Note: This document contains side effect information about granisetron. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Kytril.
Applies to granisetron: intravenous solution. Other dosage forms:
- transdermal patch extended release
Serious side effects of Kytril
Along with its needed effects, granisetron (the active ingredient contained in Kytril) 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 while taking granisetron:
Less common
- Blurred vision
- fever
- nervousness
- pounding in the ears
- slow or fast heartbeat
Rare
- Arm, back, or jaw pain
- chest pain or discomfort
- chest tightness or heaviness
- confusion
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- fainting
- irregular heartbeat
- nausea
- shortness of breath
- skin rash, hives, and itching
- sweating
Other side effects of Kytril
Some side effects of granisetron 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
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- diarrhea
- difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
- headache
- lack or loss of strength
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
Less common
- Agitation
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- fear
- heartburn
- indigestion
- sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
- sour stomach
- trouble with sleeping
- unusual taste in the mouth
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to granisetron: intravenous solution, oral solution, oral tablet, subcutaneous suspension extended release, transdermal film extended release.
General
ORAL: The most commonly reported side effects included headache, constipation, and asthenia.
PARENTERAL: The most commonly reported side effects included injection site reactions, constipation, headache, and diarrhea.
TRANSDERMAL: The most commonly reported side effects included constipation, QT prolongation, and headache.[Ref]
Local
PARENTERAL:
Very common (10% or more): Any injection site reactions (up to 62%), bruising/hematoma (up to 45%), tenderness (up to 27%), pain (up to 20%), mass/nodule (up to 18%), erythema/redness (up to 17%)
Common (1% to 10%): Bleeding, induration/swelling, infection at injection site, other
Frequency not reported: Discoloration, irritation, lipoma, paresthesia, pruritus, rash, reaction, scab, scar, vesicles, warmth
TRANSDERMAL:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Application site irritation
Frequency not reported: Application site erythema, application site pain, application site pruritus, application site rash, application site reactions
Postmarketing reports: Application site burn, application site discoloration, application site urticaria, application site vesicles, patch non-adhesion[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
ORAL:
Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 20%), constipation (up to 18%), vomiting (up to 12%)
Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspepsia
PARENTERAL:
Very common (10% or more): Constipation (up to 22%)
Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux
Frequency not reported: Pancreatitis
TRANSDERMAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Constipation
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dry mouth, nausea, retching
Frequency not reported: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting[Ref]
Nervous system
ORAL:
Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 21%)
Common (1% to 10%): Central nervous system (CNS) stimulation, dizziness, somnolence, taste disorder
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Serotonin syndrome
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Extrapyramidal syndrome, syncope
Frequency not reported: Autonomic dysfunction, extrapyramidal symptoms, neuromuscular abnormalities
PARENTERAL:
Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 14%)
Common (1% to 10%): CNS stimulation, dizziness, somnolence, taste disorder
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Extrapyramidal reactions, serotonin syndrome
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Extrapyramidal syndrome, syncope
TRANSDERMAL:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Headache, vertigo
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Dyskinesia, dystonia
Frequency not reported: Dizziness, extrapyramidal reactions, somnolence, syncope[Ref]
Drug-induced headache is generally mild. In clinical trials, headache typically resolved spontaneously or was relieved by analgesics.[Ref]
Other
ORAL:
Very common (10% or more): Asthenia (up to 18%)
Common (1% to 10%): Fever
PARENTERAL:
Very common (10% or more): Fatigue (up to 21%)
Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, fever
TRANSDERMAL:
Frequency not reported: Asthenia, fever[Ref]
Hepatic
ORAL:
Common (1% to 10%): ALT elevation, AST elevation, elevated hepatic transaminases, transient ALT increases, transient AST increases
PARENTERAL:
Common (1% to 10%): ALT elevation, AST elevation, transaminases increased, transient ALT increases, transient AST increases
Frequency not reported: Elevation of serum transaminase levels
TRANSDERMAL:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): ALT increased, AST increased, GGT increased
Frequency not reported: Elevated hepatic transaminases[Ref]
Psychiatric
ORAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Agitation, anxiety, insomnia
Frequency not reported: Altered mental status
PARENTERAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Agitation, anxiety, insomnia
TRANSDERMAL:
Frequency not reported: Anxiety, insomnia[Ref]
Hematologic
ORAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
PARENTERAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
TRANSDERMAL:
Frequency not reported: Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia[Ref]
Dermatologic
ORAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Alopecia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash/skin rashes, urticaria
PARENTERAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Alopecia, rash/skin rashes
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urticaria
TRANSDERMAL:
Frequency not reported: Alopecia, rash, urticaria[Ref]
Cardiovascular
ORAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): QT prolongation
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Angina pectoris, arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, ECG abnormalities, hypotension, non-sustained tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, varying degrees of atrioventricular (AV) block, ventricular ectopy
PARENTERAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): QT prolongation
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Angina pectoris, arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, ECG abnormalities, hypotension, non-sustained tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, varying degrees of AV block, ventricular ectopy
Frequency not reported: Flushing
Postmarketing reports: Bradycardia, chest pain, palpitations, sick sinus syndrome
TRANSDERMAL:
Common (1% to 10%): QT prolongation
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Flushing, generalized edema
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, hypotension
Postmarketing reports: Bradycardia, chest pain, palpitations, sick sinus syndrome[Ref]
Metabolic
ORAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Decreased appetite
PARENTERAL:
Common (1% to 10%): Decreased appetite
TRANSDERMAL:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Decreased appetite[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
ORAL:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Severe hypersensitivity reactions
PARENTERAL:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions
TRANSDERMAL:
Frequency not reported: Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions/severe hypersensitivity reactions[Ref]
Respiratory
ORAL:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Shortness of breath
PARENTERAL:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Shortness of breath
TRANSDERMAL:
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Shortness of breath[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
TRANSDERMAL:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia[Ref]