Palifermin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 6, 2024.

Applies to palifermin: intravenous powder for solution.

Serious side effects of palifermin

Along with its needed effects, palifermin 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 palifermin:

More common side effects

• fever

Rare side effects

• skin rash (severe)

Other side effects of palifermin

Some side effects of palifermin 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

• bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• blurred vision
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• change in taste
• difficulty with moving
• discoloration of the tongue
• dizziness
• flushing or redness of the skin
• headache
• increased sensitivity to pain
• increased sensitivity to touch
• itching skin
• muscle pain or stiffness
• nervousness
• pain
• pain in the joints
• pounding in the ears
• rash (mild)
• slow or fast heartbeat
• swelling
• thickening of the tongue
• tingling in the hands and feet
• unusually warm skin

Incidence not known

• redness or swelling of the vagina
• redness, swelling, or pain of the skin
• scaling of the skin on the hands and feet
• ulceration of the skin

For healthcare professionals

Applies to palifermin: intravenous powder for injection.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects included all grades of elevated serum amylase, rash, treatment-emergent infections, and fever.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): All grades of elevated serum amylase (up to 62%), grades 3 and 4 elevated serum amylase (up to 38%), all grades of elevated serum lipase (up to 28%), mouth/tongue thickness/discoloration (up to 17%), grades 3 and 4 elevated serum lipase (up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Oral fungal infection, oral paresthesia
• Frequency not reported: taste disorder, tongue disorder
• Postmarketing reports: mouth edema, tongue bumps, tongue edema, tongue redness^[Ref]

Peak amylase and lipase increases occurred during cytotoxic therapy, and usually returned to baseline by the day of hematopoietic stem cell infusion.

Most taste and tongue disorders were reversible and mild to moderate in severity, usually occurred within the first 6 days of treatment, and typically lasted 5 days.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Rash (up to 62%), pruritus (up to 35%), erythema (up to 32%)
• Common (1% to 10%): grade 3 skin rashes
• Postmarketing reports: face edema, hand-foot syndrome, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, skin hyperpigmentation^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Treatment-emergent infections (up to 50%), sepsis/septic shock (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Herpes virus infection, immunogenicity/antibody positivity^[Ref]

Approximately 50% of patients reported treatment-emergent infections when this drug was given 3 days prior to and 3 days after treatment with melphalan; 47% of patients given this drug 3 days prior to treatment with melphalan reported infections, and 25% of patients given placebo with melphalan reported infection.^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fever (up to 39%), pain (up to 16%)^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Taste altered (up to 16%), dysesthesia (up to 12%), hyperesthesia (up to 12%), hypoesthesia (up to 12%), paresthesia (up to 12%)^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (up to 10%)^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Edema (up to 28%)
• Postmarketing reports: Edema on the soles, palmar edema^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Postmarketing reports: Vaginal edema, vaginal erythema^[Ref]

Ocular

• Postmarketing reports: Cataracts^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Postmarketing reports: Allergic reactions, anaphylactic reactions^[Ref]

Further information

Palifermin 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