Below is a list of side effects reported in 10% or more of patients taking each GVHD medication or therapy. Some medications may also have cause less common side effects that are not included here. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or other member of your healthcare team for complete information about the possible side effects of your specific treatment.
GVHD medications can cause a variety of physical side effects. Some treatments, including steroids, may also affect your emotions and mood, causing feelings of sadness, irritability, anger, anxiety, or mood changes. If you notice any side effects, tell your healthcare team. In some cases, your doctor may be able to adjust your dose, recommend supportive care, or change your medication to help reduce or manage these effects.
Caution: Herbs, Supplements, Botanicals, and Vitamins
Use caution when taking herbs, supplements, botanicals, or high-dose vitamins while receiving treatment for GVHD. Some supplements can interfere with how GVHD medications work, reduce their effectiveness, or increase the risk of side effects.
Examples include:
- Turmeric and curcumin supplements may affect how your body processes tacrolimus. When applied to the skin, they may also increase sensitivity to sunlight or cause a rash.
- Garlic supplements may reduce the effectiveness of cyclosporine and increase the risk of bleeding. (Using garlic in normal amounts in cooking is generally not a concern.)
- Omega-3 supplements may increase the risk of bleeding and may interfere with some steroid treatments.
- Milk thistle may affect how your liver processes sirolimus and certain antifungal medications.
- St. John’s wort may reduce the effectiveness of cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and some blood pressure medications.
Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting or continuing any non-prescription medication, herb, supplement, or vitamin.
Staying Up to Date on GVHD Treatments
New medications and therapies to prevent and treat GVHD are continually being developed. If your medication is not included in this directory, ask your doctor or pharmacist for information on possible side effects, interactions, and safe use.
Medications are listed alphabetically. Select the first letter of the medication name to view medications beginning with that letter. Letters shown in gray do not have any medications listed in this directory.
A | B |C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
A
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Abatacept (Orencia®)
- headache
- infection
- nausea
- infusion reactions, such as chills and fevers
- high blood pressure
Afinitor® (see everolimus)
Antithymocyte Globulin (ATGAM, Thymoglobulin®)
- infusion reactions: fever, chills, low blood pressure, skin rash
- joint pain
- headache
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- night sweats
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- low platelet and white blood cell counts
- infections
ATGAM (see anti-thymocyte globulin)
Autologous serum eye drops
- worsening eye discomfort
- bacterial conjunctivitis
- eyelid redness
- corneal damage
Axatilimab (Niktimvo™)
- muscle, bone, or pain
- low energy
- headache
- diarrhea
- increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
B
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Belumosudil (Rezurock®)
- infection
- feeling tired, weakness
- nausea
- diarrhea
- shortness of breath
- cough
- low white blood cell count
- swelling caused by excess fluid
- bleeding
- muscle, bone, tendon, or nerve pain
- stomach pain
- high blood pressure
- headache, fever
C
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CellCept® (see mycophenolate mofetil)
Cyclophosphamide
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- mouth sores
- kidney problems
- bleeding from bladder
- bloody urine
- low blood cell counts
- infections
Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
- kidney problems
- headaches
- tremors, muscle cramps
- increased body hair
- seizures
- nausea, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort
- high blood pressure
- gum overgrowth
E
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ECP (see extracorporeal photopheresis)
Enbrel® (see etanercept)
Etanercept (Enbrel®)
- respiratory infections
- Reactions at the site of injection
- headache
Everolimus (Afinitor®)
- constipation
- slowed healing of wounds
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- anemia
- urinary tract infection, pain when urinating, blood in urine
- other infections
- high blood pressure
- headache
- swelling due to fluid retention
- endocrine problems
- abnormal kidney function test
- stomach pain
Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) - sensitivity to sunlight and other sources of UV light
- skin redness
- fever
- low blood pressure
- low red cell and platelet count
- iron deficiency
- fatigue
G
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Gengraf® (see cyclosporine)
I
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Ibrutinib (Imbruvica®)
- fatigue
- bruising
- rash
- diarrhea, nausea
- low platelet count
- muscle spasms
- mouth sores
- pneumonia
- brittle nails
- abnormal heart rhythm
IL-2 (see interleukin-2)
Imbruvica® (see ibrutinib)
Interleukin-2 (IL-2, Proleukin®)
- infusion reactions: fever, chills, low blood pressure
- flu-like symptoms, general aches and pains
- redness on the face and body
- rash
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- low blood counts
- confusion, drowsiness or temporary memory loss
- fast heart beats
- low urine output
- swelling of face, ankles or legs
- respiratory issues, difficulty breathing
J
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Jakafi® (see ruxolitinib)
Jakavi® (see ruxolitinib)
M
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Methotrexate (Rheumatrex®)
- mouth sores
- skin redness
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- anemia
- elevated uric acid
- kidney problems
- liver problems
- low blood counts
Methoxsalen (Oxsoralen®) with ultraviolet A light
- nausea
- itching of the skin
- sensitivity to the sun
Montelukast (Singulair®)
- headache
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF, CellCept®)
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- bleeding
- increased risk of infection
- high blood sugar
- high cholesterol
- anemia
- low calcium and magnesium
- high potassium
- cough, breathing issues
Myfortic® (see mycophenolate mofetil)
N
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Neoral® (see cyclosporine)
Niktimvo™ (see axatilimab)
O
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Orencia® (See abatacept)
Orthoclone® (see Muromonab-CD3)
Oxsoralen® (see methoxsalen)
P
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Prednisone and Prednisolone
- osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones)
- joint deterioration
- infection
- cataracts
- weight gain
- moon face
- mood swings
- depression
- high blood sugar
- high blood pressure
- gastric ulcers
- muscle weakness
- bleeding
Prograf® (see tacrolimus)
Proleukin® (see interleukin-2)
Psoralen with ultraviolet A light
- nausea
- itching of the skin
PUVA (see psoralen with ultraviolet A light)
R
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Rapamune® (see sirolimus)
Remestemcel-L-rknd (Ryoncil™)
- infections
- fever
- hemorrage
- abdominal pain
- high blood pressure
- vomiting
- irregular heartbeat
- diarrhea
- rash
- blood blood pressure
- joint pain
- cough
- shortness of breath
Rezurock® (see belumosudil)
Rheumatrex® (see methotrexate)
Rituxan® (see rituximab)
Rituximab (Rituxan®)
- infusion reactions: fever, chills, rigors, low blood pressure
- rash, itching skin
- swelling of soft tissues
- infections
- muscle pain
- diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
- low blood counts
- low immunoglobulin levels
- reactivation of hepatitis B
Ruxolitinib (Jakafi®/Jakavi®)
- low blood counts
- bruising
- dizziness
- headache
- elevated liver enzymes
- elevated cholesterol
Ryoncil (see remestemcel-L-rknd)
S
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Sandimmune® (see cyclosporine)
Singulair® (see montelukast)
Sirolimus (Rapamune®)
- infection
- bleeding
- elevated glucose (sugar) in the blood
- elevated triglycerides (blood fats)
- swelling
- fever
- headache
- low blood counts
- kidney problems
- constipation
- diarrhea
- sepsis
T
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Tacrolimus (Prograf®)
- nausea, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort
- kidney problems
- headaches
- tremors
- high blood sugar
- high cholesterol
- high potassium
- low magnesium and phosphate
Thymoglobulin® (see antithymocyte globulin)
U
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Ursodeoxycholic acid
- headache
- dizziness
- nausea, vomiting, gastric discomfort
- back pain
- respiratory infection
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