Side Effects of Erlotinib

While effectively inhibiting tumor growth, erlotinib may also cause a range of side effects. These adverse reactions vary from person to person. Most patients may experience mild to moderate skin reactions, gastrointestinal discomfort, and other symptoms; some patients may also develop more severe symptoms.

Serious Side Effects

1. Common Serious Side Effects

Burning, tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs; cough or hoarseness; severe diarrhea; difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; fever or chills; lower back or side pain; painful or difficult urination; severe rash; tingling sensation; stabbing chest pain; tightness in the chest.

2. Rare Serious Side Effects

Blood in or black, tarry stools; blurred vision; chest pain or discomfort; constipation; convulsions (seizures); eye irritation or redness; inability to speak; pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck; severe abdominal pain; slurred speech; sudden severe chest pain; sudden severe headache; sudden severe weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body; sweating; changes in vision; vomiting blood or coffee-ground-like material.

Other Side Effects

1. Common Other Side Effects

Gastrointestinal system: Acid reflux or sour stomach, belching, bloating or a feeling of fullness, mild diarrhea, flatulence, heartburn, indigestion, stomach upset, nausea or abdominal pain, passing gas.

Skin, hair and mucosal system: Skin blemishes, dry skin, hair loss, itching skin, papules, mild rash, thinning hair, swelling or inflammation of the mouth.

Ocular system: Burning, dryness or itching of the eyes; dry eyes; excessive tearing; redness, pain or swelling of the eyes/eyelids/conjunctiva.

Musculoskeletal system: Bone pain, difficulty moving, joint pain, joint swelling.

Nervous system: Dizziness, tremors, difficulty falling asleep or insomnia, impaired concentration.

Psychiatric system: Fear, depression or emptiness, irritability, loss of interest or pleasure, nervousness.

General symptoms: Abnormal cold intolerance, fatigue, swelling, weight loss.

2. Uncommon Other Side Effects

Loosening of the fingernails or toenails; redness or pain around the nails.