Emflaza

Emflaza Side Effects

Reviewed by Yen Nguyen, PharmD, Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD

Last reviewed on March 10, 2022

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

Cushingoid appearance (facial puffiness) (33%)
Weight gain (20%)
Higher appetite (14%)
Upper respiratory tract infection (i.e., common cold, 12%)
Cough (12%)
Frequent urination (12%)
Nose or throat infection (10%)
Excessive hair growth (10%)
Obesity (10%)
Redness (8%)
Irritability (8%)
Runny nose (8%)
Stomach discomfort (6%)

Less Common Side Effects

Watery eyes
Nausea
Thirst
Infection
Abnormal heart rate
Pain
Dizziness
Mood and behavior changes
Acne
Hot flush (feeling warm suddenly)

Emflaza serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Withdrawal (low cortisol levels): unusual tiredness, weakness, stomach pain, headache, high or low temperature, vomiting, low appetite
Pheochromocytoma crisis: low or high blood pressure, high fever, stomach pain, headache, racing heartbeat
Serious skin reaction: rash, fever, blistering and peeling of the skin
Serious allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Infections: fever, chills, feeling tired, weakness, vision changes
Kaposi's sarcoma: purple, red, or brown spots on the skin, swelling in legs or feet

Source: DailyMed

The following Emflaza 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
Cushing syndrome—increased fat around the midsection, upper back, neck, or face, pink or purple stretch marks on the skin, thinning, fragile skin that easily bruises, unexpected hair growth
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)—increased thirst or amount of urine, unusual weakness or fatigue, blurry vision
Increase in blood pressure
Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
Low adrenal gland function—nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness
Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
Stomach pain that is severe, does not go away, or gets worse
Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
Swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet