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Velcade

Velcade Side Effects

Jenny Zhang, PharmD, BCOPCydnee Ng, PharmD
Reviewed by Jenny Zhang, PharmD, BCOP, Cydnee Ng, PharmD
Last reviewed on May 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

  • Diarrhea (up to 52%)
  • Nausea (up to 52%)
  • Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet (up to 50%)
  • Fatigue (up to 41%)
  • Nerve pain (up to 34%)
  • Constipation (up to 30%)
  • Vomiting (up to 29%)
  • Lessened or lack of appetite (up to 21%)
  • Fever (up to 21%)

*Some side effects listed above might not be from [[EDITOR|DRUG_DISPLAY_NAME]] alone, since some studies included people taking [[EDITOR|DRUG_DISPLAY_NAME]] with other anticancer medications.

**Less nerve problems seen when injected under the skin versus IV.

Less Common Side Effects

  • Pain or redness at injection site
  • Stomach pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Trouble falling or staying asleep
  • Swelling of the legs or feet
  • Changes in blood pressure
  • Rash
  • Shingles infection
  • Lung infections

Velcade serious side effects

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

  • Infections: repeated fevers, chills, cough, trouble breathing, severe diarrhea, vomiting, painful or frequent urination
  • Serious bleeds: bleeding or bruising that doesn’t stop or go away, large amount of bleeding, blood in the urine, throwing up blood, bloody or black and tarry stool
  • Extremely low blood pressure: dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, tiredness, vision changes
  • New confusion, seizures, or sudden changes in mood or behavior: severe headaches, visual changes, difficulty staying awake, dizziness, trouble speaking
  • Liver damage: dark urine, right-sided stomach pain, yellowing of the eyes or skin, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting
  • Heart problems: chest pain, racing heartbeat, shortness of breath that usually worsens with activity or while lying flat, swelling of your legs or feet, sudden weight gain, fatigue, dizziness

Source: DailyMed

The following Velcade side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Black, tarry stools

bleeding gums

blood in the urine or stools

blurred vision

body aches or pain

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

chest pain

chills

confusion

cough

cough producing mucus

decreased urination

difficult or labored breathing

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

dry mouth

ear congestion

fainting

fever

headache

increase in heart rate

loss of voice

lower back or side pain

nerve pain

painful blisters on the trunk of the body

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

rapid breathing

runny nose

sneezing

sore throat

stuffy nose

sunken eyes

sweating

swollen glands

thirst

tightness in the chest

troubled breathing with exertion

ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth

unsteadiness or awkwardness

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

wrinkled skin

Less common

Dilated neck veins

general feeling of discomfort or illness

increased sensitivity to pain

increased sensitivity to touch

irregular breathing

irregular heartbeat

swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs

thickening of bronchial secretions

tingling in the hands and feet

weight gain

Incidence not known

Agitation

back pain

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

bloating

bruising

change in consciousness

coughing or vomiting blood

dark urine

deafness

deep or fast breathing with dizziness, numbness to feet, hands, and around the mouth

diarrhea

drowsiness

fast heartbeat

general tiredness and weakness

irritability

itching

light-colored stools

loss of consciousness

pain in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

persistent bleeding or oozing from puncture sites, mouth, or nose

pounding, slow heartbeat

rectal bleeding

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

red, irritated eyes

restlessness

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

seizures

shaking

stiff neck

stomach pain and tenderness

trouble sleeping

upper right stomach pain

yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Belching

bone pain

difficulty having a bowel movement

difficulty with moving

feeling unusually cold or shivering

hair loss or thinning of hair

heartburn

indigestion

joint pain or swelling

loss of appetite

loss of taste

mental depression

muscle cramps

muscle pain or stiffness

nausea

pain in the arms or legs

rash

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

vomiting

weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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