Vumerity side effects: What you should know

Vumerity 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 Vumerity in clinical trials:

• abdominal pain
• nausea
• heartburn
• diarrhea*
• flushing*

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

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

Mild side effects that have been reported with Vumerity include:

• abdominal pain
• nausea
• heartburn
• vomiting
• skin discoloration or rash
• flushing*
• diarrhea*
• 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 and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Vumerity and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

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

Vumerity may cause serious side effects. However, serious side effects from Vumerity aren’t common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Vumerity’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Vumerity, 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:

• Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Symptoms can include:
  • vision problems
  • confusion
  • weakness or clumsiness on one side of your body
  • changes in personality
• Low white blood cell level. Symptoms can include:
  • frequent infections
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • fever
• Shingles or other infections. Symptoms can include:
  • painful rash
  • blistering
  • fever
• Liver problems.*
• Severe allergic reaction.*

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

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

How do side effects of Vumerity compare with those seen with Tecfidera?

Both Vumerity and Tecfidera are used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). In fact, these medications are broken down in your body into the same drug, called monomethyl fumarate. Because of this, you should not take Vumerity and Tecfidera together.

As Vumerity and Tecfidera are broken down into the same substance, the side effects of these drugs are also the same. So both medications can cause side effects such as:

• flushing*
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea*
• liver problems*

If you have questions about which medication is the best treatment option for you, talk with your doctor.

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

Does Vumerity cause weight gain?

No, weight gain wasn’t reported as a side effect of Vumerity in clinical trials. However, other medications used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), such as prednisone (Rayos), may cause weight gain.

If you experience changes in your weight while you’re taking Vumerity, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing the weight gain. In addition, they may be able to recommend ways to maintain a weight that is healthy for you.

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

Flushing

Flushing was one of the most common side effects reported in Vumerity’s clinical trials. When flushing occurs, your skin becomes hot and discolored.

You may be at the highest risk of flushing when you first start taking Vumerity.

Flushing is also a possible symptom of an allergic reaction. If you are experiencing flushing along with other signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash or swelling, call your doctor right away.

What you can do

If you experience flushing from taking Vumerity, talk with your doctor. Flushing may occur when you first start taking Vumerity and may improve over time.

To try to reduce flushing that you experience, your doctor may recommend taking Vumerity with food. However, you should avoid high fat, high calorie foods.

If you have flushing that’s severe or bothersome, your doctor may recommend taking aspirin before your dose of Vumerity. This may help decrease flushing that may occur. Your doctor can recommend the best ways to manage this side effect.

Diarrhea

In Vumerity’s clinical trials, diarrhea was one of the most common side effects reported.

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you experience diarrhea that’s severe or bothersome to you. In some cases, stomach problems, such as diarrhea, may be most common when you first start taking Vumerity. This side effect may improve over time.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend taking an antidiarrheal medication, such as Imodium (loperamide), to help manage your diarrhea.

Liver problems

It’s possible to develop elevated liver enzymes while taking Vumerity. This may indicate liver problems.

Liver problems were not a common side effect in Vumerity’s clinical trials. Symptoms of liver problems may include:

• fatigue
• abdominal pain
• jaundice
• loss of appetite

What you can do

If you develop symptoms of liver problems while taking Vumerity, talk with your doctor right away. They will likely recommend that you stop treatment with Vumerity and try a different medication to treat your condition.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Vumerity can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

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 Vumerity. 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 Vumerity. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Liver problems. Tell your doctor about any liver problems, such as cirrhosis, that you have before starting Vumerity. This drug can cause liver problems. If you already have liver problems, taking Vumerity may make your condition worse. In this case, your doctor can help determine whether Vumerity may be a safe treatment option for you.

Low white blood cell levels. If you have low white blood cell levels or any immune system conditions, such as trouble fighting infections, tell your doctor. It’s possible for Vumerity to cause a decrease in your white blood cell levels. This can make your white blood cell levels even lower or potentially worsen your immune system condition. Your doctor can help determine whether Vumerity may be safe for you. In some cases, they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vumerity or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vumerity. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Kidney problems. Tell your doctor if you have any kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease, before starting Vumerity. If you have moderate or severe kidney problems, your doctor may not recommend Vumerity. In this case, your doctor can recommend a different treatment option for you.

Taking Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate). Tell your doctor if you’re taking Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) before starting Vumerity. You should not take these two medications together. This is because both Vumerity and Tecfidera are broken down into the same drug in your body. So taking both Vumerity and Tecfidera means you’ll be getting too much of the same medication. This can increase your risk of side effects. Talk with your doctor about all of the medications you’re taking before starting Vumerity.

Alcohol with Vumerity

You should not drink alcohol at the same time that you take your Vumerity dose. This is because alcohol may make Vumerity less effective. This means the drug may not work as well as it should.

In addition, drinking alcohol while taking Vumerity may increase your risk of side effects from the drug. This is because both Vumerity and alcohol may cause side effects, such as:

• flushing*
• nausea
• vomiting
• liver problems*

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Vumerity, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Vumerity

It’s not known whether Vumerity may be safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

At this time, there isn’t enough information in humans to determine whether Vumerity may be safe to take during pregnancy or what effects the drug may have on a developing fetus. In animal studies, there was an increased risk of congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) occurring when a pregnant animal was exposed to Vumerity. However, animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans.

It’s not known if Vumerity is present in breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a child who is breastfed.

If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before taking Vumerity.

In most cases, side effects of Vumerity are mild. However, serious side effects from this medication are possible as well.

If you’d like to learn more about Vumerity, 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 Vumerity. For details about other aspects of Vumerity, refer to this article.
• Drug comparison. To learn how Vumerity compares with Tecfidera, read this article.
• A look at multiple sclerosis. For details about multiple sclerosis, see our multiple sclerosis hub.

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.