Opdivo (nivolumab) is a prescription drug used to treat certain kinds of cancer. The drug comes as an intravenous (IV) infusion. How often you receive it depends on the cancer being treated.
Opdivo is used to treat certain kinds of the following cancers in adults:
Opdivo is also prescribed to treat certain kinds of the following cancers in some children:
- melanoma
- colorectal cancer
Opdivo is a biologic drug, which means it’s made from parts of living organisms. The active ingredient in Opdivo is nivolumab. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.
This article describes the dosages of Opdivo, as well as its strengths and how to use the drug. To learn more about Opdivo, see this Opdivo overview.
Note: This article covers Opdivo’s usual dosages, which are provided by the drug’s manufacturer. But your doctor will prescribe the Opdivo dosage that’s right for you.
This section covers common dosage and administration information for Opdivo. Before you begin Opdivo treatment, your doctor will go over a dosing schedule that’s specific to your condition.
What is Opdivo’s form?
Opdivo comes in single-use vials that contain a liquid solution. You’ll receive the drug as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time). A healthcare professional will give you the infusion. For more information, see the “How is Opdivo used?” section later in this article.
What strengths does Opdivo come in?
The strength of Opdivo is 10 milligrams (mg) per 1 milliliter (mL). It comes in vials containing the following amounts:
- 40 mg/4 mL
- 100 mg/10 mL
- 120 mg/12 mL
- 240 mg/24 mL
Is the dosage of Opdivo different when it’s given with other drugs?
For treating certain kinds of cancer, you may receive Opdivo along with another medication, such as:
- ipilimumab (Yervoy)
- cabozantinib (Cabometyx, Cometriq)
- certain chemotherapy drugs (traditional drugs used to treat cancer)
You may receive more than one of these medications in combination with Opdivo. A healthcare professional may give you these medications at the same appointment as your Opdivo infusion or at a different appointment. Your doctor can provide detailed dosage schedules for all medications they prescribe for you.
For some cancers, you may receive Opdivo in combination with another medication throughout treatment. For other cancers, you may receive another medication for a period of time. You then continue treatment with Opdivo on its own.
If you receive Opdivo by itself from the start, for some cancers your doctor may prescribe a fixed dose instead of a dose based on your weight.
What are the usual dosages of Opdivo?
Opdivo dosages vary based on several factors, including
- the kind of cancer you have
- whether you take other medications together with Opdivo
- your age
- your weight in kilograms (kg)
Note that 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
The following information describes dosage schedules that are commonly prescribed or recommended for adults who weigh 40 kg (about 88 lb) or more. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
For information on children’s dosages, see the “What’s the dosage of Opdivo for children?” section later in this article.
Dosage for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat certain kinds of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to distant areas of the body outside of the lungs.
Doctors may also prescribe Opdivo to treat certain kinds of NSCLC that can be removed by surgery. For this purpose, you may receive Opdivo before surgery and, in some cases, after surgery.
Dosage for NSCLC that has spread to distant areas of the body: Depending on the kind of NSCLC you have, you may receive Opdivo by itself. Or you may receive it with ipilimumab, or with ipilimumab and two rounds of chemotherapy. Following is a simple dosage table for Opdivo when received by itself or with these other medications to treat NSCLC.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo alone | 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
| Opdivo with ipilimumab | 360 mg once every 3 weeks |
| Opdivo with ipilimumab and chemotherapy | 360 mg once every 3 weeks |
Dosage for NSCLC that can be removed by surgery: For treating NSCLC before surgery, you will have three rounds of chemotherapy. The dosage of Opdivo for this use is 360 mg once every 3 weeks.
If you’re receiving Opdivo both before and after surgery, you’ll have four rounds of chemotherapy with Opdivo before surgery. The dosage of Opdivo, in this case, is 360 mg once every 3 weeks. After surgery, you’ll receive Opdivo on its own at a dosage of 480 mg once every 4 weeks.
Dosage for melanoma
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat melanoma that can’t be removed with surgery or has spread to other areas of your body. Opdivo can also be prescribed to prevent melanoma from returning after it has been removed with surgery.
Depending on the kind of melanoma you have, you may receive Opdivo by itself. Or you may receive Opdivo with ipilimumab for four doses, and then receive Opdivo by itself. The following table shows the usual dosages of Opdivo for treating melanoma.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo with ipilimumab, first four doses | 1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks |
| Opdivo alone or after four doses with ipilimumab | 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
For the 1 mg/kg dose, you’ll receive 1 mg of Opdivo for every kg that you weigh. For example, if you weigh 70 kg (about 154 lb), your dose of Opdivo would be 70 mg.
Dosage for mesothelioma
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat a certain kind of mesothelioma that affects your chest or lungs.
For this use, you’ll usually receive Opdivo with ipilimumab. The dosage for this use is 360 mg once every 3 weeks.
Dosage for liver cancer
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat a certain kind of liver cancer that’s already been treated with another drug.
For this use, you’ll likely receive Opdivo with ipilimumab for your first four doses. Then you’ll receive Opdivo by itself as shown in the dosage table.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo with ipilimumab, first four doses | 1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks |
| Opdivo after four doses with ipilimumab | 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
For the 1 mg/kg dose, you’ll receive 1 mg of Opdivo for every kg that you weigh.
Dosage for kidney cancer
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat a certain kind of kidney cancer that has spread to other areas of the body.
For this use, you may receive Opdivo by itself or with cabozantinib. Or you may receive Opdivo with ipilimumab for four doses, followed by Opdivo by itself. This table shows the usual dosages of Opdivo for treating kidney cancer.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo with ipilimumab, first four doses | 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks |
| Opdivo alone, with cabozantinib, or after four doses with ipilimumab | 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
For the 3 mg/kg dose, you’ll receive 3 mg of Opdivo for every kg that you weigh. For example, if you weigh 70 kg (about 154 lb), your dose of Opdivo would be 210 mg.
Dosage for bladder cancer
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat certain forms of bladder cancer that have either:
- already been removed with surgery or previously treated
- have spread to other areas of the body or can’t be removed with surgery
Depending on the kind of bladder cancer you have, you’ll receive Opdivo on its own or with six rounds of chemotherapy. This table shows the usual dosages of Opdivo for treating bladder cancer.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo with chemotherapy, first six doses | 360 mg once every 3 weeks |
| Opdivo alone or after chemotherapy | 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
Dosage for colorectal cancer
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat certain kinds of colorectal cancer that have spread to other areas of the body.
For these conditions, you may receive Opdivo by itself. Or you may receive Opdivo with ipilimumab for four doses, and then receive Opdivo by itself. The following table shows the usual dosages of Opdivo for treating colorectal cancer.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo with ipilimumab, first four doses | 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks |
| Opdivo alone or after four doses with ipilimumab | 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
For the 3 mg/kg dose, you’ll receive 3 mg of Opdivo for every kg that you weigh.
Dosage for head and neck cancer
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat certain kinds of head and neck cancer that have either:
- spread to other areas of the body
- come back after they’ve already been treated in the past
For these uses, you’ll receive Opdivo by itself. Your dosage will be either 240 mg once every 2 weeks or 480 mg once every 4 weeks.
Dosage for esophageal cancer or stomach cancer
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat certain kinds of esophageal cancer and gastric (stomach) cancer that have spread to other areas of the body.
Opdivo can also be prescribed to treat certain kinds of esophageal cancer that can’t be removed with surgery, have already been removed with surgery, or have returned.
For these uses, you may receive Opdivo on its own, with chemotherapy, or with ipilimumab. The following table gives an overview of the different dosages of Opdivo for treating esophageal cancer or stomach cancer.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo alone | 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
| Opdivo with chemotherapy | 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or 360 mg once every 3 weeks, or 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
| Opdivo with ipilimumab | 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks, or 360 mg once every 3 weeks |
For the 3 mg/kg dose, you’ll receive 3 mg of Opdivo for every kg that you weigh.
Dosage for classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Opdivo can be prescribed to treat classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma that has worsened or come back after certain kinds of treatment.
For this use, you’ll receive Opdivo by itself. Your dosage will be either 240 mg once every 2 weeks or 480 mg once every 4 weeks.
What’s the dosage of Opdivo for children?
Opdivo is prescribed to treat certain kinds of colorectal cancer and melanoma in children ages 12 years or older. The dosage of Opdivo for children depends on whether they weigh 40 kg (about 88 lb) or more. For either kind of cancer, children may receive Opdivo by itself or with ipilimumab for the first four doses.
The following table shows Opdivo dosages for children with colorectal cancer.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo with ipilimumab, first four doses | 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks |
| Opdivo alone or after four doses with ipilimumab | Weighs less than 40 kg: • 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks Weighs at least 40 kg: • 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or • 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
For the 3 mg/kg dose, a child will receive 3 mg of Opdivo for every kg that they weigh.
The dosages of Opdivo for children with melanoma are shown in the following table.
| Opdivo dosage | |
|---|---|
| Opdivo with ipilimumab, first four doses | • 1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks |
| Opdivo alone or after four doses with ipilimumab | Weighs less than 40 kg: • 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks, or • 6 mg/kg once every 4 weeks Weighs at least 40 kg: • 240 mg once every 2 weeks, or • 480 mg once every 4 weeks |
For the 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, or 6 mg/kg doses, a child will receive 1 mg, 3 mg, or 6 mg, respectively, of Opdivo for every kg that they weigh.
Is Opdivo given long term?
Yes, Opdivo is usually prescribed as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Opdivo is safe and effective for you, it’s likely that you’ll use it long term.
How long your Opdivo treatment lasts depends on:
- the cancer you’re receiving Opdivo to treat
- whether you’re taking Opdivo with other medications
- side effects you may have from the medication
Some kinds of cancer require treatment with Opdivo for up to 2 years. But if you have severe side effects or your cancer progresses, your doctor may have you stop receiving Opdivo.
The dosage of Opdivo you’re prescribed may depend on several factors. These include:
- the kind and severity of the condition you’re receiving Opdivo to treat
- your age
- your weight
- how often you receive Opdivo
- side effects you may have from Opdivo
- other medications you may be taking along with Opdivo
A healthcare professional will give you Opdivo as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time). You’ll need to go to a doctor’s office, infusion clinic, or hospital for your infusion, which will usually take about 30 minutes.
Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare for your appointment and how often you’ll need to come in for infusions.
It’s important that you keep your appointments for your Opdivo treatments. If you think you’re going to miss an appointment, contact your doctor right away to reschedule.
If you need help remembering your Opdivo appointments, try marking your appointments on a calendar. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
Q:
Can you administer Opdivo for longer than 30 minutes?
AnonymousA:
Yes, in some cases.
A healthcare professional will administer Opdivo as an intravenous (IV) infusion. Each infusion usually takes about 30 minutes.
But if you have certain side effects with Opdivo, the healthcare professional may slow down the infusion. This means your Opdivo infusion may last longer than 30 minutes.
For example, Opdivo can cause infusion reactions. These are side effects that can happen during the infusion or shortly after. Examples include rash, chills, fever, and shortness of breath. If you have an infusion reaction with Opdivo, your healthcare professional may slow down your next infusion. This lowers your risk of having these side effects again.
Your healthcare professional will let you know the length of time your Opdivo infusions will take.
The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
