Note: This document contains side effect information about azacitidine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Onureg.
Applies to azacitidine: oral tablet. Other dosage forms:
- injection powder for suspension
Serious side effects of Onureg
Along with its needed effects, azacitidine (the active ingredient contained in Onureg) 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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking azacitidine:
More common
- Black, tarry stools
- bleeding gums
- blood in urine or stools
- chest pain or tightness
- chills
- cough
- decreased appetite
- diarrhea
- difficulty in moving
- dizziness
- fever
- lack or loss of strength
- lower back or side pain
- muscle pain or stiffness
- nausea
- pain in the arms or legs
- pain in joints
- painful or difficult urination
- pale skin
- pinpoint red spots on skin
- sneezing
- sore throat
- stomach pain
- trouble breathing
- ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
Other side effects of Onureg
Some side effects of azacitidine 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
- Constipation
- decreased appetite
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to azacitidine: injectable powder for injection, oral tablet, subcutaneous powder for injection.
Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more): Nausea (71%), vomiting (54%), constipation (50%), diarrhea (36%), abdominal pain (13%), abdominal tenderness (12%)
Common (1% to 10%): Gingival bleeding, loose stools, mouth hemorrhage, stomatitis, dyspepsia, diverticulitis, oral fungal infection, GI hemorrhage, hemorrhoidal hemorrhage
Frequency not reported: Melena, perirectal abscess[Ref]
Hematologic
Very common (10% or more): Thrombocytopenia (70%), anemia (70%), neutropenia (66%), leukopenia (48%), febrile neutropenia (16%)
Common (1% to 10%): Aggravated anemia, hematoma, neutropenic sepsis, pancytopenia, bone marrow failure[Ref]
Other
Very common (10% or more): Pyrexia (52%), fatigue (24%), chest pain (16%), asthenia (16%), peripheral edema (13%), transfusion reaction (12%)
Common (1% to 10%): Malaise, chills, post-procedural hemorrhage, sepsis, herpes simplex
Frequency not reported: General physical health deterioration, bacterial infection, blastomycosis, Klebsiella sepsis, septic shock, Staphylococcal bacteremia, Staphylococcal infection, toxoplasmosis[Ref]
Local
Very common (10% or more): Injection site erythema (43%), injection site reaction (29%), injection site pain (23%), injection site bruising (14%)
Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pruritus, injection site granuloma, injection site pigmentation changes, injection site swelling, injection site induration, injection site hematoma, injection site rash, injection site inflammation, injection site discoloration, injection site nodule, injection site hemorrhage, injection site malaise
Frequency not reported: Injection site necrosis, catheter site hemorrhage[Ref]
Dermatologic
Very common (10% or more): Ecchymosis (31%), petechiae (24%), erythema (17%), rash (14%), pruritus (12%)
Common (1% to 10%): Dry skin, urticaria, skin nodule, cellulitis, skin infection, purpura, alopecia, erythema, macular rash
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sweet's syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum
Frequency not reported: Pruritic rash, skin induration[Ref]
Respiratory
Very common (10% or more): Dyspnea (29%), cough (19%), nasopharyngitis (19%), epistaxis (17%), upper respiratory tract infection (13%), pneumonia (13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Rhinitis, bronchitis, pharyngolaryngeal pain, exertional dyspnea, sinusitis, pharyngitis, pleural effusion
Rare (less than 0.1%): Interstitial lung disease
Frequency not reported: Hemoptysis, lung infiltration, pneumonitis, respiratory distress, Streptococcal pharyngitis, Klebsiella pneumonia[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (22%), myalgia (16%)
Common (1% to 10%): Musculoskeletal pain, muscle spasms
Frequency not reported: Aggravated bone pain, muscle weakness, neck pain, loin pain, abscess limb
Postmarketing reports: Necrotizing fasciitis[Ref]
Nervous system
Very common (10% or more): Headache (22%), dizziness (19%)
Common (1% to 10%): Intracranial hemorrhage, syncope, somnolence, lethargy
Frequency not reported: Cerebral hemorrhage, convulsions[Ref]
Metabolic
Very common (10% or more): Anorexia (21%)
Common (1% to 10%): Decreased weight, decreased appetite, hypokalemia, dehydration
Rare (less than 0.1%): Tumor lysis syndrome[Ref]
Oncologic
Very common (10% or more): Acute myeloid leukemia (14.3%)
Frequency not reported: Leukemia cutis[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Common (1% to 10%): Hypotension, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension
Frequency not reported: Atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, congestive cardiac failure, cardio-respiratory arrest, congestive cardiomyopathy[Ref]
Ocular
Common (1% to 10%): Eye hemorrhage, conjunctival hemorrhage[Ref]
Psychiatric
Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, insomnia, confusional state[Ref]
Renal
Common (1% to 10%): Renal failure, elevated serum creatinine, hematuria, urinary tract infection
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal tubular acidosis[Ref]
Hepatic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatic failure, hepatic coma
Frequency not reported: Cholecystitis, cholecystectomy[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity reactions[Ref]
Immunologic
Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic shock, systemic inflammatory response syndrome[Ref]
General
Most common adverse reactions (greater than 30%) by subcutaneous route are: nausea, anemia, thrombocytopenia, vomiting, pyrexia, leukopenia, diarrhea, injection site erythema, constipation, neutropenia and ecchymosis. Most common adverse reactions by IV route also included petechiae, rigors, weakness and hypokalemia.[Ref]