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Tisagenlecleucel Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Dec 3, 2024.

Applies to tisagenlecleucel: intravenous suspension.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Intravenous route (suspension)

Warning: Cytokine release syndrome and neurological toxicitiesCytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving tisagenlecleucel.

Do not administer tisagenlecleucel to patients with active infection or inflammatory disorders.

Treat severe or life-threatening CRS with tocilizumab or tocilizumab and corticosteroids.Neurological toxicities, which may be severe or life-threatening, can occur following treatment with tisagenlecleucel, including concurrently with CRS.

Monitor for neurological events after treatment with tisagenlecleucel.

Provide supportive care as needed.Tisagenlecleucel is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the KYMRIAH REMS.

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 may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and infusion reactions. This may be life-threatening and requires immediate attention. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child has a fever, chills, headache, nausea, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, skin rash, trouble breathing, or tiredness or weakness.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have seizures, loss of balance, loss of consciousness, confusion, disorientation, difficulty with speaking, or slurred speech. These may be symptoms of serious nerve problems.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Talk to your doctor right away if you have very fast or irregular breathing, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, a rash, fainting, hive-like swellings on the skin, or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue.

This medicine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, which increases the chance of getting an infection. If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you or your child are getting an infection or if you have a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

This medicine may increase your risks for hypogammaglobulinemia (immune system problem) and getting other cancers. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about these risks.

This medicine may cause dizziness, confusion, seizures, or decreased alertness. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you, for at least 8 weeks after treatment.

While you are being treated with tisagenlecleucel injection, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Live virus vaccinations should not be given for at least 6 weeks before start of treatment, during treatment, and until recovery following the last cycle of this medicine.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Serious side effects of tisagenlecleucel

Along with its needed effects, tisagenlecleucel 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 tisagenlecleucel:

More common side effects

  • agitation
  • back pain
  • bleeding gums
  • bloody urine
  • blue lips, fingernails, or skin
  • blurred vision
  • chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
  • chills
  • confusion as to time, place, or person
  • cough
  • coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
  • coughing up blood
  • decreased urine output
  • depression
  • difficult, fast, noisy breathing
  • dilated neck veins
  • dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  • drowsiness
  • dry mouth
  • fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  • fever
  • general feeling of discomfort or illness
  • hallucinations
  • headache
  • hoarseness
  • holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
  • hostility
  • increase in heart rate
  • increased blood pressure
  • increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
  • increased sweating
  • irritability
  • loss of appetite
  • loss of consciousness
  • lower back or side pain
  • mood or mental changes
  • muscle, joint, or bone pain
  • nausea
  • nervousness
  • nosebleeds
  • painful or difficult urination
  • pale skin
  • pounding in the ears
  • problems with speech or speaking
  • prolonged bleeding from cuts
  • rapid shallow breathing
  • rapid weight gain
  • red or black, tarry stools
  • red or dark brown urine
  • seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
  • seizures
  • shakiness and unsteady walk
  • slow or fast heartbeat
  • stiff neck
  • sunken eyes
  • swelling of the face, arms, fingers, feet, or lower legs
  • trembling and shaking of hands
  • trouble breathing
  • unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
  • unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
  • vomiting
  • weight gain

Less common side effects

  • change in the amount of urine
  • cloudy urine
  • headache, sudden or severe
  • stomach pain
  • tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration, and prominent superficial veins over the affected area

Other side effects of tisagenlecleucel

Some side effects of tisagenlecleucel 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

  • anxiety
  • decreased appetite
  • diarrhea
  • difficulty in moving
  • joint pain
  • muscle pain or stiffness
  • pain in the arms or legs
  • stuffy nose

For healthcare professionals

Applies to tisagenlecleucel: intravenous suspension.

General adverse events

The most common adverse reactions (greater than 20%) were cytokine release syndrome (79%), hypogammaglobulinemia (43%), infections-pathogen unspecified (41%), pyrexia (40%), decreased appetite (37%), headache (37%), encephalopathy (34%), hypotension (31%), bleeding episodes (31%), tachycardia (26%), nausea (26%), diarrhea (26%), vomiting (26%), viral infectious disorders (26%), hypoxia (24%), fatigue (25%), acute kidney injury (24%), edema (21%), cough (21%), and delirium (21%).[Ref]

Immunologic

Other

Hematologic

Metabolic

Nervous system

Cardiovascular

Gastrointestinal

Respiratory

Psychiatric

Musculoskeletal

Renal

Hepatic

Oncologic

Ocular

Dermatologic

See also:

References

1. (2017) "Product Information. Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Frequently asked questions

Further information

Tisagenlecleucel 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.