Avastin side effects

Avastin can cause a rare but serious neurologic disorder affecting the brain. Symptoms include headache, confusion, vision problems, feeling very weak or tired, fainting, and seizure (blackout or convulsions). These rare symptoms may occur within hours of your first dose of Avastin, or they may not appear for up to a year after your treatment started. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects.

Some people receiving a Avastin injection have had a reaction to the infusion (when the medicine is injected into the vein). Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, sweaty, or have a headache, wheezing, or chest pain during the injection.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Avastin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• any wound that will not heal;
• severe stomach pain with fever, vomiting, and constipation;
• blood in your urine or stools, vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin, or any bleeding that will not stop;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;
• sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache, confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs;
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure);
• puffy eyes, swelling in your stomach, arms, or legs;
• rapid weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all;
• urine that looks foamy;
• pain or burning when you urinate, loss of bladder or bowel control;
• ongoing vaginal discharge, itching, or other irritation; or
• missed menstrual periods.

Less serious Avastin side effects may include:

• mild headache;
• back pain;
• diarrhea, loss of appetite;
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat;
• dry or watery eyes;
• dry or flaky skin, hair loss;
• changes in your sense of taste; or
• jaw pain, swelling, numbness, loose teeth, gum infection.