avelumab
Other Name: Bavencio®
mixed into larger bags of fluids
For treating certain types of skin and bladder or urinary tract cancers.
Avelumab is an immunotherapy medication. For more information on immunotherapy medications, click here.
Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), such a
an organ transplant
immune conditions (such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus)
problems with your hormone producing glands (such as the thyroid or adrenal glands)
diabetes
liver, heart, kidney or lung problems
active infections or
any allergies
Remember to:
- Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
- Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
Talk to your health care team about:
- How this medication may affect your sexual health.
- How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
- If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until at least 1 month after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
- Do not breastfeed while on this medication and for at least 1 month after the last dose.
This drug is given through an IV (injected into a vein), usually every 2 weeks. Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.
You may be given this treatment along with other medication(s) to help prevent a reaction.
If you miss your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
To Prevent Allergic Reaction
You will be given medications before your first 4 treatments to help prevent allergic reactions before they start. Your health care team will let you know if you need these medications after your first 4 treatments.
There are different types of medications to stop allergic reactions. They are called:
- antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine or Benadryl®)
- analgesics/antipyretics (such as acetaminophen or Tylenol®)
Will this medication interact with other medications or natural health products?
Although this medication is unlikely to interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products, tell your health care team about all of your:
prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications and all other drugs, such as cannabis/marijuana (medical or recreational)
natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
What should I do if I feel unwell, have pain, a headache or a fever?
Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
- You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
OR
- 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
If you do have a fever:- Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
- Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
Talk to your health care team before you start taking Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
What to DO while on this medication:
DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days especially for your first 4 treatments. You may feel drowsy or dizzy after your treatment.
DO tell your healthcare team about ANY new symptom you may develop. You may need urgent medical treatment.
What NOT to DO while on this medication:
DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
DO NOT drive, operate machinery or do any tasks that need you to be alert if you feel tired.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting avelumab. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
- Avelumab makes your immune system work harder. Your immune system is what fights infections and your cancer.
- When your immune system is working harder, you may have side effects in your bowels, liver, lungs, skin, and other organs. You may also have changes in hormone levels in your body.
- These side effects may be mild or may become serious or life-threatening in rare cases.
- They may happen during your treatment or weeks to months after your treatment ends.
- Some things to watch for are:
- diarrhea
- a new cough
- problems with breathing
- rash
- any other new symptom
- If you have side effects, you must talk to your health care team right away. You may need urgent treatment.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on avelumab.
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information. | Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Mild joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information. | Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Rash; itchiness What to look for?
What to do? To prevent and treat dry skin:
If this happens, talk to your health care team or go to the emergency room right away. Talk to your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. | Talk to your health care team for advice
Talk to your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. |
Diarrhea What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
In rare cases, your diarrhea may be severe due to inflammation of the intestines if:
Talk to your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. | Talk to your health care team for advice
|
Anemia (low red blood cells) What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have anemia (low red blood cells):
| Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Flu-like symptoms You may feel like you have the flu for around 2 days after your IV treatment. These flu-like symptoms may not be signs of an infection. What to look for?
What to do?
| If you do have a fever, try to speak to your health care team. If you are unable to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
Constipation What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent constipation:
To help treat constipation:
Ask your health care team for the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. | Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Nausea and vomiting (Generally mild) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
If you have nausea or vomiting:
| Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe |
Low appetite; weight loss What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Loss of Appetite pamphlet for more information. | Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for?
What to do?
| Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Mild swelling What to look for?
What to do?
If you have swelling:
| Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Changes in thyroid activity Thyroid changes may happen weeks to months after you receive your treatment. Your health care team may check your thyroid activity regularly with a blood test. What to look for? Underactive thyroid:
Overactive thyroid (rare):
What to do? Your health care team may give you prescription medication to treat your underactive or overactive thyroid. If you have weight changes along with any of the other symptoms listed, talk to your health care team as soon as possible. | Talk to your health care team as soon as possible |
Allergic reaction (May be severe) What to look for?
| Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms |
High blood pressure What to look for?
What to do?
If you have a severe headache get emergency help right away as it may be a sign your blood pressure is too high. | Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible and have been described with avelumab or other similar drugs.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
New cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, shortness of breath or coughing up blood
Peeing more than normal and feeling very thirsty
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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April 2022 Updated/Revised info sheet
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.