Temsirolimus Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 7, 2024.

Applies to temsirolimus: intravenous solution.

Precautions

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

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. The medicine may also cause birth defects if it is used by the father when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. Men and women should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose. Tell your doctor right away if pregnancy occurs while you are using this medicine.

Temsirolimus may cause serious types of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, trouble breathing, or chest pain after the injection.

This medicine may cause flushing, headaches, and lightheadedness or faintness while you are receiving the injection or within 24 hours after you receive it. Check with your doctor or nurse right away if you have any of these symptoms.

This medicine may increase the amount of sugar in your blood. Check with your doctor right away if you have increased thirst or urination. Diabetic patients should check their blood sugar more frequently with this medicine.

While you are being treated with temsirolimus, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Temsirolimus may lower your body's resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.

Temsirolimus may increase the risk of getting infections, including an infection called Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia or PJP. Try to avoid people with colds or other infections. If you think you are getting an infection, check with your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause a serious lung problem. Check with your doctor right away if you have tightness in the chest or difficulty with breathing.

Temsirolimus may increase your cholesterol and fats in the blood. If this occurs, your doctor may give you a medicine to lower your blood cholesterol levels.

Check with your doctor right away if you start having severe abdominal or stomach burning, cramps, or pains, bloody or black, tarry stools, diarrhea, fever, nausea, or vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds. These could be symptoms of a serious bowel problem.

This medicine may increase your chance of having kidney disease (including kidney failure, proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome) that is not related to your kidney cancer. Talk to your doctor about this risk.

This medicine may affect the way your body heals from cuts and wounds. Make sure any doctor who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several weeks before and after having surgery.

This medicine may increase your risk of developing bleeding in the brain, which may be life-threatening. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.

If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine. Some men and women using this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

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 (eg, St. John's Wort) or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of temsirolimus

Along with its needed effects, temsirolimus 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 temsirolimus:

Other side effects of temsirolimus

Some side effects of temsirolimus 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 temsirolimus: intravenous solution.

Hepatic adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Increased AST (up to 38%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Increased total bilirubin, increased ALT^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Bacterial and viral infections (including abscess, bronchitis, cellulitis, herpes simplex, oral herpes, herpes zoster; up to 28.3%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Sepsis, candidiasis, fungal infection, flu syndrome^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Allergic/hypersensitivity reactions^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Dyspnea (up to 28%), cough (up to 29%), epistaxis (up to 21.5%), pharyngitis (up to 12%), pneumonia (up to 10.9%), rhinitis (up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Upper respiratory tract infection, pleural effusion, sinusitis, interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis (including fatalities)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Laryngitis
• Postmarketing reports: Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia^[Ref]

Renal

• Very common (10% or more): Increased creatinine (up to 57%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Renal failure^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased hemoglobin (up to 94%), decreased lymphocytes (up to 53%), anemia (up to 41.1%), decreased platelets (up to 40%), decreased leukocytes (up to 32%), thrombocytopenia (up to 30.2%), decreased neutrophils (up to 19%), neutropenia (up to 14.3%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Leukopenia, lymphopenia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Chest pain (up to 16%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension, venous thromboembolism (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, some fatal), thrombophlebitis, pericardial effusion^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Rash (including eczema, exfoliative dermatitis, maculopapular rash, pustular rash, vesiculobullous rash; up to 47%), pruritus (up to 21.5%), nail disorder (up to 14%), dry skin (up to 11%), acne (up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Folliculitis, ecchymosis, petechiae
• Postmarketing reports: Stevens-Johnson syndrome^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Asthenia (up to 51%), fatigue (up to 41.4%), edema (including facial and peripheral; up to 38%), pyrexia (up to 28.3%), pain (up to 28%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Wound infection/post-operative wound infection, impaired wound healing
• Postmarketing reports: Angioneurotic edema-type reactions, extravasations^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Very common (10% or more): Increased glucose (up to 89%), hyperglycemia (up to 26%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Diabetes mellitus^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Mucositis (including stomatitis, glossitis, mouth ulceration; up to 41%), nausea (up to 37%), diarrhea (up to 34%), abdominal pain (up to 21%), constipation (up to 20%), vomiting (up to 19%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Bowel perforation (including fatal cases), gastrointestinal hemorrhage, rectal hemorrhage, gastritis, dysphagia, abdominal distension, oral pain, gingivitis, mouth pain, oral moniliasis, hemorrhoidal hemorrhage
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Intestinal/duodenal perforation, lip hemorrhage, mouth hemorrhage^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Unspecified urogenital adverse reaction (up to 30%), urinary tract infection (including cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, urinary frequency; up to 15%)^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Increased total cholesterol (up to 87%), increased triglycerides (up to 83%), increased alkaline phosphatase (up to 68%), decreased phosphorus (up to 49%), decreased calcium (up to 39%), decreased appetite (up to 33.3%), anorexia (up to 32%), hyperlipidemia (up to 27%), decreased potassium (up to 21%), weight loss (up to 19%), hypercholesterolemia (up to 18.8%), hypertriglyceridemia (up to 17.4%), hypokalemia (up to 13.7%), increased lactic dehydrogenase (up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dehydration, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Back pain (up to 20%), arthralgia (up to 18%), muscle cramp (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Myalgia
• Postmarketing reports: Rhabdomyolysis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dysgeusia (including taste loss, taste perversion; up to 20%), headache (up to 17.1%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, paresthesia, somnolence, convulsion
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Intracranial hemorrhage
• Postmarketing reports: Complex regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathetic dystrophy^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Conjunctivitis (including lacrimation disorder)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Eye hemorrhage^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Insomnia (up to 14%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Depression, anxiety^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Temsirolimus 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.

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