Terlipressin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 18, 2025.

Applies to terlipressin: 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 tests are needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious lung problem. Check with your doctor right away if you have blue lips, fingernails, or skin, difficult or trouble breathing, or irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing.

This medicine may cause brain or heart problems (eg, cardiac ischemia, cerebrovascular ischemia, peripheral ischemia, or mesenteric ischemia). Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, confusion, constipation, diarrhea, headache, itching skin, numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, or toes, pain in the arms, legs, or lower back, especially pain in the calves and/or heels upon exertion, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back or neck, pale, bluish-colored, or cold hands or feet, stomach pain, usually after eating a meal, sweating, nausea and vomiting, or weak or absent pulses in the legs.

Serious side effects of terlipressin

Along with its needed effects, terlipressin 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 terlipressin:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to terlipressin: intravenous powder for injection.

General adverse events

The most common adverse reactions with a frequency of 10% or greater were abdominal pain, nausea, respiratory failure, diarrhea, and dyspnea.

The most common adverse reactions that led to treatment discontinuation were respiratory failure, abdominal pain, and intestinal ischemia or obstruction.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Paleness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Skin necrosis unrelated to the site of administration, lymphangitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Abdominal pain (19.5%), nausea (16%), diarrhea (13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Transient abdominal cramps
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting, intestinal ischemia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Bradycardia, hypertension, hypotension, ischemia, ischemia-related events, vasoconstriction, pallor, supra-ventricular arrhythmia, ventricular arrhythmia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Atrial fibrillation, ventricular extrasystoles, tachycardia, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, torsade de pointes, cyanosis, hot flushes, chest pain, fluid overload with pulmonary edema, angina pectoris, peripheral cyanosis
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Ventricular fibrillation
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Myocardial ischemia^[Ref]

Ischemia-related events included skin discoloration, cyanosis, ischemia, and intestinal ischemia.^[Ref]

Local

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Local cutaneous necrosis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Fluid overload (8.5%)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyponatremia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hyperglycemia^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Triggering of a convulsive disorder
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Stroke^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Sepsis (5.5%)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Uterine hypertonus, uterine ischemia
• Frequency not reported: Decreased serum sodium, uterine constriction, decreased uterine blood flow
• Postmarketing reports: Gangrene^[Ref]

In a clinical study, 67% of the patients developed acute reduction in serum sodium.^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Decreased serum creatinine^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Respiratory failure (15.5%), dyspnea (12.5%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pleural effusion (5.5%)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, pain in the chest, bronchospasm^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Terlipressin 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