Kymriah Side Effects
What should I watch for?
Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medication.
You may need blood work done while you are taking this medication.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery for at least 8 weeks after your infusion. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
This medication may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your care team for advice if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.
Do not donate blood, organs, tissues, or cells any time after receiving this treatment.
Talk to your care team about your risk of cancer. You may be more at risk for certain types of cancer if you take this medication.
Talk to your care team if you may be pregnant. This medication has not been well studied during pregnancy. You will need a negative pregnancy test before starting this medication.
What are the side effects?
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
- Fever, chills, unusual weakness or fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, headache, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeat, which may be signs of cytokine release syndrome
- Fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, seizures
- 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 red blood cell level—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet, muscle weakness, change in vision, confusion or trouble speaking, loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking, seizures
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
What may interact with this drug?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
- Live virus vaccines