Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. As with other drugs, Yescarta can cause side effects, such as fever and fatigue.

Yescarta has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Yescarta can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Yescarta in clinical trials:

*Yescarta has a boxed warning about this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

Mild side effects can occur with Yescarta. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Yescarta’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Yescarta include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Yescarta and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

Yescarta may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Yescarta’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Yescarta, 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 side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

In some people, Yescarta can cause an allergic reaction, which can be mild or serious.

Call 911 or your local emergency number right away if you have symptoms of a severe reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing. These symptoms can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Yescarta in the past, your doctor will likely recommend taking a different medication instead.

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, you will still need to call your doctor as soon as possible. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

Here are answers to some common questions about Yescarta’s side effects.

How do side effects of Yescarta compare with Kymriah?

Yescarta and Kymriah share many side effects. Both Yescarta and Kymriah are chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies. These medications are made using living cells from your immune system. Both are prescribed to treat certain forms of lymphoma. (Kymriah is also approved for treating a certain form of leukemia.)

Some shared side effects of Yescarta and Kymriah include:

  • fatigue
  • fever
  • headache
  • blood cell problems, such as a low white blood cell count
  • increased risk of serious infections
  • cytokine release syndrome (CRS)*
  • neurologic side effects*
  • secondary cancers*

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about how Yescarta and Kymriah compare. You can also read this article to learn more about Kymriah’s side effects.

*For more information about this side effect and Yescarta, see “Side effect specifics.”

Does Yescarta cause long-term side effects?

Yes, it’s possible for Yescarta to cause long-term side effects. Long-term side effects are those that appear weeks, months, or years after a treatment.

Examples of long-term side effects possible with Yescarta include:

  • secondary cancers*
  • neurologic side effects*

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about Yescarta and long-term side effects.

* Yescarta has a boxed warning about this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

Learn more about some of the side effects that Yescarta may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Yescarta.

Boxed warnings

Yescarta has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These warnings are discussed in more detail below.

Cytokine release syndrome

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is one of the most commonly reported side effects in studies of treatment with Yescarta. Most reported cases were mild. However, CRS can be serious and even life threatening in some cases.

With CRS, your immune system becomes overactive and aggressive. Symptoms of CRS can include:

  • fever
  • chills
  • trouble breathing
  • feeling confused
  • feeling lightheaded or dizzy
  • an irregular heart beat
  • severe weakness or fatigue
  • severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

CRS can also cause other symptoms besides those listed above, depending on the body parts and organs affected. Serious complications can happen due to CRS in rare cases, including:

CRS can happen as soon as 1 day after your Yescarta infusion, but can also appear weeks after your dose. On average, symptoms last 7 days. They can last for weeks in some cases.

What you can do

Due to the risk of CRS, Yescarta is only available through certified treatment centers with staff who are specially trained to administer this medication. These centers must have treatments for CRS available for each person who receives Yescarta.

You’ll stay at this center for at least 1 week following your infusion. You’ll also need to stay close to the treatment center for at least 4 weeks afterward. This way, your healthcare team can monitor you closely for any symptoms of CRS.

Should you develop symptoms, your healthcare team will be ready to treat you as quickly as possible. A drug called tocilizumab (Actemra), which can treat CRS, will be available and ready at the center.

Your doctor may also use a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone, to treat CRS. Depending on your symptoms, they may use both tocilizumab and a corticosteroid. They may also use other treatments, such as intravenous fluids given into a vein, to treat certain symptoms.

In addition, your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid for you to take before your Yescarta infusion. This may help prevent CRS or lower the risk of it causing serious symptoms and complications.

Neurologic side effects

Neurologic (related to the nervous system) side effects are common with Yescarta, according to the drug’s studies. While these side effects are often mild, they can be severe in some cases. Rarely, they can be life threatening.

Examples of neurologic side effects reported with Yescarta include:

  • aphasia (a disorder that affects your ability to use language and communicate)
  • cerebral edema (increased pressure in the head due to fluid build up around the brain)
  • delirium (a sudden change in mental function)
  • dysarthria (weakening of muscles used for speech)
  • encephalopathy (conditions that affect the brain’s structure or function)
  • a severe lack of energy
  • insomnia
  • tremor

Symptoms will vary depending on the specific side effects you develop.

Neurologic side effects can start as soon as the day you receive Yescarta. They’ve also been reported over 100 days after receiving the infusion. In studies of Yescarta, neurologic side effects lasted about 16 to 17 days on average.

What you can do

Your doctor will monitor you for at least 7 days at the facility where you receive Yescarta. After you leave the facility, your doctor will continue to monitor you for neurologic side effects for at least 4 weeks.

If you develop symptoms of neurologic side effects, they’ll be ready to quickly treat them. Treatment may involve:

  • a corticosteroid such as dexamethasone
  • levetiracetam to prevent or treat seizures
  • other treatments, depending on your symptoms

Due to the risk of neurologic side effects, Yescarta is only available through select treatment centers which are certified to administer the drug. These centers must have treatments for neurologic side effects available for each person who receives Yescarta.

Depending on your treatment plan, medical history, and risk of certain side effects, your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid prior to your Yescarta infusion. Your doctor can provide more details on how they’ll determine your treatment plan.

Secondary cancers

Secondary cancers are a possible side effect of Yescarta. Specifically, T cell cancers such as T cell lymphoma have been reported after the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies, including Yescarta.

These secondary cancers are rare, but can be life threatening. They’ve been reported as soon as weeks after CAR T cell treatment was given. They can also appear years after treatment with Yescarta.

Symptoms of these secondary cancers include:

  • fever
  • night sweats
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • an itchy, dry skin rash that may appear red or purple

What you can do

Following treatment with Yescarta, you’ll need to watch for symptoms of a secondary cancer. Your health care team will also monitor you closely for symptoms. Your doctor can discuss this in detail with you.

Note: If you receive a diagnosis of a secondary cancer after treatment with Yescarta, contact the drugmaker (Kite Pharma) at 1-844-454-5483.

Increased risk of serious infections

Treatment with Yescarta increases your risk of contracting a serious infection, according to studies. These infections may be bacterial, fungal, or viral.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy caused by the John Cunningham virus is an example of a serious infection reported after receiving Yescarta.

Symptoms vary depending on the specific infection. Some general symptoms to watch for include:

  • fever
  • cough
  • weakness
  • problems with balance
  • generally feeling unwell

What you can do

Let your doctor know if you have an infection prior to receiving Yescarta. Your doctor may want to treat the infection and wait for it to clear before you receive Yescarta.

After treatment with Yescarta, your doctor will monitor you for at least 7 days at the facility where you receive the infusion. If you develop symptoms of an infection, they’ll be ready to quickly treat your symptoms.

If you develop symptoms of an infection after leaving the treatment facility, immediately contact your doctor.

Below is important information to consider before taking Yescarta.

Yescarta has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Other precautions

Before taking Yescarta, discuss your health history with your doctor. Yescarta 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:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.