The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- High creatine phosphokinase (up to 77%)
- Higher liver enzymes (up to 75%)
- Lower red blood cell count (up to 69%)
- Tiredness (26-41%)
- Higher creatinine levels (up to 41%)
- Constipation (up to 42%)
- Muscle aches and pain (up to 34%)
- Swelling in the body (up to 30%)
- Higher uric acid levels (up to 30%)
- Low blood calcium levels (29%)
- Higher blood sugar levels (22%)
- Cough (up to 20%)
- Lower sodium levels (18%)
- Changes in potassium levels (up to 17%)
- Rash (up to 23%)
- Nausea (up to 18%)
- Headache (17%)
- Diarrhea (up to 16%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Vomiting
- Vision problems
- Change in taste
- Back pain
- Kidney problems
- Slow heart rate
- Weight gain
- Having trouble catching your breath
Alecensa serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious lungs problems: trouble breathing, cough, or fever
- Dangerously slow heartbeat: Tiredness, weakness, feeling dizzy or confused, feeling faint, trouble breathing, chest pain, getting tired easily during physical activity
- Serious liver problems: feeling very tired, nausea, vomiting, itchy skin, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin, stomach pain and swelling, swelling in the legs or ankles, dark-colored urine, pale-colored stool
- Kidney problems: feeling confused, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, change in urine color, change in amount of urine produced, or swelling in the legs and feet
Source: DailyMed
The following Alecensa side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Dry cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Hemolytic anemia—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing, dark urine, yellowing skin or eyes
- Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Muscle injury—unusual weakness or fatigue, muscle pain, dark yellow or brown urine, decrease in amount of urine
- Slow heartbeat—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, confusion, trouble breathing, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
