Trabectedin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 6, 2025.

Applies to trabectedin: intravenous powder for solution.

Precautions

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood tests may be 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 and for at least 2 months after your last dose. Men receiving this medicine should use condoms or other birth control forms during treatment and for at least 5 months after your final dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor if you notice any signs of fever, chills, or sore throat. These could be symptoms of an infection resulting from low white blood cell counts.

Rhabdomyolysis may occur while receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have severe muscle, bone, or joint pain after receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Call your doctor right away if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, swelling in your ankles or feet, or fast or irregular heartbeat. These maybe symptoms of cardiomyopathy.

Tell your doctor right away if you have redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site after receiving this medicine.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

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 trabectedin

Along with its needed effects, trabectedin 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 trabectedin:

Other side effects of trabectedin

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

Hepatic adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Increased ALT (up to 96.1%), increased AST (up to 89.5%), increased alkaline phosphatase (up to 70%), hyperbilirubinemia (up to 25.2%), increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (% unavailable)
• Common (1% to 10%): Drug-induced liver injury
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatotoxicity
• Frequency not reported: Hepatic failure, increased conjugated bilirubin^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Anemia (up to 96%), neutropenia (up to 91.6%), leukopenia (up to 94.9%), thrombocytopenia (up to 63.7%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Febrile neutropenia, neutropenic sepsis, pancytopenia, bone marrow failure, granulocytopenia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Neutropenic infection^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 75%), vomiting (up to 51.7%), constipation (up to 37%), diarrhea (up to 35%), stomatitis (up to 19.2%),
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, dyspepsia, upper abdominal pain^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fatigue/asthenia/malaise (up to 69%), peripheral edema (up to 28%), mucosal inflammation (up to 11.4%), pyrexia (up to 10.2%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Infection, edema, injection site reaction
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Septic shock
• Frequency not reported: Multi-organ failure, catheter site reactions
• Postmarketing reports: Extravasation/tissue necrosis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Hypoalbuminemia (up to 63%), decreased appetite (up to 37%), anorexia (up to 28.8%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dehydration, hypokalemia, decreased weight^[Ref]

Renal

• Very common (10% or more): Increased creatinine (up to 46%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Renal failure^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Elevated creatine phosphokinase (up to 33%), arthralgia (up to 15%), myalgia (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rhabdomyolysis
• Frequency not reported: Musculoskeletal pain^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Dyspnea (up to 25%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Cough, pulmonary embolism
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pulmonary edema^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 25%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Peripheral neuropathy, dysgeusia, dizziness, paresthesia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Syncope
• Frequency not reported: Hypoesthesia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (up to 24%), alopecia (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Rash, skin hyperpigmentation^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Insomnia (up to 15%)^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Cardiomyopathy, decreased ejection fraction, hypotension, flushing
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Left ventricular dysfunction^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity reactions^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Trabectedin 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