Yervoy (ipilimumab) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include fatigue and diarrhea. If side effects from Yervoy become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.
Yervoy is used to treat certain forms of the following kinds of cancer in adults:
Also, Yervoy may be used to treat certain forms of melanoma or colorectal cancer in some children.
Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Yervoy can cause.
Yervoy can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult for you to tolerate.
Yervoy’s commonly reported side effects include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.
Mild side effects have been reported with Yervoy. These include:
- appetite loss
- bone, joint, or muscle pain
- cough
- diarrhea
- fever
- headache
- itchiness
- fatigue
- nausea or vomiting
- shortness of breath
- weight loss
- skin rash*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.
In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop receiving Yervoy infusion therapy unless your doctor recommends it.
Yervoy may cause mild side effects other than those listed earlier. See Yervoy’s prescribing information for details.
Yervoy may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, see Yervoy’s prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects from Yervoy infusions, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious Yervoy side effects that have been reported include:
- changes in liver enzyme levels
- infusion reactions
- serious skin reactions
- serious immune system reactions, such as colitis
For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect from Yervoy infusion therapy and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.
Allergic reactionFor some people, Yervoy can cause an allergic reaction.
In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep getting Yervoy infusions.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Yervoy, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
While receiving Yervoy infusions, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.
If you have problems with side effects, they do not go away, or they become worse, talk with your doctor. They can discuss options for managing side effects or other available treatment options.
Skin rash
It’s possible to develop a skin rash as a side effect from Yervoy. It’s one of the drug’s more common side effects, and it tends to be mild for most people. The risk of a mild rash appears to be higher when people use Yervoy with Opdivo (nivolumab) than when using Yervoy alone.
A rash can also be a symptom of a more serious side effect, such as an allergic reaction. In extreme cases, treatment with Yervoy may cause severe or even life threatening rashes. For more information, see the “Serious skin reactions” section later in the article.
What might help
If you notice a rash while using Yervoy, contact your doctor right away. Although this side effect is mild in most people, it can be a symptom of a more serious side effect. So it’s important to have your doctor look at your rash as soon as possible. They can find out what may be causing it and suggest treatments.
For a mild rash, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to ease your symptoms.
Serious skin reactions
In rare cases, treatment with Yervoy can cause serious skin reactions. Severe skin reactions that have been reported with Yervoy include:
While the percentage of people who have this side effect during Yervoy treatment is low, these reactions can be life threatening. So it’s important to watch for symptoms of serious skin reactions, such as:
What might help
If you think you’re having a severe skin reaction from Yervoy, contact your doctor right away. This side effect often requires treatment in the hospital. But if your symptoms feel life threatening, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
If you have a severe skin reaction as a side effect from Yervoy, your doctor will either temporarily or permanently stop your Yervoy treatment.
Serious immune system reactions
Yervoy treatment can cause serious immune system reactions, although this isn’t common.
Yervoy helps your immune system attack cancer cells. But your immune system can also mistakenly attack healthy cells in your body. This can cause serious side effects that may affect any area of your body. In rare cases, they can be life threatening and even fatal.
These reactions can occur at any time during Yervoy treatment and after you stop using the drug.
The following chart lists examples of these reactions and some of their symptoms.
| Immune system reaction | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| colitis | • diarrhea or black, bloody, sticky, or tarry stools • severe belly pain |
| hepatitis | • bleeding or bruising more easily than usual • severe nausea or vomiting • yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes |
| hormone problems, including problems with the pituitary, thyroid, or adrenal glands | • hair loss • mood changes, such as irritability • sweating more than usual • weight changes |
| nephritis | • appetite loss • bloody urine • producing less urine than usual |
| pneumonitis | • chest pain • cough • shortness of breath |
| type 1 diabetes | • blurry vision • needing to urinate more often than • usual • unusual hunger or thirst |
What might help
Contact your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of an immune system reaction while using Yervoy. Depending on the reaction and your symptoms, your doctor may have you temporarily or permanently stop using Yervoy. They may also prescribe treatments for the reaction or your symptoms.
Some of these reactions may require you to take medications long term. But in many cases, short-term treatment should resolve the problem.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Yervoy’s side effects.
Are certain side effects more likely if I use Opdivo with Yervoy compared with using Yervoy alone?
Yes, certain side effects may be more likely if you use Opdivo (nivolumab) with Yervoy. But in studies, the side effects of Yervoy were mostly similar regardless of whether people took it with or without other drugs.
For example, fatigue was reported by people using Yervoy alone and by people using it with Opdivo. But the side effect occurred slightly more often in those using both drugs.
To learn more about how side effects vary based on other medications that people used with Yervoy, check out the medication’s prescribing information. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How long does Yervoy stay in your system?
How long a drug like Yervoy stays in your system is determined by its
After 4 to 5 half-lives, roughly 95% of Yervoy has been eliminated from the bloodstream and is no longer in your system to any significant degree.
According to studies, Yervoy has an elimination half-life of 15.4 days. This means it will take roughly 2 to 3 months (4 to 5 half-lives), for nearly all of a dose of Yervoy to be eliminated from your system.
Can Yervoy cause long-term side effects?
Yes, Yervoy can cause some long-term side effects.
For example, Yervoy can cause certain immune system reactions, such as hepatitis or nephritis. In rare cases, such reactions can cause organ damage that does not go away.
Immune system reactions can occur at any time during Yervoy treatment. They’ve also been reported after people stopped using the drug.
For more information on immune system reactions that Yervoy can cause, see the following “Side effects explained” section.
If you have questions about Yervoy and its long-term side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Will treatment with Yervoy cause weight loss?
It’s possible. In studies, weight loss occurred in people who took the drug by itself or with Opdivo. This side effect was more common in people who took a high dose of Yervoy to treat melanoma.
These studies also reported that appetite loss or nausea can lead to weight loss. And the cancer that you are using Yervoy to treat can also cause weight loss.
If you’re concerned about weight loss and Yervoy, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to help increase your appetite and manage your weight.
If you notice sudden weight loss (3 pounds or more in less than a week), contact your doctor right away. This could be a symptom of another condition.
Before starting Yervoy infusion therapy, discuss your health history with your doctor. Yervoy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.
Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
Autoimmune conditions: While it’s not common, Yervoy can cause your immune system to attack healthy cells in your body. If you have an autoimmune condition, Yervoy could make your condition worse. Examples include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and lupus.
History of organ transplant: Yervoy can cause the immune system to attack a transplanted organ. If you’ve received an organ transplant or are planning to have one, tell your doctor. They can let you know if Yervoy is safe for you to use.
Stem cell transplant: Yervoy can cause a serious condition called graft-versus-host disease in people who’ve received a certain kind of stem cell transplant. If you’ve had a stem cell transplant, or are planning to have one, tell your doctor. They can discuss the benefits and risks of using Yervoy for your condition.
Nervous system condition: If you have a nervous system condition, such as myasthenia gravis, Yervoy may worsen it. Tell your doctor about any such conditions you have. This will help them determine whether Yervoy is safe for you to use.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Yervoy or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Yervoy. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.
Alcohol consumption: There’s no known interaction between drinking alcohol and using Yervoy. But alcohol could worsen certain side effects Yervoy may cause, such as fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and headache. Talk with your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you to consume during Yervoy treatment.
Pregnancy: Yervoy is not safe to use while pregnant. Based on the way Yervoy works, it’s thought that the drug may harm a developing fetus. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about other treatment options for your cancer.
Breastfeeding: It’s not known if the drug can pass into human breast milk. But based on how the drug works, it’s possible that it could cause serious side effects in a child who is breastfeeding. Your doctor may recommend that you not breastfeed while receiving Yervoy.
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.