What are the possible side effects of Pemetrexed Injection?

Pemetrexed Injection can cause serious side effects, including:

• Low blood cell counts. Low blood cell counts can be severe, including low white blood cell counts (neutropenia), low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), and low red blood cell counts (anemia). Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood cell counts regularly during your treatment with Pemetrexed Injection. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs of infection, fever, bleeding, or severe tiredness during your treatment with Pemetrexed Injection.
• Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Pemetrexed Injection can cause severe kidney problems that can lead to death. Severe vomiting or diarrhea can lead to loss of fluids (dehydration) which may cause kidney problems to become worse. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a decrease in the amount of urine you make.
• Severe skin reactions. Severe skin reactions that may lead to death can happen with Pemetrexed Injection. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop blisters, skin sores, skin peeling, or painful sores, or ulcers in your mouth, nose, throat or genital area.
• Lung problems (pneumonitis). Pemetrexed Injection can cause serious lung problems that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any new or worsening symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, or fever.
• Radiation recall. Radiation recall is a skin reaction that can happen in people who have received radiation treatment in the past and are treated with Pemetrexed Injection. Tell your healthcare provider if you get swelling, blistering, or a rash that looks like a sunburn in an area that was previously treated with radiation.

The most common side effects of Pemetrexed Injection when given alone are:

• tiredness

• nausea

• loss of appetite

The most common side effects of Pemetrexed Injection when given with cisplatin are:

• vomiting
• swelling or sores in your mouth or sore throat
• constipation

• low white blood cell counts (neutropenia)
• low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia)
• low red blood cell counts (anemia)

Pemetrexed Injection may cause fertility problems in males. This may affect your ability to father a child. It is not known if these effects are reversible. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.
Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for side effects during treatment with Pemetrexed Injection. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of Pemetrexed Injection, delay treatment, or stop treatment if you have certain side effects.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all of the possible side effects of Pemetrexed Injection. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800- FDA-1088.