KEYTRUDA is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system.
KEYTRUDA can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of
your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or
life‑threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at
the same time. These problems may happen any time during treatment or even after your
treatment has ended.
Call or see your health care provider right away if you
develop any signs or symptoms of the following problems or if they get worse. These
are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen
with
KEYTRUDA:
Lung problems:
cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
Intestinal problems:
diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual; stools that are
black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; or severe stomach‑area (abdomen) pain or
tenderness.
Liver problems:
yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the
right side of your stomach area (abdomen); dark urine (tea colored); or bleeding or
bruising more easily than normal.
Hormone gland problems:
headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye
problems; rapid heartbeat; increased sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight
loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; urinating more often than usual; hair
loss; feeling cold; constipation; your voice gets deeper; dizziness or fainting; changes
in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness.
Kidney problems:
decrease in the amount of your urine; blood in your urine; swelling of your ankles; loss of
appetite.
Skin problems:
rash; itching; skin blistering or peeling; painful sores or ulcers in your mouth or in
your nose, throat, or genital area; fever or flu-like symptoms; swollen lymph nodes.
Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues.
Signs and symptoms of these problems may include: chest pain; irregular heartbeat;
shortness of breath; swelling of ankles; confusion; sleepiness; memory problems; changes
in mood or behavior; stiff neck; balance problems; tingling or numbness of the arms or
legs; double vision; blurry vision; sensitivity to light; eye pain; changes in eyesight;
persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness; muscle cramps; low red blood
cells;
bruising.
Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include chills or shaking, itching or rash,
flushing, shortness of breath or wheezing, dizziness, feeling like passing out, fever, and
back pain.
Rejection of a transplanted organ:
Your health care provider should tell you what signs and symptoms you should report and
they will monitor you, depending on the type of organ transplant that you have had.
Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people
who
have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells
(allogeneic).
These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen
if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with KEYTRUDA. Your
health care provider will monitor you for
these complications.
Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems
from becoming more serious.
Your health care provider will check you for these problems during treatment with
KEYTRUDA. They may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. They
may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with KEYTRUDA if you have severe side
effects.
Before you receive KEYTRUDA, tell your health care provider if you
have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus;
have had an organ transplant or have had or plan to have a bone marrow (stem cell)
transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic); have had radiation treatment in your
chest area; have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis
or Guillain-Barré syndrome.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, tell your health care provider. KEYTRUDA
can harm your unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, you will be given a
pregnancy test before you start treatment. Use effective birth control during treatment
and for at least 4 months after your final dose of KEYTRUDA. Tell them
right away if you
think you may be pregnant or you become pregnant during treatment with KEYTRUDA.
Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not
known if KEYTRUDA passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with
KEYTRUDA and for 4 months after your final dose of KEYTRUDA.
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take,
including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when used alone include feeling tired; pain, including
pain in muscles, bones or joints and stomach area (abdominal) pain; decreased appetite;
itching; diarrhea; nausea; rash; fever; cough; shortness of breath; and constipation.
These are not all the possible side effects of KEYTRUDA. Talk to your health care provider
for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please read the accompanying Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA and discuss it with your doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.
Copyright © 2021 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.,
a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
US-NMI-00181 01/21