AZACITIDINE

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Celgene Corporation

High Safety Concerns with Azacitidine, Particularly for Serious Reactions

50,397 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About AZACITIDINE

AZACITIDINE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Celgene Corporation. Based on analysis of 50,397 FDA adverse event reports, AZACITIDINE has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for AZACITIDINE include DEATH, FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA, ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA, PNEUMONIA, OFF LABEL USE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for AZACITIDINE.

AI Safety Analysis

Azacitidine has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 50,397 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Celgene Corporation.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Death, Febrile Neutropenia, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Of classified reports, 95.3% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Azacitidine is associated with a high number of serious adverse reactions, including death, sepsis, and pneumonia.

The drug shows a significant risk of hematological toxicity, including anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. There is a notable risk of infections and sepsis, which are among the most frequently reported adverse events.

Patients taking Azacitidine should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Azacitidine can cause severe hematological and infectious complications, and patients should be monitored closely for signs of these adverse events. Drug interactions are not well-documented, but caution is advised when used with other hematological This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Azacitidine received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 95.3% serious event ratio across 28,019 classified reports. The score accounts for 50,397 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DEATH3,212 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA2,840 reports
ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA2,117 reports
PNEUMONIA1,926 reports
OFF LABEL USE1,875 reports
NEUTROPENIA1,761 reports
PYREXIA1,570 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA1,447 reports
MYELOSUPPRESSION1,307 reports
ANAEMIA1,292 reports
SEPSIS1,220 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED1,180 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE1,143 reports
INFECTION1,049 reports
PANCYTOPENIA995 reports
NAUSEA974 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED924 reports
DIARRHOEA849 reports
NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED762 reports
MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME759 reports
FATIGUE726 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION619 reports
VOMITING605 reports
ASTHENIA597 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK596 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED594 reports
ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA RECURRENT556 reports
CONSTIPATION548 reports
CYTOPENIA545 reports
DYSPNOEA457 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION397 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE384 reports
TUMOUR LYSIS SYNDROME364 reports
RASH352 reports
DECREASED APPETITE351 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY339 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE323 reports
FALL311 reports
COVID 19310 reports
HYPOTENSION304 reports
PLEURAL EFFUSION291 reports
LEUKOPENIA272 reports
RENAL FAILURE270 reports
BONE MARROW FAILURE266 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION264 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION250 reports
MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION248 reports
BRONCHOPULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS247 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN246 reports
DIZZINESS246 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION244 reports
CELLULITIS241 reports
MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME241 reports
EPISTAXIS230 reports
BACTERAEMIA228 reports
MALAISE227 reports
CEREBRAL HAEMORRHAGE226 reports
FULL BLOOD COUNT DECREASED225 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED222 reports
PNEUMONITIS219 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE219 reports
PNEUMONIA FUNGAL218 reports
HAEMORRHAGE215 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED212 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL211 reports
PAIN211 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE204 reports
COUGH203 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE203 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED199 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS194 reports
THERAPY NON RESPONDER190 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE187 reports
HAEMATOTOXICITY183 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE180 reports
HYPOKALAEMIA179 reports
AGRANULOCYTOSIS178 reports
BLAST CELL COUNT INCREASED178 reports
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE177 reports
SYNCOPE172 reports
HOSPITALISATION170 reports
HEADACHE169 reports
RED BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED167 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT167 reports
C REACTIVE PROTEIN INCREASED166 reports
LEUKAEMIA164 reports
PRURITUS163 reports
LEUKOCYTOSIS159 reports
HYPOXIA156 reports
DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION153 reports
BACK PAIN152 reports
CARDIAC ARREST152 reports
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT152 reports
NEUTROPENIC SEPSIS152 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT INCREASED152 reports
COLITIS146 reports
NO THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE142 reports
GRAFT VERSUS HOST DISEASE140 reports
TRANSFORMATION TO ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA140 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA139 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Death and sepsis are the most serious reactions reported, with a high frequency of occurrence.
  • Hematological toxicity, including anemia and neutropenia, is a key safety signal.
  • Infections and sepsis are frequently reported, indicating a significant risk of severe infections.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 14,796, Female: 9,536, Unknown: 226. The most frequently reported age groups are age 72 (896 reports), age 71 (886 reports), age 70 (849 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 28,019 classified reports for AZACITIDINE:

  • Serious: 26,701 reports (95.3%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 1,318 reports (4.7%)
Serious 95.3%Non-Serious 4.7%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Male14,796 (60.2%)
Female9,536 (38.8%)
Unknown226 (0.9%)

Reports by Age

Age 72896 reports
Age 71886 reports
Age 70849 reports
Age 73844 reports
Age 74836 reports
Age 75831 reports
Age 77759 reports
Age 76758 reports
Age 78721 reports
Age 79690 reports
Age 80682 reports
Age 69649 reports
Age 68645 reports
Age 67557 reports
Age 65538 reports
Age 81534 reports
Age 66454 reports
Age 82440 reports
Age 64429 reports
Age 62420 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Azacitidine can cause severe hematological and infectious complications, and patients should be monitored closely for signs of these adverse events. Drug interactions are not well-documented, but caution is advised when used with other hematological

What You Should Know

If you are taking Azacitidine, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include death, febrile neutropenia, acute myeloid leukaemia, pneumonia, off label use. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should be closely monitored for signs of severe infections, anemia, and neutropenia. Regular blood tests are essential to detect early signs of hematological toxicity. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA closely monitors the safety of Azacitidine, and any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to healthcare providers immediately. Regular blood tests are recommended to monitor for hematological toxicity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Azacitidine?

The FDA has received approximately 50,397 adverse event reports associated with Azacitidine. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Azacitidine?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Azacitidine include Death, Febrile Neutropenia, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, Pneumonia, Off Label Use. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Death (3,212 reports), Febrile Neutropenia (2,840 reports), Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (2,117 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Azacitidine.

What percentage of Azacitidine adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 28,019 classified reports, 26,701 (95.3%) were classified as serious and 1,318 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Azacitidine (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Azacitidine break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 14,796, Female: 9,536, Unknown: 226. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Azacitidine?

The most frequently reported age groups for Azacitidine adverse events are: age 72: 896 reports, age 71: 886 reports, age 70: 849 reports, age 73: 844 reports, age 74: 836 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Azacitidine?

The primary manufacturer associated with Azacitidine adverse event reports is Celgene Corporation. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Azacitidine?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Azacitidine include: Neutropenia, Pyrexia, Thrombocytopenia, Myelosuppression, Anaemia. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Azacitidine?

You can report adverse events from Azacitidine to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Azacitidine's safety score and what does it mean?

Azacitidine has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Azacitidine is associated with a high number of serious adverse reactions, including death, sepsis, and pneumonia.

What are the key safety signals for Azacitidine?

Key safety signals identified in Azacitidine's adverse event data include: Death and sepsis are the most serious reactions reported, with a high frequency of occurrence.. Hematological toxicity, including anemia and neutropenia, is a key safety signal.. Infections and sepsis are frequently reported, indicating a significant risk of severe infections.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Azacitidine interact with other drugs?

Azacitidine can cause severe hematological and infectious complications, and patients should be monitored closely for signs of these adverse events. Drug interactions are not well-documented, but caution is advised when used with other hematological Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Azacitidine.

What should patients know before taking Azacitidine?

Patients should be closely monitored for signs of severe infections, anemia, and neutropenia. Regular blood tests are essential to detect early signs of hematological toxicity.

Are Azacitidine side effects well-documented?

Azacitidine has 50,397 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug shows a significant risk of hematological toxicity, including anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. The volume of reports for Azacitidine reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Azacitidine?

The FDA closely monitors the safety of Azacitidine, and any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to healthcare providers immediately. Regular blood tests are recommended to monitor for hematological toxicity. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

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Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.