Cetuximab
Side Effects
Cetuximab can cause serious side effects, usually during the first treatment. Side effects may include:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Low blood pressure.
- Scarring of the lungs (interstitial lung disease).
- Skin rash.
- Dry skin.
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Fever.
- Constipation.
- Abdominal (belly) pain.
Cetuximab may cause more serious side effects, such as Reference loss of consciousness Opens New Window, Reference shock Opens New Window, cardiac arrest, and not being able to breathe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that people who take this medicine should be watched closely while they are getting this medicine and for 1 hour afterward.
The FDA also warns that some people may get a severe rash and/or infections when they take this medicine.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: September 5, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Kenneth Bark, MD - Surgery, Colon and Rectal |
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