As with other drugs, Rydapt (midostaurin) can cause side effects, such as nausea and lung problems. If you aren’t able to tolerate the side effects of Rydapt, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Rydapt (midostaurin) is a brand-name oral capsule that’s prescribed to treat the following conditions in adults:

The side effects you experience may vary depending on the condition being treated.

If you have problems with the side effects of Rydapt, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss ways to manage side effects or other available treatment options. Do not stop taking Rydapt without consulting your doctor first.

For additional information about Rydapt, including details about its uses, see this Rydapt overview article.

Rydapt 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 persist, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The following are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Rydapt in studies. These side effects can vary depending on the condition being treated.

More common side effects in people taking Rydapt for MCL or systemic mastocytosis include:

More common side effects in people taking Rydapt for AML include:

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

Mild side effects that have been reported with Rydapt include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects continue, worsen, or become too difficult to tolerate, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews the side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking [X drug] and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

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

If you develop serious side effects while taking Rydapt, 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 infections and lung inflammation, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Rydapt can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reactions can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

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

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to the Rydapt oral capsule, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

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

Infections

Infection was a common side effect in Rydapt clinical trials. Rydapt may weaken your immune system. Having a weak immune system increases your risk of infection. In the drug’s studies, the type of infection varied somewhat depending on the condition being treated.

In people taking Rydapt for AML, URIs were common. URIs involve the nose, throat, or sinuses. Some people developed more serious infections, including those related to medical devices, such as central intravenous (IV) lines. Rydapt is used for AML with medications that are often given through this type of IV.

In people taking Rydapt for systemic mastocytosis or MCL, there were reports of URI but also urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, and herpes.

Symptoms can vary depending on the specific infection but can include:

  • fatigue
  • fever or chills
  • body aches
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain
  • herpes symptoms such as cold sores
  • UTI symptoms such as pain or burning with urination

What you can do

If you have a mild respiratory infection, such as a cold or sinusitis, you can typically treat it yourself at home. If your doctor recommends it, you can take an over-the-counter cold medication. You can also try home remedies to help relieve your symptoms.

If you develop a fever or your symptoms are more severe, such as difficulty breathing, talk with your doctor right away. They’ll check your symptoms and discuss the treatment options.

To help prevent infection, consider these strategies:

  • Wash your hands often.
  • Disinfect common-use or high traffic areas frequently.
  • Avoid large public gatherings.
  • Get plenty of rest and fluids.

Lung inflammation

Rydapt treatment alone or with chemotherapy may cause pulmonary toxicity. This includes reports of serious and life threatening pneumonitis (lung inflammation) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). With ILD, a buildup of scar tissue makes it difficult to breathe. Pneumonitis and ILD can also be caused by other conditions, including lung infections.

Pneumonitis, or ILD, was a less common side effect of Rydapt in studies.

Symptoms of ILD can include:

What you can do

If you develop symptoms of this side effect, talk with your doctor. They’ll check your lung function and determine whether you have ILD.

If you have pneumonitis or ILD that’s not caused by a lung infection, your doctor will likely stop your Rydapt treatment. If inflammation is due to infection, they may pause Rydapt until they treat the infection. Your doctor will also prescribe treatments to help ease your symptoms.

Due to the risk of pulmonary toxicity from Rydapt, your doctor will regularly monitor your lung function and check for symptoms while you’re taking the drug.

Rydapt may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How long can you take Rydapt?

How long you’ll take Rydapt depends on the condition you’re taking the drug to treat and the side effects you experience. For AML, you can usually take the drug for up to 6 treatment cycles (each cycle is 21 days). For MCL and systemic mastocytosis, your doctor may recommend taking Rydapt as long as it’s working and the side effects are manageable.

For some side effects, such as severe nausea and vomiting, doctors need to pause treatment temporarily. They’ll determine when to resume treatment and whether to adjust your Rydapt dosage.

In clinical trials, some people stopped taking the drug due to side effects. This was more common in people taking Rydapt for systemic mastocytosis or MCL than for AML. In these trials, common reasons included nausea or vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, and infections. (For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section.)

If you have questions about your treatment plan, talk with your doctor for more information. If you’d like to know more about the results of Rydapt’s clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Does Rydapt cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible. Long-term side effects include those that may start at any time you’re taking a drug, even if you’ve taken it for a long time. It also includes side effects that may not go away even after you stop taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported in Rydapt’s studies include lung inflammation and kidney disease. For details about lung inflammation, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about possible side effects of Rydapt and how long they may last.

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

  • previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
  • problems with your lungs, kidneys, or heart
  • low white blood cell count
  • electrolyte imbalance
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

To learn about possible interactions with other medications and health factors, see this overview of Rydapt interactions.

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.