Nulojix Side Effects

Generic name: belatacept

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 8, 2024.

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

Applies to belatacept: 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 unwanted effects. Be sure to keep all appointments.

It is important to tell your doctor if you become pregnant. Your doctor may want you to join a pregnancy registry for patients using this medicine.

Do not receive this medicine if your doctor says you are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) negative. Your doctor will test you for EBV.

Using this medicine may increase your risk of having serious conditions called post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The risk of developing PTLD is higher in patients who are EBV negative, have cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, or have received treatments for transplant rejections. Check with your doctor right away if you have changes in mood or usual behavior, confusion, problems with thinking, loss of memory, decreased strength on one side of the body, or changes in vision, walking, or talking.

This medicine may increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer, especially of the skin. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.

Use sunscreen or sunblock lotions with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 on a regular basis when you are outdoors. Wear protective clothing and hats, and stay out of direct sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.

This medicine may increase your risk of developing infections. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections while you are using this medicine. Wash your hands often. Tell your doctor if you have any kind of infection before you start using this medicine. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had an infection that would not go away or an infection that kept coming back.

You will need to have a skin test for tuberculosis before you start using this medicine. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your home has ever had a positive reaction to a tuberculosis skin test.

This medicine may increase your risk for developing a rare and serious virus infection called polyoma virus-associated nephropathy (PVAN). PVAN is caused by BK virus. The BK virus may affect how your kidneys work and cause a transplanted kidney to fail. Check with your doctor right away if you are having more than one of these symptoms: bloody urine; a decreased frequency or amount of urine; increased thirst; loss of appetite; lower back or side pain; nausea; swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs; trouble with breathing; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; or weight gain.

While you are being treated with belatacept (the active ingredient contained in Nulojix) and after you stop using it, it is important to talk to your doctor about the immunizations (vaccines) you should receive. Do not get any vaccine without your doctor's approval. Belatacept may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not receive certain vaccines since there is a chance they could pass the infection on to you. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about this.

Serious side effects of Nulojix

Along with its needed effects, belatacept 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 belatacept:

Other side effects of Nulojix

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

Immunologic adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Infections (82%), serious infections (36%), herpes infection (14%), cytomegalovirus (12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Blood immunoglobulin G decreased, blood immunoglobulin M decreased, sepsis, influenza, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, BK virus infection, candidiasis, cellulitis, wound infection, localized infection, fungal infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypogammaglobinemia, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, cerebral fungal infection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis, polyomavirus-associated nephropathy, genital herpes, staphylococcal infection, endocarditis, tuberculosis (TB), bronchiectasis, strongyloidiasis, blastocystis infection, giardiasis, lymphangitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, polyoma virus^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Hypertension (32%), hypotension (18%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Tachycardia, bradycardia, atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, angina pectoris, left ventricular hypertrophy, shock, infarction, hematoma, lymphocele, angiopathy, arterial fibrosis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Acute coronary syndrome, atrioventricular block second degree, aortic valve disease, arrhythmia supraventricular, venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, arterial stenosis, intermittent claudication, flushing^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Onychomycosis, acne, pruritus, alopecia, skin lesion, rash, night sweats, hyperhidrosis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Psoriasis, hair growth abnormal, onychoclasis, penile ulceration, swelling face, trichorrhexis, alopecia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (39%), constipation (33%), nausea (24%), vomiting (22%), abdominal pain (19%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Gastroenteritis, oral candidiasis, dyspepsia, aphthous stomatitis, abdominal hernia, stomatitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cholelithiasis, ulcer, GI disorder, pancreatitis, large intestinal ulcer, melena, gastroduodenal ulcer, rectal hemorrhage, small intestinal obstruction, cheilitis, gingival hyperplasia, salivary gland pain, feces discolored^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Urinary tract infection (37%), hematuria (16%), proteinuria (16%), dysuria (11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hydrocele, glycosuria
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Epididymitis, priapism, cervical dysplasia, breast mass, testicular pain, vulval ulceration, atrophic vulvovaginitis, infertility, scrotal edema, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, nocturia, epididymitis, hemorrhagic cystitis, genital herpes^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Anemia (45%), leukopenia (20%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, leukocytosis, polycythemia, lymphopenia, hematoma
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Monocytopenia, pure red cell aplasia, agranulocytosis, hemolysis, hypercoagulation^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Hypokalemia (21%), hyperkalemia (20%), hypophosphatemia (19%), dyslipidemia (19%), hyperglycemia (16%), hypercholesterolemia (11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Weight increase, diabetes mellitus, dehydration, weight decrease, acidosis, fluid retention, hypoproteinemia, hypomagnesemia, hyperuricemia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic foot, alkalosis, decreased appetite, vitamin D deficiency^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (17%), back pain (13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, musculoskeletal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Osteomyelitis
• Frequency not reported: Extremity pain, myalgia, muscular weakness, bone pain, joint swelling, intervertebral disc disorder, joint lock, muscle spasms, bone metabolism disorder, osteitis, osteolysis, synovitis, osteoarthritis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache
• Common (1% to 10%): Tremor, paraesthesia, cerebrovascular accident, dizziness, syncope, lethargy, peripheral neuropathy
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Encephalitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, brain edema, intracranial pressure increased, encephalopathy, convulsion, hemiparesis, demyelination, facial palsy, dysgeusia, cognitive disorder, memory impairment, migraine, burning sensation, diabetic neuropathy, restless leg syndrome^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Squamous cell carcinoma of skin, basal cell carcinoma, skin papilloma
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): EBV associated lymphoproliferative disorder, lung cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, sarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, prostate cancer, cervix carcinoma, laryngeal cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, transitional cell carcinoma^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Insomnia (15%), anxiety (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Depression
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal dreams, mood swings, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, libido increased, irritability^[Ref]

Renal

• Very common (10% or more): Blood creatinine increased (5%), proteinuria, dysuria, hematuria
• Common (1% to 10%): Pyelonephritis, renal tubular necrosis, renal vein thrombosis, renal artery stenosis, glycosuria, hydronephrosis, vesicoureteric reflux, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, nocturia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal artery thrombosis, nephritis, nephrosclerosis, renal tubular atrophy, cystitis hemorrhagic, kidney fibrosis^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Cough (24%), upper respiratory tract infection (15%), nasopharyngitis (13%), dyspnea (12%), bronchitis (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pneumonia, sinusitis, rhinitis, pulmonary edema, wheezing, hypocapnia, orthopnea, epistaxis, oropharyngeal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, pneumonitis, hemoptysis, bronchopneumopathy, painful respiration, pleural effusion, sleep apnea syndrome, dysphonia, oropharyngeal blistering, bronchiectasis, lymphangitis^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): Cytolytic hepatitis, liver function test abnormal
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatic cyst, hepatic steatosis, cholelithiasis^[Ref]

Local

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Infusion related reaction^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Cataract, ocular hyperemia, blurred vision
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Retinitis, conjunctivitis, eye inflammation, keratitis, photophobia, eyelid edema^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Pyrexia, peripheral edema
• Common (1% to 10%): Vertigo, ear pain, tinnitus, fatigue, malaise, impaired healing, C-reactive protein increased, blood parathyroid hormone increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypoacusis, fibrosis, inflammation, feeling hot^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Nulojix 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