Precautions
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
It is very important that your doctor check your progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Receiving this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are female and able to get pregnant, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while receiving the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
This medicine may increase your risk of bleeding and cause delay in wound healing. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers. Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
You may also need to monitor your blood pressure at home during treatment with ramucirumab. If you notice any changes to your normal blood pressure, call your doctor right away.
This medicine may cause infusion-related reactions, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a cough, difficulty with swallowing, dizziness, a fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, chest tightness, swelling in your face or hands, a fever, chills, itching or hives, or lightheadedness while you are receiving this medicine.
This medicine may increase your risk of gastrointestinal perforation (a hole in the stomach with bleeding). Tell your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain or cramps, bloody, black, or tarry stools, or vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop receiving this medicine 28 days before and for at least 14 days after having surgery.
This medicine may increase your risk of blood clotting, including heart attack or stroke. Call your doctor right away if you have pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, vision changes, or sudden loss of coordination, severe headache, or severe weakness or numbness in arm or leg.
Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
This medicine may increase your chance of having a brain condition called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Tell your doctor right away if you develop sudden and severe headaches, fainting spells, seizures, unusual drowsiness, confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or walking.
Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, troubled breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.
Talk with your doctor before receiving this medicine if you plan to have children. Some women who use this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024
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