Pomalyst (pomalidomide) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat multiple myeloma or Kaposi sarcoma in adults in certain situations. Pomalyst is typically taken as a long-term treatment for these cancers.

Here are some fast facts about Pomalyst:

  • Active ingredient: pomalidomide
  • Drug class: thalidomide analog
  • Drug form: oral capsule

Like other drugs, Pomalyst can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Pomalyst, including details about its uses, see this article.

Pomalyst can cause certain adverse effects (side effects), some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But 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 Pomalyst in clinical trials. These side effects can vary depending on which condition the drug is taken to treat.

More common side effects reported by people taking Pomalyst for multiple myeloma include:

More common side effects reported by people taking Pomalyst for Kaposi sarcoma include:

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

Mild side effects that have been reported with Pomalyst include:

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

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

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

Pomalyst 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 Pomalyst’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Pomalyst, 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.
† Pomalyst has a boxed warning for this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration.
‡ To learn more about this side effect, see “Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Pomalyst” in the “Precautions for Pomalyst” section below.
§ An allergic reaction is possible after taking Pomalyst. But this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.

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

Is hair loss a side effect of Pomalyst?

No, it’s not likely. Hair loss wasn’t reported as a side effect in clinical trials of Pomalyst.

But hair loss is a known side effect of cancer treatments other than Pomalyst. For example, chemotherapy drugs, which are prescribed to treat cancer, are known to cause hair loss.

If you are concerned about hair loss with Pomalyst, talk with your doctor. They can let you know if you have a risk for this side effect. And they can recommend ways to manage hair loss if it happens.

How do the side effects of Pomalyst and Revlimid compare?

Pomalyst and Revlimid are cancer treatments that can cause some of the same side effects. But they cause different ones as well.

For example, both Pomalyst and Revlimid may cause nausea and constipation. On the other hand, confusion has been reported with Pomalyst in clinical trials. But this side effect has not been reported with Revlimid.

To learn more about how the side effects of Pomalyst and Revlimid compare, see this article. For a closer look at Revlimid’s side effects, you can visit this page.

Are there any long-term side effects of Pomalyst?

Yes, Pomalyst may cause long-term side effects in rare cases.

For example, Pomalyst may cause liver problems, such as liver failure. This side effect may occur at any time during Pomalyst treatment. And its effects could last for a long time after treatment ends.

If you are concerned about long-term side effects with Pomalyst, talk with your doctor. To learn more, see the “Serious side effects of Pomalyst” section above.

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

Skin rash

Pomalyst may cause a skin rash. A slight skin rash was common in clinical trials of the drug.

However, in rare cases, skin rash with Pomalyst can be more severe. Examples of severe skin reactions include:

In addition to a rash, symptoms of the above severe skin reactions or others may include:

What you can do

If you get a skin rash while taking Pomalyst, talk with your doctor. They can tell you if the rash is mild or severe or if it might require treatment.

However, if you have a severe skin rash or other symptoms of severe skin reactions, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.

Cardiac side effects

Certain cardiac (heart-related) side effects may occur with Pomalyst treatment. These side effects were rare in clinical trials of Pomalyst for multiple myeloma. However, they weren’t reported in trials for Kaposi sarcoma.

Possible cardiac side effects with Pomalyst can include:

Symptoms can vary depending on the type of cardiac problem you have. But they may include swelling in your arms or legs, shortness of breath, and pain that spreads from your chest to your jaw, neck, or back.

What you can do

If you have symptoms of a cardiac side effect with Pomalyst, see your doctor right away. If your symptoms seem life threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

* Your risk of heart attack can increase if you have a blood clot. Pomalyst has a boxed warning for the risk of blood clots. For details, see “Risk of blood clots” below.

Infection of the nose or throat

Pomalyst may cause an infection of the nose or throat. This was a common side effect in clinical trials of the drug. This side effect is sometimes called an upper respiratory infection or the common cold.

Symptoms of a nose or throat infection include:

What you can do

If you have symptoms of a nose or throat infection, it’s important to stay hydrated and get plenty of rest. Your doctor can also suggest ways to ease your symptoms. For example, they may recommend taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

However, before taking any OTC medications with Pomalyst, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can let you know if these medications are safe to take during Pomalyst treatment.

Dizziness

Dizziness may occur with Pomalyst. This was a common side effect in clinical trials of Pomalyst for multiple myeloma. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in trials for Kaposi sarcoma.

Along with dizziness, you may also have confusion, loss of balance, or lightheadedness with Pomalyst treatment.

What you can do

Until you know how Pomalyst affects you, it may be best to avoid driving or performing tasks that could be dangerous. If you find that you don’t have dizziness with Pomalyst, it should be safe to continue these activities.

If you have dizziness with Pomalyst, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage this side effect.

Risk of blood clots

Taking Pomalyst can increase the risk of blood clots. In fact, Pomalyst has a boxed warning about this side effect. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Blood clots were a less common side effect in clinical trials of Pomalyst.

Specific types of blood clots that can happen with Pomalyst include:

Be sure to watch for the following symptoms of blood clots while taking Pomalyst:

Your risk of blood clots with Pomalyst may be higher if you smoke or have certain health conditions. These include high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

What you can do

In rare cases, blood clots can lead to heart attack or stroke. So, it is important to watch for the symptoms above. If you have symptoms of a blood clot with Pomalyst, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Blood clots can be life threatening if left untreated.

Your doctor may give you treatments to lower your risk of blood clots with Pomalyst. They will advise on which treatment is right for you.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Pomalyst can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. However, it has been reported since Pomalyst became available for use.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Pomalyst. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Pomalyst has warnings that may affect whether you can safely take the medication. Keep reading to learn more.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings, which are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of blood clots. For details about the risk of blood clots, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.

Risk of harm to a fetus. To learn more about the risk of harm to a fetus, see “Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Pomalyst” below.

Other precautions

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before taking Pomalyst. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Kidney problems and dialysis. Before taking Pomalyst, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or you are having dialysis treatment. They may prescribe you a lower dosage* than usual. Or they may adjust your dosage schedule around your dialysis appointments. Talk with your doctor about the dosing options that are best for you.

Liver problems. Before taking Pomalyst, tell your doctor if you have liver problems. They may prescribe a lower dosage* than usual for you. Pomalyst can also cause liver problems as a side effect. If you develop liver problems, your doctor will advise whether it’s still safe for you to take Pomalyst. (To learn more, see the “Serious side effects of Pomalyst” section above.)

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Pomalyst or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe the drug. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you. (For details about allergic reaction, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.)

Smoking. Before starting treatment with Pomalyst, tell your doctor if you smoke cigarettes. Smoking can make Pomalyst less effective in treating your condition. Your doctor may advise you to stop smoking before you take the drug. Or they may recommend a treatment other than Pomalyst for your condition.

* To learn more about Pomalyst dosage, see this article.

Alcohol use with Pomalyst

It should be safe to drink a moderate amount of alcohol while taking Pomalyst. There isn’t any known interaction between drinking alcohol and taking Pomalyst.

Keep in mind that drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to liver problems. And liver problems are a possible serious side effect of Pomalyst. So, it’s possible that drinking large amounts of alcohol while taking Pomalyst could increase your risk of liver problems. (To learn more, see the “Serious side effects of Pomalyst” section above.)

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the amount that’s safe for you to drink while taking Pomalyst.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Pomalyst

Below are details about taking Pomalyst during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy while taking Pomalyst

You should not take Pomalyst during pregnancy. The drug has a boxed warning about the risk of harm to a fetus if taken during pregnancy. This is a serious warning from the FDA.

If taken during pregnancy, Pomalyst may cause problems with fetal development (congenital anomalies commonly known as birth defects). Examples of these problems include:

  • ocular (eye-related) side effects, such as having eyes that are smaller than usual
  • short limbs (arms or legs) or the absence of limbs
  • ears that are smaller than usual or missing altogether

Because of this risk, your doctor will make sure you have a negative pregnancy test before starting treatment with the drug. And they’ll continue to make sure you have negative pregnancy tests throughout your treatment.

If you become pregnant while taking Pomalyst, it’s important to tell your doctor right away. You or your doctor could also:

Doing the above helps gather information about how certain drugs affect pregnancy. To learn more, call 888-423-5436, or talk with your doctor.

Pomalyst REMS program and birth control

Before taking Pomalyst, you will have to enroll in the Pomalyst Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. Your doctor and the pharmacy that dispenses Pomalyst to you will also be required to enroll.

The REMS program ensures you follow birth control guidelines to prevent pregnancy while taking Pomalyst. This means you will start using birth control at least 4 weeks before starting Pomalyst treatment. You will continue using an effective form of birth control while taking the drug and for at least 4 weeks after you stop the drug.

Females* should abstain from sex with male* partners during Pomalyst treatment. Or they should use at least two effective forms of birth control while taking Pomalyst. Males should use condoms if their sexual partner can become pregnant. They should also use condoms even if they’ve had a vasectomy (a type of permanent male birth control).

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “female” and “male” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Breastfeeding while taking Pomalyst

It is unknown if Pomalyst passes into breast milk during breastfeeding. But because of the possible risks to a breastfed child, you should avoid breastfeeding while taking the drug.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed while taking Pomalyst, talk with your doctor. They can recommend other healthy ways to feed your child.

Pomalyst may cause mild and serious side effects. If you have bothersome side effects with Pomalyst that won’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you’d like to learn more about Pomalyst, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Pomalyst. For details about other aspects of Pomalyst, refer to this article.
  • Pomalyst dosage. To learn about the typical dosages of Pomalyst, see this article.
  • Drug comparison. To learn how Pomalyst compares with Doxil, see this article.
  • A look at cancer. For details about cancer, see our cancer hub and list of cancer and oncology articles.

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.