Retifanlimab-dlwr

Generic name: Retifanlimab-dlwr
Drug class: Anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)

Usage of Retifanlimab-dlwr

Retifanlimab-dlwr injection is used to treat a type of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) that has returned or spread.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Retifanlimab-dlwr side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine 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 or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Back pain

black, tarry stools

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

bone pain

chest pain

chills

constipation

cough

depressed mood

diarrhea

dizziness

dry skin and hair

fainting

fast or irregular heartbeat

feeling cold

fever

hair loss

hoarseness or husky voice

itching

joint pain

muscle cramps and stiffness

nervousness

painful or difficult urination

red irritated eyes

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

sensitivity to heat

slowed heartbeat

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips

swollen glands

trouble breathing

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

weight gain or loss

Less common

Bloody or cloudy urine

dark urine

drowsiness

general feeling of discomfort or illness

headache

light-colored stools

nausea and vomiting

stomach cramps

swelling of the face, feet, or lower legs

thickening of bronchial secretions

upper right abdominal or stomach pain

watery or bloody diarrhea

yellow eyes and skin

Rare

Anxiety

bleeding gyms

bloating

blurred vision

burning feeling in the chest or stomach

chest discomfort or tightness

chest pain, possible moving to the left arm, neck, or shoulder

confusion

constipation

darkening of the skin

decreased amount of urine

difficulty in breathing, chewing, swallowing, or talking

difficulty in moving

double vision

drooping eyelids

dry mouth

eye pain or redness

flushing

fruit-like breath odor

heavier menstrual periods

inability to move the arms and legs

increased blood pressure

increased hunger

increased thirst

increased urination

indigestion

irritability

joint pain, swelling, or redness

loss of appetite

loss of consciousness

lower back or side pain

mental depression

muscle aches or cramps

nosebleeds

numbness or tingling in the fingers, face, or feet

pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

pale skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

redness, soreness, or itching skin

seizures

sensitivity to light

skin rash

stiff neck or back

stomach pain, discomfort, or upset

sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs

sweating

tearing

tenderness in the stomach area

throbbing pain

Some side effects 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

Lack or loss of strength

pain in the arms or legs

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Retifanlimab-dlwr

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of retifanlimab-dlwr injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of retifanlimab-dlwr injection in the elderly.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

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How to use Retifanlimab-dlwr

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins. It must be given slowly, so the needle will have to remain in place for at least 30 minutes every 4 weeks.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose, call your doctor, home health caregiver, or treatment clinic for instructions.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Receiving this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can bear children, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment with this medicine and for 4 months after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while receiving the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor right away if you have a cough, chest tightness, or any type of breathing problem with this medicine. These could be symptoms of a serious lung problem.

Colitis (swelling of the colon or bowel) may occur with this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have stomach pain or tenderness, watery or bloody diarrhea, or a fever after receiving the medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Serious problems with the adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid glands (hormone glands) may occur while you are receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor if you start having continuing or unusual headaches, changes in mood or behavior (eg, being irritable or forgetful), lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, unusual sluggishness, or an increase in weight.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause serious kidney problems (eg, nephritis, kidney failure). Tell your doctor right away if you have bloody or cloudy urine, nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, feet, or lower legs, unusual tiredness or weakness, or unusual weight gain.

Serious skin reactions (eg, exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic syndrome (DRESS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chills, cough, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, mouth or lips, or swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness with this medicine.

This medicine may cause infusion-related reactions, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you start to have a fever, chills or shaking, dizziness, trouble breathing, itching or rash, lightheadedness or fainting after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may increase your risk for possible organ transplant rejection. Talk to your doctor about this risk.

Call your doctor right away if you have difficulty with breathing, swallowing, or talking, muscle weakness, severe tiredness, or sudden numbness and weakness in the arms or legs. These could be symptoms of a nervous system problem.

Check with your doctor if you have a headache, confusion, seizures, stiff neck, or vomiting while receiving this medicine. These may be symptoms of encephalitis.

Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas) may occur while you are receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, or lightheadedness.

Tell your doctor right away if you have changes in your eyesight, severe or persistent muscle or joint pain, or severe muscle weakness after receiving this medicine.

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