Penpulimab-kcqx

How to Take Penpulimab-kcqx

Penpulimab-kcqx is given by a single intravenous (IV, into a vein) infusion. The dose and how often you receive the medication will be decided by your care team.

Make sure your care team is aware of all medications (including prescription and over the counter), supplements, and vitamins you are taking.

Tell your care team about all your medical conditions, including those that are autoimmune in nature (Crohn’s disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.) as these can get worse with immunotherapy. You should also notify your provider if you have had or plan on having an allogeneic stem cell transplant as this medication can worsen the side effect of the transplant called graft-versus-host disease.

Possible Side Effects

There are a number of things you can do to manage the side effects of penpulimab-kcqx. Talk to your care team about these recommendations. They can help you decide what will work best for you. These are some of the most common or important side effects:

Immune Reactions 

This medication stimulates your immune system. Your immune system can attack normal organs and tissues in your body, leading to serious or life-threatening complications. It is important to notify your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:

• Hypothyroidism: This medication can cause hypothyroidism (under active thyroid). Your healthcare provider will perform blood tests to check the function of your thyroid and treat this side effect if it develops. Symptoms of thyroid problems include tiredness, feeling hot or cold, change in your voice, weight gain or loss, hair loss and muscle cramps. Report any of these symptoms to your oncology care team.
• Diarrhea / Intestinal problems (colitis, inflammation of the bowel): Abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramping, mucus or blood in the stool, dark or tar-like stools, fever. Diarrhea means different things to different people. Any increase in your normal bowel patterns can be defined as diarrhea and should be reported to your healthcare team.
• Skin reactions: Report rash, with or without itching (pruritis), sores in your mouth, blistering or peeling skin, as these can become severe and require treatment with corticosteroids.
• Lung problems (pneumonitis, inflammation of the lung): New or worsening cough, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, or chest pain.
• Liver problems (hepatitis, inflammation of the liver): Yellowing of the skin or eyes, your urine appears dark or brown, pain in your abdomen, bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, or severe nausea and vomiting. Your oncology care team may monitor for liver problems using blood tests called liver function tests.
• Hormone abnormalities: Immune reactions can affect the pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands, resulting in inflammation of these glands, which can affect their production of certain hormones. Some hormone levels can be monitored with blood work. It is important that you report any changes in how you are feeling to your care team. Symptoms of these hormonal changes can include: headaches, nausea, vomiting, constipation, rapid heart rate, increased sweating, extreme fatigue, weakness, changes in your voice, changes in memory and concentration, increased hunger or thirst, increased urination, weight gain, hair loss, dizziness, feeling cold all the time, and changes in mood or behavior (including irritability, forgetfulness and decreased sex drive).

Electrolyte Levels

This medication can affect the normal levels of electrolytes like sodium, phosphate and magnesium in your body. Your levels will be monitored using blood tests. If your levels become too low or too high, your care team may prescribe specific electrolytes to be given by IV or taken by mouth. Do not take any supplements without first consulting your care team.

Joint or Muscle Pain

Patients may experience joint or muscle pain. Arthralgia pain is like arthritis pain. You can have morning stiffness, and you may feel it in a few joints at different times. It often affects the elbows, shoulders, wrists, knees, feet, pelvic and hip bones, or back. Myalgia is pain or aching within the muscle. Your oncology team can recommend medication and other strategies to relieve pain.

Allergic Reactions

In some cases, patients can have an allergic reaction to this medication. Signs of a reaction can include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest pain, rash, flushing or itching, or a decrease in blood pressure. If you notice any changes in how you feel during the infusion, let your nurse know immediately. The infusion will be slowed or stopped if this occurs.

Important but Less Common Side Effects

• Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Reactions: Patients who receive this medication before or after having an allogeneic stem cell transplant can be at an increased risk of graft vs. host disease, veno-occlusive disease, and steroid-requiring fever syndrome. Your providers will monitor you closely for these side effects.
• Solid Organ Transplant: This medication can cause rejection of a solid organ transplant. Contact your provider if you have any signs of rejection.

Reproductive Concerns

Exposure of an unborn child to this medication could cause birth defects, so you should not become pregnant or father a child while on this medication. Even if your menstrual cycle stops or you believe you are not producing sperm, effective birth control is necessary during treatment and for 4 months after stopping treatment. You should not breastfeed while taking this medication or for 4 months after the end of treatment.