Nivolumab can cause side effects in many different parts of your body. Some side effects may need to be treated with other medicine, and your cancer treatments may be delayed.
Call your doctor at once if you have: a cough, shortness of breath, vision changes, muscle pain or weakness, stomach pain, diarrhea, blood in your stools, little or no urinating, bruising or bleeding, dark urine, yellowing of your skin or eyes, frequent headaches, dizziness, confusion, increased thirst or urination, skin problems, numbness or tingling, feeling cold, or weight gain or loss.
A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. Nivolumab can cause very bad health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.
Eye problems have happened with nivolumab. Some types of eye problems may need to be treated right away to lower the chance of long-lasting eyesight loss. Call your doctor right away if you have any changes in eyesight, eye pain, or very bad eye irritation.
A certain brain problem has happened with nivolumab. Rarely, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you are confused, sleepy, very tired or weak, or have a fever, hallucinations, memory problems, seizures, stiff neck, or very bad headache.
Before taking this medicine
To make sure nivolumab is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
chemotherapy or radiation treatment;
a nervous system disorder such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome;
liver disease;
an autoimmune disorder (lupus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis); or
an organ transplant, or a stem cell transplant from a donor.
Nivolumab may harm an unborn baby. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while receiving nivolumab and for at least 5 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.
Do not breastfeed while using nivolumab, and for at least 5 months after your last dose.
