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Opdivo Coupon - Opdivo 24ml of 240mg/24ml vial

Opdivo

nivolumab
Used for Melanoma
Used for Melanoma

Opdivo (nivolumab) is used for treating many different types of cancer, such as melanoma, lung cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Depending on the cancer, this medication is given by itself or with other therapies. Opdivo (nivolumab) is an intravenous (IV) infusion that’s administered at a medical office or infusion center. The medication turns on your immune system to fight cancer so it’s considered immunotherapy. It can sometimes cause side effects, like rash, diarrhea, and breathing problems, that might need treatment with corticosteroids.

Last reviewed on July 14, 2024
basics-icon

What is Opdivo (nivolumab)?

What is Opdivo (nivolumab) used for?

How Opdivo (nivolumab) works

Your immune system plays an important role to protect you from harm in many different ways. For example, it can attack and kill cancer cells that it recognizes as abnormal. But some cancer cells can hide from your immune system through the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway. When this happens, it prevents your immune system from finding and attacking the cancer cells well. This allows the cancer to grow.

Opdivo (nivolumab) is an immunotherapy medication that blocks the PD-1 pathway. It’s also called a PD-1 inhibitor or checkpoint inhibitor.

By blocking the PD-1 pathway, Opdivo (nivolumab) helps your immune system find and recognize cancer cells better. As a result, your immune system can attack and kill the cancer cells and stop the cancer from growing.

Drug Facts

Common BrandsOpdivo
Drug ClassPD-1 inhibitor
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only

More on Opdivo (nivolumab) essentials

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What are the side effects of Opdivo (nivolumab)?

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

Other Side Effects

Note: Side effects were reported by people with melanoma who took Opdivo (nivolumab) by itself. Side effects might differ for people with other cancers, people taking Opdivo (nivolumab) along with other chemotherapy, and children.

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Serious immune-related side effects: rash, diarrhea, trouble breathing, chest pain, severe stomach pain, mucus or blood in stool
  • Serious reaction during infusion: chills, fever, itching, fast heartbeat, trouble breathing

Source: DailyMed

The following 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
  • Infusion reactions—chest pain, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, feeling faint or lightheaded
  • 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):

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Opdivo (nivolumab)

thumbs-up

Pros

Less likely to cause nausea, vomiting, and hair loss, which are common side effects of traditional chemotherapy

Recommended first-choice treatment option for certain people with melanoma and esophageal cancer

Each infusion lasts about 30 minutes

thumbs-down

Cons

Given as an injection through the veins

Might cause immune-related side effects like diarrhea, rash, and lung problems

Might require treatment breaks and additional corticosteroids to manage side effects

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Opdivo (nivolumab)

pharmacist
  • Notify your oncology care team right away if you have any immune-related side effects, such as diarrhea, rash, or trouble breathing, at any time during your treatment with Opdivo (nivolumab). These side effects could be signs that treatment made your immune system become too active. You might need additional medical attention for these side effects.

    • Don’t take over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat any side effects you have while you’re taking Opdivo (nivolumab) without talking with your oncology care team first. OTC medications that you might typically use might not be enough to help. Instead, you might need a corticosteroid like prednisone to manage side effects from Opdivo (nivolumab).

      • If you’re prescribed to take a steroid for a few weeks to manage side effects, don’t suddenly stop taking the steroid medication. Otherwise, this can cause uncomfortable symptoms like nausea and body aches. Your prescriber will provide specific directions to slowly lower the dose over time before you stop the steroid.

        • Be sure you get your lab work done on time while you’re taking Opdivo (nivolumab). The lab results help your oncology care team check for possible immune-related side effects that might not have noticeable symptoms, such as kidney problems or hormone changes.

          • It’s rare but possible to have reactions during your Opdivo (nivolumab) infusion. Call for a nurse right away if you have chills, itchiness, fever, or trouble breathing during your infusion. Your care team is trained to help manage infusion reactions.

            • Don’t breastfeed while you’re taking Opdivo (nivolumab) and for 5 months after your last dose. We don’t know whether the medication passes into human breast milk. But because of the risk of harm to a nursing infant, it might be safer to consider other feeding options.

              More on Opdivo (nivolumab) tips

              faqs

              Frequently asked questions about Opdivo (nivolumab)

              Is Opdivo (nivolumab) chemotherapy or immunotherapy?
              Opdivo (nivolumab) is a type of immunotherapy called a checkpoint inhibitor. Immunotherapy is different from traditional chemotherapy. Traditional chemotherapy kills any cell in the body that grows quickly, which includes cancer cells. Immunotherapy helps your own immune system fight cancer better. In particular, Opdivo (nivolumab) turns on your immune system so that it can specifically recognize, attack, and kill cancer cells better.
              How do you know if you have an immune-related side effect from Opdivo (nivolumab)?
              Common immune-related side effects from immunotherapy like Opdivo (nivolumab) include diarrhea, rash, and trouble breathing. These side effects happen when the immune system becomes too active with treatment and starts to attack healthy cells. This immune reaction can also cause other problems around the body, such as muscle or joint problems and vision changes. Some immune-related side effects, like kidney problems, don’t cause noticeable symptoms but are detected through blood tests. Tell your care team if you notice any symptoms of immune-related side effects, including any skin changes, bowel movement changes, trouble breathing, or anything unusual. Also get your lab work done on time so your care team can check for immune-related side effects that you might not feel.
              How can you manage immune-related side effects from Opdivo (nivolumab)?
              The most common treatment for immune-related side effects from Opdivo (nivolumab) is corticosteroids (like prednisone or dexamethasone). Immune-related side effects typically happen when Opdivo (nivolumab) causes your immune system to become too active. Corticosteroids can help because they calm your immune system down. Sometimes, you might be able to take other supportive medications instead if the side effect is very mild. In addition to possible medication, you’ll typically need to take a break from your treatment with Opdivo (nivolumab). Oftentimes, you can restart Opdivo (nivolumab) once the symptoms get better. Tell your oncology care team if you have any symptoms of an immune-related side effect, such as diarrhea, a new rash, or trouble breathing. Your oncologist will need to examine you to decide what the next steps are.
              Will I lose my hair if I take Opdivo (nivolumab)?
              Most people who take Opdivo (nivolumab) by itself don’t typically lose their hair. But sometimes, Opdivo (nivolumab) is given together with other chemotherapy medications that can cause hair loss. Hair that’s lost from chemotherapy usually grows back after you stop treatment. Talk with your oncology care team if you notice any hair loss while you’re taking Opdivo (nivolumab). Your care team can discuss ways to manage hair loss.
              How long should I take Opdivo (nivolumab) for?
              How long your Opdivo (nivolumab) treatment lasts depends on several factors. These factors include what type of cancer you have, what treatment plan you’re following, how well the medication is working for you, and whether you’re having any bothersome or serious side effects. Sometimes, Opdivo (nivolumab) is given for a specific amount of time, number of doses, or number of treatment cycles. Other times, Opdivo (nivolumab) is given without a planned stop date, and you keep taking it as long as it’s working for you and you’re tolerating it well. Your oncologist will check how well Opdivo (nivolumab) is working based on your symptoms, lab tests, and scan results. Your care team will also check with you about any side effects you might have.
              What’s the difference between Keytruda and Opdivo?
              Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Opdivo (nivolumab) are both immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are a type of immunotherapy. They share some side effects like rash, diarrhea, and trouble breathing. But in general, Keytruda is FDA approved for treating more types of cancers than Opdivo. In addition, Keytruda and Opdivo can both be used by themselves or together with other cancer treatments. Although Keytruda isn’t used with other immune checkpoint inhibitors, Opdivo is sometimes given together with another immunotherapy medication called Yervoy (ipilimumab) for certain cancers. Speak with your oncologist to learn more about comparing between Keytruda and Opdivo.
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              warings-icon

              What are the risks and warnings for Opdivo (nivolumab)?

              Opdivo (nivolumab) 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.

              risk-warning

              Immune-related side effects

              Side effects from immunotherapy medications like Opdivo (nivolumab) are called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). These side effects happen when your immune system becomes too active and doesn’t just attack cancer cells; it attacks healthy cells, too. Immune-related side effects can happen anywhere in your body and at any time during treatment. They can range from mild to very serious and life-threatening in severity.

              Some of these side events, such as liver or kidney problems, are found on your lab test results. For this reason, it’s important to get your lab work done when your oncologist recommends you to so your care team can check for side effects that might not have noticeable symptoms.

              Other side effects can cause recognizable symptoms, such as diarrhea, rash, and trouble breathing. Call your care team right away if you have these symptoms or if you notice anything unusual happening to your body. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, you might need to pause or stop taking Opdivo (nivolumab) and take a corticosteroid to help manage them.

              risk-warning

              Infusion-related reactions

              Although uncommon, some people who take Opdivo (nivolumab) can have reactions during their infusion. Your care team will watch for these reactions while you’re getting your infusion. But be sure to tell a nurse right away if you notice symptoms like feeling itchy or warm, nausea, fever, fast heartbeat, or trouble breathing during your infusion.

              Most of the time, pausing or slowing down the infusion can help manage these infusion reactions enough so that you can keep taking Opdivo (nivolumab). But you might need to stop taking the medication altogether if the reaction is severe.

              risk-warning

              Complications from stem cell transplants

              • Risk factors: People who’ve had a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant

                Some people who’ve taken immunotherapy like Opdivo (nivolumab) and who’ve also had a stem cell transplant have experienced serious complications from the transplant. These problems can include graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and veno-occlusive disease (VOD).

                Before you start Opdivo (nivolumab), let your oncology care team know if you’ve had a stem cell transplant in the past. Also tell them if you have a stem cell transplant planned even after you’ve completed treatment with Opdivo (nivolumab). Your care team will follow up with you to check for signs and symptoms of these complications.

                risk-warning

                Harm to unborn baby

                • Risk factors: Pregnancy

                  Treatment with Opdivo (nivolumab) hasn’t been studied in humans during pregnancy. But based on animal studies and the way this medication works, it might harm an unborn baby when it’s given during pregnancy.

                  Your oncologist might ask that you take a pregnancy test before you start Opdivo (nivolumab) to make sure you’re not pregnant. If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while you’re taking this medication and for 5 months after your last dose. Let your care team know right away if you become pregnant at any time during treatment with Opdivo (nivolumab).

                  dosage

                  Opdivo (nivolumab) dosage forms

                  Typical dosing for Opdivo (nivolumab)

                  Opdivo (nivolumab) is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion at a medical office or infusion center.

                  Your dose depends on the type of cancer you have and sometimes your weight. Your oncologist will determine your dose for you.

                  When Opdivo (nivolumab) is taken by itself

                  • Most times: The typical dose is 240 mg IV every 2 weeks or 480 mg IV every 4 weeks.

                  • For people 12 years of age and older who weigh less than 88 lbs (melanoma or colorectal cancer only): The dose is based on your weight. The typical dose is 3 mg/kg IV every 2 for 3 weeks or 6 mg/kg IV every 4 weeks.

                  When Opdivo (nivolumab) is taken with other cancer therapies

                  • Your Opdivo (nivolumab) dose will depend on your specific treatment plan and the other cancer medications you’re taking. For example, depending on the type of cancer you’re treating, the Opdivo (nivolumab) dose is either 360 mg, 1 mg/kg, or 3 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks if you’re taking it with Yervoy (ipilimumab).

                  alternatives

                  What are alternatives to Opdivo (nivolumab)?

                  There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Opdivo (nivolumab). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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                  What is the latest news about Opdivo (nivolumab)?

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                  References

                  Best studies we found

                  American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

                  American Cancer Society. (2020). Chemotherapy side effects.

                  American Cancer Society. (2024). Infusion or immune reactions.

                  View All References (18)

                  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Mesothelioma basics.

                  E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. (2024). Opdivo- nivolumab injection [package insert]. DailyMed.

                  Han, Y., et al. (2020). PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: Current researches in cancer. American Journal of Cancer Research.

                  Hodgens, A., et al. (2023). Corticosteroids. StatPearls.

                  InformedHealth.org. (2023). In brief: How does the immune system work? Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.

                  National Cancer Institute. (2020). Hair loss (alopecia) and cancer treatment.

                  National Cancer Institute. (2021). Head and neck cancers.

                  National Cancer Institute. (2022). Immune checkpoint inhibitors.

                  National Cancer Institute. (2023). Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ®)–Patient version.

                  National Cancer Institute. (2023). What is bladder cancer?

                  National Cancer Institute. (2024). What is liver cancer?

                  National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2023). Stomach cancer.

                  National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2024). Esophageal cancer.

                  National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2024). Immunotherapy side effects: Immune checkpoint inhibitors.

                  National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2024). Melanoma.

                  National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2024). Understanding immunotherapy side effects.

                  National Marrow Donor Program. (n.d.). What is graft-versus-host disease (BVHD)?

                  Senzolo, M., et al (2007). Veno occlusive disease: Update on clinical management. World Journal of Gastroenterology.

                  GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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