Rezurock (belumosudil) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for chronic graft-versus-host disease in adults and some children. As with other drugs, Rezurock can cause side effects. These include nausea and headache.
Rezurock 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 Rezurock in clinical trials:
- diarrhea
- shortness of breath
- muscle and bone pain
- serious infection*
- nausea and vomiting*
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
Mild side effects can occur with Rezurock. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Rezurock’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects that have been reported with Rezurock include:
- muscle weakness
- swelling in the face, legs, or feet
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- problems swallowing
- cough
- sinus congestion
- muscle, joint, or bone pain
- nosebleed
- blood in the urine
- muscle spasms
- headache
- itching and skin rash
- nausea and vomiting*
- mild allergic reaction†
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.
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 Rezurock and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Rezurock. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
Rezurock 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 Rezurock’s prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Rezurock, 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:
- High blood pressure. Typically, there are no symptoms with this side effect. If blood pressure is very high, it’s possible to experience:
- Increased liver enzymes. Symptoms can include:
- nausea and vomiting
- jaundice
- dark urine
- abdominal pain
- Serious infection.*
- Severe allergic reaction.†
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Rezurock. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Rezurock may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Rezurock.
Serious infection
In clinical trials of Rezurock, serious infection was a commonly reported side effect. Types of infections reported included pneumonia, sepsis, and serious skin infections. Symptoms of an infection can include:
- fatigue
- cough or shortness of breath
- areas of skin that are warm, painful, or discolored
- diarrhea that does not get better on its own
- chills or fever
- body ache
What you can do
Let your doctor know right away if you have any symptoms of an infection. They’ll decide about a treatment for your infection and advise whether you’ll need to stop taking Rezurock until your infection clears. They may adjust your dosage of Rezurock when you restart it or recommend that you stop taking it permanently.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting were commonly reported side effects in Rezurock’s clinical trials. Symptoms can include:
- queasiness
- decreased appetite
- pressure in your stomach or throat
- dizziness
What you can do
Let your doctor know about any vomiting that does not stop on its own. In some cases, your doctor may recommend stopping Rezurock until the vomiting resolves. Or, they may prescribe medications to help ease the nausea and vomiting. You can also try:
- eating small, bland meals
- sipping cold beverages
- avoiding oily or fried foods
- avoiding exercise right after eating
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, Rezurock can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
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 Rezurock. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Rezurock. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are known as drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:
Serious kidney problems. If you have a kidney condition, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Rezurock. Clinical trials of Rezurock did not study how the drug may interact with kidney problems. As such, it’s unknown whether this drug is safe to take if you have a serious kidney problem. Your doctor may recommend a different treatment option for you.
Serious liver problems. Tell your doctor if you have a liver problem. Rezurock’s clinical trials did not study how this drug may affect existing liver problems. As such, it’s not known whether Rezurock is safe to take with liver conditions. However, Rezurock can cause increased levels of liver enzymes. If you have a serious liver problem, taking Rezurock could make it worse. In this case, your doctor may reduce your Rezurock dose, temporarily pause your treatment, or recommend another drug for your condition.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Rezurock or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Rezurock. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, Rezurock is not considered safe for you to take. If you or your partner can become pregnant, your doctor will recommend using birth control during your treatment with Rezurock and for 1 week after your last dose. If you wish to breastfeed, they’ll likely recommend that you wait until at least 1 week after your last Rezurock dose.
Be sure to tell your doctor that you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. They can let you know about other treatment options for your condition and safe ways to feed your child.
Alcohol consumption. If you drink alcohol, Rezurock is likely safe for you to take. There are no known interactions between Rezurock and alcohol. If you have questions about alcohol consumption during treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Rezurock, like other drugs, can cause side effects. Most are mild, but some can be serious and may require medical attention. If you’d like to learn more about Rezurock, 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 Rezurock. For details about other aspects of Rezurock, refer to this article.
- Cost. If you’d like to learn about Rezurock and cost, see this article.
- Dosage. For information about the dosage of Rezurock, view this article.
- A look at your condition. For details about chronic graft-versus-host disease, see our list of transplant and organ donation 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.