DOXORUBICIN

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC

High Safety Concerns with Doxorubicin, Particularly for Serious Reactions

148,755 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About DOXORUBICIN

DOXORUBICIN is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC. Based on analysis of 148,755 FDA adverse event reports, DOXORUBICIN 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 DOXORUBICIN include FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA, OFF LABEL USE, DISEASE PROGRESSION, NEUTROPENIA, DRUG INEFFECTIVE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for DOXORUBICIN.

AI Safety Analysis

Doxorubicin 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 148,755 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Amneal Pharmaceuticals Llc.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Febrile Neutropenia, Off Label Use, Disease Progression. Of classified reports, 96.4% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Doxorubicin is associated with a high number of serious adverse reactions, including death and severe infections.

The drug shows a wide range of reactions, indicating potential for diverse side effects. Report volume is substantial, with over 148,000 reports, providing a comprehensive dataset for analysis.

Patients taking Doxorubicin should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Doxorubicin can cause severe cardiac toxicity and failure, and its use should be carefully monitored, especially in patients with pre-existing heart conditions. It is contraindicated in patients with severe cardiac dysfunction. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Doxorubicin received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 96.4% serious event ratio across 84,591 classified reports. The score accounts for 148,755 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

FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA8,717 reports
OFF LABEL USE8,461 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION6,242 reports
NEUTROPENIA6,180 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE4,974 reports
PYREXIA3,894 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA3,634 reports
ANAEMIA3,623 reports
DEATH3,039 reports
NAUSEA3,033 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION2,932 reports
PNEUMONIA2,720 reports
SEPSIS2,698 reports
DIARRHOEA2,600 reports
VOMITING2,475 reports
FATIGUE2,165 reports
PANCYTOPENIA2,081 reports
INFECTION2,068 reports
MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION2,035 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL2,004 reports
MUCOSAL INFLAMMATION1,920 reports
DYSPNOEA1,789 reports
LEUKOPENIA1,650 reports
ALOPECIA1,552 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK1,461 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED1,412 reports
ASTHENIA1,393 reports
MYELOSUPPRESSION1,325 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS1,311 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE1,296 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY1,274 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED1,245 reports
ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA1,236 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,235 reports
NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED1,231 reports
COVID 191,228 reports
HYPOTENSION1,182 reports
CARDIOTOXICITY1,172 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE1,149 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE1,142 reports
HAEMATOTOXICITY1,133 reports
MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME1,130 reports
DIFFUSE LARGE B CELL LYMPHOMA1,120 reports
PAIN1,082 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,073 reports
CONSTIPATION1,065 reports
DIFFUSE LARGE B CELL LYMPHOMA RECURRENT1,046 reports
NEOPLASM PROGRESSION1,002 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED999 reports
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE995 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION972 reports
CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME969 reports
DISEASE RECURRENCE962 reports
STOMATITIS954 reports
PLEURAL EFFUSION910 reports
THERAPY PARTIAL RESPONDER904 reports
BONE MARROW FAILURE899 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM895 reports
HEADACHE870 reports
COUGH854 reports
RASH833 reports
RENAL FAILURE786 reports
TUMOUR LYSIS SYNDROME775 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED767 reports
HYPOKALAEMIA755 reports
PLASMA CELL MYELOMA747 reports
LYMPHADENOPATHY734 reports
MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME732 reports
CYTOPENIA727 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION725 reports
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS720 reports
BLOOD LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE INCREASED708 reports
EJECTION FRACTION DECREASED705 reports
THERAPY NON RESPONDER703 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED696 reports
MALAISE694 reports
CARDIOMYOPATHY692 reports
DEHYDRATION687 reports
HYPERTENSION685 reports
SECOND PRIMARY MALIGNANCY682 reports
DIZZINESS640 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE624 reports
PNEUMONITIS620 reports
BACK PAIN614 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION611 reports
NEUTROPENIC SEPSIS609 reports
PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECII PNEUMONIA608 reports
HEPATITIS B REACTIVATION600 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED588 reports
NEUROTOXICITY586 reports
TACHYCARDIA585 reports
FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY577 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE568 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA557 reports
BONE PAIN553 reports
CHILLS545 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER536 reports
HEPATITIS B533 reports
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA520 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION516 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Frequent reports of severe infections such as sepsis and pneumonia.
  • High incidence of hematological toxicity, including anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia.
  • Significant number of reports related to cardiac toxicity and failure.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 35,165, Male: 29,966, Unknown: 2,027. The most frequently reported age groups are age 62 (1,437 reports), age 60 (1,434 reports), age 64 (1,367 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 84,591 classified reports for DOXORUBICIN:

  • Serious: 81,567 reports (96.4%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 3,024 reports (3.6%)
Serious 96.4%Non-Serious 3.6%

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

Female35,165 (52.4%)
Male29,966 (44.6%)
Unknown2,027 (3.0%)

Reports by Age

Age 621,437 reports
Age 601,434 reports
Age 641,367 reports
Age 651,363 reports
Age 661,358 reports
Age 671,249 reports
Age 681,246 reports
Age 631,195 reports
Age 611,185 reports
Age 691,182 reports
Age 701,164 reports
Age 591,157 reports
Age 561,138 reports
Age 581,132 reports
Age 571,109 reports
Age 551,086 reports
Age 711,070 reports
Age 541,002 reports
Age 52998 reports
Age 50987 reports

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

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Doxorubicin can cause severe cardiac toxicity and failure, and its use should be carefully monitored, especially in patients with pre-existing heart conditions. It is contraindicated in patients with severe cardiac dysfunction.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Doxorubicin, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include febrile neutropenia, off label use, disease progression, neutropenia, drug ineffective. 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 cardiac toxicity, including shortness of breath and chest pain. Regular blood tests are necessary to check for hematological toxicity and adjust dosing as needed. 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 continues to monitor the safety of doxorubicin and has issued several safety alerts. Healthcare providers are advised to follow the latest guidelines and report any adverse events to the FDA.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The FDA has received approximately 148,755 adverse event reports associated with Doxorubicin. 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 Doxorubicin?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Doxorubicin include Febrile Neutropenia, Off Label Use, Disease Progression, Neutropenia, Drug Ineffective. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Febrile Neutropenia (8,717 reports), Off Label Use (8,461 reports), Disease Progression (6,242 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Doxorubicin.

What percentage of Doxorubicin adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 84,591 classified reports, 81,567 (96.4%) were classified as serious and 3,024 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 Doxorubicin (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Doxorubicin break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 35,165, Male: 29,966, Unknown: 2,027. 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 Doxorubicin?

The most frequently reported age groups for Doxorubicin adverse events are: age 62: 1,437 reports, age 60: 1,434 reports, age 64: 1,367 reports, age 65: 1,363 reports, age 66: 1,358 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 Doxorubicin?

The primary manufacturer associated with Doxorubicin adverse event reports is Amneal Pharmaceuticals Llc. 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 Doxorubicin?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Doxorubicin include: Pyrexia, Thrombocytopenia, Anaemia, Death, Nausea. 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 Doxorubicin?

You can report adverse events from Doxorubicin 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 Doxorubicin's safety score and what does it mean?

Doxorubicin 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. Doxorubicin is associated with a high number of serious adverse reactions, including death and severe infections.

What are the key safety signals for Doxorubicin?

Key safety signals identified in Doxorubicin's adverse event data include: Frequent reports of severe infections such as sepsis and pneumonia.. High incidence of hematological toxicity, including anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia.. Significant number of reports related to cardiac toxicity and failure.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Doxorubicin interact with other drugs?

Doxorubicin can cause severe cardiac toxicity and failure, and its use should be carefully monitored, especially in patients with pre-existing heart conditions. It is contraindicated in patients with severe cardiac dysfunction. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Doxorubicin.

What should patients know before taking Doxorubicin?

Patients should be closely monitored for signs of cardiac toxicity, including shortness of breath and chest pain. Regular blood tests are necessary to check for hematological toxicity and adjust dosing as needed.

Are Doxorubicin side effects well-documented?

Doxorubicin has 148,755 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug shows a wide range of reactions, indicating potential for diverse side effects. The volume of reports for Doxorubicin reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Doxorubicin?

The FDA continues to monitor the safety of doxorubicin and has issued several safety alerts. Healthcare providers are advised to follow the latest guidelines and report any adverse events to the FDA. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to DOXORUBICIN based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLCNovartis Pharmaceuticals CorporationSanofiMylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.Pfizer Inc.
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.