Managing Side Effects
If you experience side effects during treatment, do not be discouraged. Most patients will experience side effects at some time.
Your doctor will probably be able to help you manage them.
Possible Side Effects and How They May Be Managed*
Possible side effect
How your doctor may manage it
Diarrhea
What it feels like:
More bowel movements; loose stools.
More bowel movements; loose stools.
- Recommend an over-the-counter medication
Difficulty breathing, fluid in chest cavity
What it feels like:
Feeling short of breath.
Feeling short of breath.
- Prescribe a diuretic or corticosteroid
- Interrupt treatment or reduce dosage
Fatigue
What it feels like:
Feeling tired or weak.
Feeling tired or weak.
- Rule out other causes; provide supportive care, change dose if necessary
Muscle and bone pain
What it feels like:
Whole-body ache; twitching or burning muscles.
Whole-body ache; twitching or burning muscles.
- Recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever or a prescription pain reliever
Muscle cramps
What it feels like:
Pain or spasms in the legs,
feet, or calves.
Pain or spasms in the legs,
feet, or calves.
- Recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever
- Recommend a prescription pain reliever
- Recommend a calcium or magnesium supplement
Nausea and vomiting
What it feels like:
Feeling queasy or like you have to throw up. You may also feel like you have indigestion.
Feeling queasy or like you have to throw up. You may also feel like you have indigestion.
- Recommend taking medication with a meal and a large glass of water (If you have been instructed not to take medication with meals, contact your doctor before changing your dose to mealtimes.)
- Recommend over-the-counter medications
- Recommend dividing the daily dose and taking it twice a day (Do not make changes in your dosing unless instructed by your doctor.)
Rash
What it feels like:
Scaly skin; red, itchy bumps on skin.
Scaly skin; red, itchy bumps on skin.
- Recommend an over-the-counter antihistamine
- Prescribe a corticosteroid or stronger antihistamine
Swelling and fluid retention
What it feels like:
Swollen legs or feet and swelling around the eyes. Fluid retention can appear as quick weight gain or swelling in your lower legs or other parts of your body. Fluid retention can be serious or even life threatening.
Swollen legs or feet and swelling around the eyes. Fluid retention can appear as quick weight gain or swelling in your lower legs or other parts of your body. Fluid retention can be serious or even life threatening.
- Prescribe a topical steroid cream to reduce the swelling around your eyes
- Tell you to limit your salt intake
- Prescribe a diuretic (a medicine to help your body get rid of extra fluids)
* This information is provided to help patients understand how their physicians may help them manage side effects they may experience. Always consult your physician before starting any side effects management treatment.
