Side Effects of Bevacizumab

Commonly reported side effects of bevacizumab include nausea, stomach pain, fatigue, and vomiting. These side effects are generally mild and easily treated -- in fact, most people have no problems when taking it. However, some bevacizumab side effects should be reported to your healthcare provider right away, including signs of a hole in the intestines, unusual bleeding, and signs of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing.

 

An Introduction to Side Effects of Bevacizumab

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with bevacizumab (Avastin®); however, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with bevacizumab. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of bevacizumab side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Bevacizumab

Bevacizumab has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials, in which a group of people taking the drug have side effects documented and compared to another group not taking the medicine. Because bevacizumab is designed to be used in combination with chemotherapy, these studies compared chemotherapy plus bevacizumab to chemotherapy alone. Therefore, reported side effects could be due to either bevacizumab or chemotherapy.
 
In these studies, the most common side effects of bevacizumab plus chemotherapy that occurred more frequently than side effects of chemotherapy alone included:
 
  • High blood pressure (hypertension) -- in up to 67 percent of people
  • Abdominal pain (stomach pain) -- up to 61 percent
  • Vomiting -- up to 52 percent
  • Upper respiratory tract infection (such as the common cold) -- up to 47 percent
  • Loss of appetite -- up to 43 percent
  • Constipation -- up to 40 percent
  • Nosebleeds -- up to 35 percent
  • Diarrhea -- up to 34 percent
  • Hair loss -- up to 32 percent
  • Mouth sores -- up to 32 percent.
     
With many of these side effects, most of the cases were likely caused by chemotherapy, not bevacizumab, although the drug may slightly increase the risk of such side effects.
 
(Click Chemotherapy Side Effects for a list of common side effects.)
 
Other common side effects of bevacizumab plus chemotherapy (occurring in 2 to 30 percent of people) included:
 
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Indigestion or heartburn
  • Changes in taste
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  • Nausea
  • Weakness
  • Dehydration
  • Voice changes
  • Dry mouth
  • Skin sores.
     
(Side Effects of Bevacizumab Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;