination
• increase in hands and feet size
• increased thirst
• increased volume of pale, diluted urine
• joint pain
• stop in menstruation

Other side effects of Increlex

Some side effects of mecasermin 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:

More common side effects

• abnormal response of the tympanic membrane to air pressure
• difficulty with moving
• difficulty with swallowing
• ear pain
• earache
• large, flat, blue or purplish patches in the skin
• muffled hearing
• muscle pain or stiffness
• redness or swelling in the ear
• sense of fullness in the ear
• snoring
• sore throat
• voice changing

For healthcare professionals

Applies to mecasermin: subcutaneous solution.

General adverse events

The most common adverse events were hypoglycemia, injection site hypertrophy, snoring, hypoacusis, headache, and tonsillar hypertrophy.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Hypoglycemia (47%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hypoglycemic seizure, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, obesity, increased weight^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Injection site hypertrophy (32%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pain, injection site bruising, injection site fibrosis, injection site reaction, injection site swelling, injection site induration, injection site pigmentation changes
• Postmarketing reports: Pruritus, urticaria, injection site reactions (e.g. erythema, pain, hematoma, hemorrhage, induration, rash, swelling)^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Hypoacusis (20%), febrile infection, otitis media, serous otitis media, chronic otitis media serous, otitis externa, ear infection
• Common (1% to 10%): Fluid in middle ear, ear pain, abnormal tympanometry, ear tube insertion, otorrhea, ear disorder, middle ear disorder, tympanic membrane disorder, ear congestion, Mucosal membrane hyperplasia, hypertrophy, mucosal edema, asthenia, chest discomfort, abnormal tympanometry, adenotonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, ear tube insertion
• Frequency not reported: Elevations in cholesterol, elevations in triglycerides^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Snoring (22%), tonsillar hypertrophy (16%), upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, tonsillitis
• Common (1% to 10%): Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, obstructive sleep apnea, adenoidal hypertrophy, nasal turbinate hypertrophy, dyspnea, nasal mucosal disorder, obstructive airway disorder, abnormal respiration, nasal congestion, mouth breathing^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (18%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Intracranial hypertension, dizziness, convulsions, febrile convulsion, benign intracranial hypertension, loss of consciousness, sleep apnea syndrome, dizziness, tremor, restless leg syndrome, lethargy^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Anti-IGF-1 antibodies (up to 61%), thymus hypertrophy^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Cardiac murmur, cardiomegaly, ventricular hypertrophy, atrial hypertrophy, tachycardia, tachycardia paroxysmal, mitral valve incompetence, tricuspid valve incompetence, abnormal echocardiogram
• Frequency not reported: Cardiomegaly/valvulopathy^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Oral candidiasis
• Common (1% to 10%): Vomiting, retching, abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, abdominal distension, dysphagia^[Ref]

Tonsillar hypertrophy appears to occur more frequently in the first 1 to 2 years of therapy with lesser tonsillar growth in subsequent years.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Lipohypertrophy, bruising, skin hypertrophy, acrochordons, abnormal hair texture, pigmented nevus
• Frequency not reported: Thickening of the soft tissues of the face
• Postmarketing reports: Alopecia, hair texture abnormal^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased alanine aminotransferase, increased aspartate aminotransferase
• Frequency not reported: Elevated AST, elevated LDH, elevated ALT^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Local and/or systemic hypersensitivity
• Postmarketing reports: Anaphylaxis, local allergic reactions, generalized urticaria, angioedema, dyspnea^[Ref]

Hematologic

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

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, pain in extremity, myalgia, scoliosis, spinal deformity, soft tissue disorder, muscle cramp, flank pain, musculoskeletal stiffness, congenital jaw malformation
• Postmarketing reports: Osteonecrosis/avascular necrosis (occasionally associated with slipped capital femoral epiphysis)^[Ref]

Renal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis, renal colic
• Frequency not reported: Renal and splenic length increased rapidly^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Papilledema, reduced visual acuity, myopia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Gynecomastia, ovarian cyst^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Depression, sleep terror, nervousness, abnormal behavior, disorientation^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Increlex 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