Opdivo Qvantig
Opdivo Qvantig (nivolumab / hyaluronidase) is an injection that’s given under the skin. It’s an immunotherapy medication approved to treat adults with certain cancers, like melanoma and kidney cancer. A healthcare professional will help inject it into your stomach or thigh at a clinic every few weeks. Opdivo Qvantig can cause side effects like rash, trouble breathing, and diarrhea. It can also cause injection site reactions like redness or swelling. Depending on the type of cancer you have, it might be used alone or with other treatments.
What is Opdivo Qvantig?
What is Opdivo Qvantig used for?
Certain types of:
How Opdivo Qvantig works
Opdivo Qvantig has two active ingredients in it: nivolumab and hyaluronidase.
Nivolumab is an immunotherapy medication. In particular, it’s called a programmed death-1 inhibitor, or PD-1 inhibitor. It’s also called a checkpoint inhibitor.
Nivolumab works by blocking the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway. Some cancer cells use the PD-1 pathway to hide from the immune system. When this happens, the immune system can’t find and destroy the cancer cells as well. And so, the cancer can grow.
By blocking the PD-1 pathway, nivolumab helps the immune system find cancer cells and kill them better. This helps stop the cancer from growing.
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme. It breaks down a substance in your skin called hyaluronan. This helps your body absorb nivolumab better through the skin. Because of this, Opdivo Qvantig can be given as an injection under the skin.
Drug facts
Side effects of Opdivo Qvantig
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
- Lower hemoglobin levels (46%)
- Higher creatinine levels (38%)
- Lower white blood cells (36%)
- Lower sodium levels (34%)
- Higher potassium levels (34%)
- Higher liver enzyme levels (up to 32%)
- Muscle, bone, or joint pain (31%)
- Higher calcium levels (29%)
- Tiredness (20%)
- Itchiness (16%)
- Rash (15%)
- Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels; 12%)
- Cough (11%)
- Diarrhea (11%)
- Stomach pain (10%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Injection site reaction
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Lower appetite
- Swelling
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
- Shortness of breath
- High blood sugar levels
Note: Side effects came from adults with kidney cancer who took Opdivo Qvantig by itself. Side effects might be different for people with other cancers or for those taking it along with other treatments.
Opdivo Qvantig serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious immune-related side effects: rash, blisters, skin peeling, diarrhea, trouble breathing, coughing, chest pain, severe stomach pain, mucus or blood in stool
More on Opdivo Qvantig side effects
The following Opdivo Qvantig 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
- Eye pain, redness, irritation, or discharge with blurry or decreased vision
- Heart muscle inflammation—unusual weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands
- Hormone gland problems—headache, sensitivity to light, unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, fast or irregular heartbeat, increased sensitivity to cold or heat, excessive sweating, constipation, hair loss, increased thirst or amount of urine, tremors or shaking, irritability
- Kidney injury (glomerulonephritis)—decrease in the amount of urine, red or dark brown urine, foamy or bubbly 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
- 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
- Rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- Sudden or severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Bone, joint, or muscle pain
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Skin rash
Pros and cons of Opdivo Qvantig
Pros
- Given as an injection under the skin that takes a few minutes
- Given every few weeks
- Less common to have nausea, vomiting, and hair loss than traditional chemotherapy
Cons
- Must be given by a healthcare professional
- Might cause side effects like rash, coughing, diarrhea, and injection site reactions
- Not approved for children
Pharmacist tips for Opdivo Qvantig
- Write your appointments to get your Opdivo Qvantig injections on your calendar. In general, your injections are every few weeks. Exactly how often depends on your cancer and treatment plan. Ask your oncologist how often you need Opdivo Qvantig. If you miss an appointment, call the clinic as soon as you can to reschedule.
- Each Opdivo Qvantig injection takes about 3 to 5 minutes. But be sure to plan for a little extra time for your appointment to check in and get settled.
- After your Opdivo Qvantig injection, the area might become red, swollen, or sore. These reactions usually happen within a few hours and go away in a day or so. You can hold an ice pack wrapped in a towel over the area for about 10 minutes to help. Talk to your care team if you need more relief, if the reaction gets worse, or if it doesn’t go away.
- Tell your oncology care team right away if you have any immune-related side effects while taking Opdivo Qvantig. These side effects can include rash, itching, trouble breathing, coughing, or diarrhea. You might need extra medical care to help manage these symptoms.
- Talk to your oncology care team first before taking any over-the-counter (OTC) medications to help with side effects from Opdivo Qvantig. OTC medications, like loperamide (Imodium A-D) for diarrhea, might not be enough. You might need a steroid or other supportive therapy to help you feel better.
- If you need to take a steroid to help with side effects, follow your oncologist’s instructions. If you’ve taken it for a few weeks, don’t stop suddenly. This can cause stomach upset, body aches, and joint pain. Your oncologist will slowly lower your steroid dose so you can stop safely.
- Make sure to get your lab tests done when your oncologist asks you to while taking Opdivo Qvantig. These tests help your care team check for side effects you might not notice as easily. Some of these side effects are liver, kidney, or thyroid problems.
- If you can get pregnant, use reliable birth control while taking Opdivo Qvantig. Use birth control for 5 more months after your last injection. This medication can harm an unborn baby. Call your care team right away if you get pregnant during treatment.
- Avoid breastfeeding while taking Opdivo Qvantig and for 5 months after your last injection. We don’t know if this medication can pass into breast milk. But if it does, it could potentially cause side effects in your baby. Talk to your care team or a lactation consultant about safer feeding options.
Common questions about Opdivo Qvantig
No, Opdivo Qvantig isn’t a type of traditional chemotherapy. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, it doesn’t kill all fast-growing cells in the body. Instead, Opdivo Qvantig is a type of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy helps your own immune system find and fight cells in the body it sees as foreign, like cancer cells.
A nurse will help inject Opdivo Qvantig under your skin into the fatty tissue of your stomach or thigh. They’ll alternate spots for each injection. They’ll also avoid injecting into any area that’s tender, red, bruised, or scarred or has moles. This helps prevent skin irritation.
After each Opdivo Qvantig injection, the area might be red, swollen, or sore. These injection site reactions usually go away in a couple days. But how long other side effects last can be different for each person. These side effects can include rash, coughing, and diarrhea. It can depend on how severe the side effect is and how well your body responds to any treatment. Your oncologist might give you a steroid like dexamethasone to help. For rashes and itching, you might need certain creams or ointments for relief. Tell your care team if any side effects bother you so they can find ways to help you.
How long you take Opdivo Qvantig depends on your cancer type and treatment plan. It also depends on how well it’s working and whether you have side effects. Some people take Opdivo Qvantig up to a set amount of time or number of doses or cycles. Others continue with treatment as long as it helps and side effects aren’t too serious. Your oncologist will check your symptoms, lab tests, and scans to see how well Opdivo Qvantig is working for you. They’ll also check for side effects. Make sure to tell them about any side effects that bother you. Ask your oncologist how long you’ll need to take Opdivo Qvantig.
Opdivo and Opdivo Qvantig are related because they both contain nivolumab as the active ingredient. They’re used as immunotherapy for cancer. The biggest difference is how they’re given. Opdivo is an infusion through the vein that takes about 30 minutes. Opdivo Qvantig is an injection given under the skin that takes just up to 5 minutes. They treat many of the same cancers. But Opdivo is also approved for mesothelioma affecting the lungs, Hodgkin lymphoma, and certain cancers in children. Opdivo Qvantig is only for adults. Lastly, Opdivo can also be used with another immunotherapy medication called Yervoy (ipilimumab), while Opdivo Qvantig cannot. Talk to your oncologist to compare and see which option is best for you.
Opdivo Qvantig isn’t a medication you can pick up at a pharmacy. You’ll need to go to your oncologist’s office or a clinic for a nurse to give you the injection. The injection itself usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes. Talk to your oncology care team about the most convenient way for you to get your Opdivo Qvantig injections.
The FDA approved Opdivo Qvantig in December 2024.
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Risks and warnings for Opdivo Qvantig
Opdivo Qvantig can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Immune-related side effects
Immunotherapy medications such as Opdivo Qvantig can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs). These side effects happen when your immune system becomes too active. It causes your immune system to start attacking healthy cells, not just cancer cells.
These side effects can happen anywhere in your body and at any time while you're taking Opdivo Qvantig. They can be mild or very serious.
Some side effects show up on your blood test results. These include liver or kidney problems. That's why it's important to get your blood work done on time, even if you feel fine. This helps your care team look for side effects that you might not notice on your own.
Other side effects can cause symptoms you can feel. Examples include diarrhea, rash, and trouble breathing. Tell your care team right away if you notice these symptoms or anything unusual. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, you might need to stop Opdivo Qvantig for a while and take a steroid to help you feel better.
Complications from stem cell transplants
- Risk factors: People who’ve had a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant
Some people who’ve taken immunotherapy medications like Opdivo Qvantig and have had a stem cell transplant can have serious problems. This can include liver damage called veno-occlusive disease (VOD). It can also lead to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
Before starting Opdivo Qvantig, tell your oncology care team if you’ve had a stem cell transplant before. Also let them know if you have one planned at any time after you're done with treatment. Your care team will check on you regularly for any signs of these problems.
Harm to an unborn baby
- Risk factors: Pregnancy
Based on animal studies and the way Opdivo Qvantig works, this medication might harm an unborn baby when it’s given during pregnancy.
If you can get pregnant, your oncologist might ask you to take a pregnancy test before you start treatment. This double checks you're not pregnant before starting Opdivo Qvantig.
Then once you start Opdivo Qvantig, use effective birth control if you're having sex. Keep using birth control for 5 more months after your last dose. Tell your care team right away if you become pregnant at any time during treatment.
Opdivo Qvantig dosage
Typical dosage for Opdivo Qvantig
Opdivo Qvantig is given as an injection by a healthcare professional. It’s injected under the skin into the fatty tissue of the stomach or thigh.
Your dose depends on the type of cancer you have and your treatment plan. Your oncologist will determine the dose for you.
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When Opdivo Qvantig is given by itself
- Option 1: The typical dose is 600 mg/10,000 units (nivolumab/hyaluronidase) every 2 weeks, or
- Option 2: The typical dose is 1,200 mg/20,000 units (nivolumab/hyaluronidase) every 4 weeks.
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When Opdivo Qvantig is given with other cancer therapies
- Your Opdivo Qvantig dose depends on your treatment plan and the other cancer medications you’re taking. Depending on the dose, Opdivo Qvantig is given every 2, 3, or 4 weeks.
What are alternatives to Opdivo Qvantig?
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