GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDE

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Armas Pharmaceuticals Inc.

High Safety Concerns with Gemcitabine Hydrochloride

92,220 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDE

GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Armas Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Based on analysis of 92,220 FDA adverse event reports, GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDE 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 GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDE include DISEASE PROGRESSION, OFF LABEL USE, THROMBOCYTOPENIA, NEUTROPENIA, ANAEMIA. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDE.

AI Safety Analysis

Gemcitabine Hydrochloride 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 92,220 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Armas Pharmaceuticals Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Disease Progression, Off Label Use, Thrombocytopenia. Of classified reports, 97.1% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Gemcitabine Hydrochloride is associated with a high frequency of serious adverse events, particularly hematological and gastrointestinal issues.

The drug is often used off-label, indicating potential misuse or unapproved therapeutic applications. Significant drug interactions and warnings are present, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.

Patients taking Gemcitabine Hydrochloride should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Gemcitabine Hydrochloride can cause severe hematological and gastrointestinal side effects, and its use should be closely monitored for potential drug interactions and signs of toxicity. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Gemcitabine Hydrochloride received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 97.1% serious event ratio across 50,349 classified reports. The score accounts for 92,220 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

DISEASE PROGRESSION4,636 reports
OFF LABEL USE3,864 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA3,564 reports
NEUTROPENIA3,177 reports
ANAEMIA2,976 reports
MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION2,750 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE2,629 reports
PYREXIA2,528 reports
NAUSEA2,527 reports
DIARRHOEA2,046 reports
VOMITING2,044 reports
FATIGUE2,024 reports
DEATH1,908 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA1,763 reports
DYSPNOEA1,568 reports
ASTHENIA1,493 reports
MYELOSUPPRESSION1,451 reports
PNEUMONIA1,418 reports
PANCYTOPENIA1,251 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL1,229 reports
SEPSIS1,221 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,195 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED1,166 reports
LEUKOPENIA1,106 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,070 reports
NEOPLASM PROGRESSION1,050 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION1,027 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION1,005 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY975 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM951 reports
RASH902 reports
THROMBOTIC MICROANGIOPATHY889 reports
DEHYDRATION819 reports
PLEURAL EFFUSION805 reports
NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED799 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED767 reports
CONSTIPATION750 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS726 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL717 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED710 reports
INFECTION675 reports
PAIN656 reports
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS618 reports
HYPOTENSION602 reports
ASCITES583 reports
HYPERTENSION580 reports
COUGH566 reports
METASTASES TO LIVER560 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED557 reports
HAEMATOTOXICITY555 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED547 reports
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE541 reports
MUCOSAL INFLAMMATION541 reports
CHOLANGITIS531 reports
PNEUMONITIS528 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE527 reports
DIZZINESS520 reports
MALAISE509 reports
RENAL FAILURE509 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK509 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION491 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED473 reports
BONE MARROW FAILURE470 reports
PRURITUS462 reports
CHILLS456 reports
ERYTHEMA450 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA446 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE444 reports
THERAPY PARTIAL RESPONDER437 reports
CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME436 reports
DISEASE RECURRENCE434 reports
HEADACHE427 reports
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED420 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT404 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE402 reports
ALOPECIA397 reports
HYPOKALAEMIA389 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE389 reports
NEUTROPENIC SEPSIS385 reports
CHEST PAIN384 reports
METASTASES TO LUNG380 reports
DIFFUSE LARGE B CELL LYMPHOMA374 reports
NEUROTOXICITY370 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED369 reports
PALMAR PLANTAR ERYTHRODYSAESTHESIA SYNDROME363 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE358 reports
DIFFUSE LARGE B CELL LYMPHOMA RECURRENT357 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE355 reports
CYTOPENIA352 reports
EPISTAXIS339 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION338 reports
THERAPY NON RESPONDER336 reports
BLOOD LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE INCREASED334 reports
ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA333 reports
COLITIS333 reports
BACK PAIN332 reports
DRUG RESISTANCE326 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY326 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE325 reports
PARAESTHESIA314 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High incidence of hematological adverse events such as thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia.
  • Frequent gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
  • Serious infections and sepsis are common, indicating a high risk of severe complications.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 21,047, Female: 20,105, Unknown: 374. The most frequently reported age groups are age 68 (1,272 reports), age 67 (1,263 reports), age 70 (1,200 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 50,349 classified reports for GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDE:

  • Serious: 48,908 reports (97.1%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 1,441 reports (2.9%)
Serious 97.1%Non-Serious 2.9%

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

Male21,047 (50.7%)
Female20,105 (48.4%)
Unknown374 (0.9%)

Reports by Age

Age 681,272 reports
Age 671,263 reports
Age 701,200 reports
Age 651,173 reports
Age 691,159 reports
Age 661,128 reports
Age 641,109 reports
Age 721,088 reports
Age 711,027 reports
Age 601,013 reports
Age 62975 reports
Age 73974 reports
Age 63947 reports
Age 74939 reports
Age 75933 reports
Age 58910 reports
Age 61872 reports
Age 59857 reports
Age 76854 reports
Age 55851 reports

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

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Gemcitabine Hydrochloride can cause severe hematological and gastrointestinal side effects, and its use should be closely monitored for potential drug interactions and signs of toxicity.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Gemcitabine Hydrochloride, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include disease progression, off label use, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anaemia. 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 hematological and gastrointestinal side effects. Healthcare providers should be aware of potential drug interactions and follow guidelines for off-label use. 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

Regulatory oversight is necessary to ensure proper use and monitoring of Gemcitabine Hydrochloride, given its high safety concerns and serious adverse event profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

The FDA has received approximately 92,220 adverse event reports associated with Gemcitabine Hydrochloride. 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 Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Gemcitabine Hydrochloride include Disease Progression, Off Label Use, Thrombocytopenia, Neutropenia, Anaemia. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Disease Progression (4,636 reports), Off Label Use (3,864 reports), Thrombocytopenia (3,564 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Gemcitabine Hydrochloride.

What percentage of Gemcitabine Hydrochloride adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 50,349 classified reports, 48,908 (97.1%) were classified as serious and 1,441 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 Gemcitabine Hydrochloride (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Gemcitabine Hydrochloride break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 21,047, Female: 20,105, Unknown: 374. 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 Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

The most frequently reported age groups for Gemcitabine Hydrochloride adverse events are: age 68: 1,272 reports, age 67: 1,263 reports, age 70: 1,200 reports, age 65: 1,173 reports, age 69: 1,159 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 Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

The primary manufacturer associated with Gemcitabine Hydrochloride adverse event reports is Armas Pharmaceuticals Inc.. 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 Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Gemcitabine Hydrochloride include: Malignant Neoplasm Progression, Drug Ineffective, Pyrexia, Nausea, Diarrhoea. 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 Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

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

Gemcitabine Hydrochloride 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. Gemcitabine Hydrochloride is associated with a high frequency of serious adverse events, particularly hematological and gastrointestinal issues.

What are the key safety signals for Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

Key safety signals identified in Gemcitabine Hydrochloride's adverse event data include: High incidence of hematological adverse events such as thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia.. Frequent gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.. Serious infections and sepsis are common, indicating a high risk of severe complications.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Gemcitabine Hydrochloride interact with other drugs?

Gemcitabine Hydrochloride can cause severe hematological and gastrointestinal side effects, and its use should be closely monitored for potential drug interactions and signs of toxicity. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Gemcitabine Hydrochloride.

What should patients know before taking Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

Patients should be closely monitored for signs of hematological and gastrointestinal side effects. Healthcare providers should be aware of potential drug interactions and follow guidelines for off-label use.

Are Gemcitabine Hydrochloride side effects well-documented?

Gemcitabine Hydrochloride has 92,220 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug is often used off-label, indicating potential misuse or unapproved therapeutic applications. The volume of reports for Gemcitabine Hydrochloride reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Gemcitabine Hydrochloride?

Regulatory oversight is necessary to ensure proper use and monitoring of Gemcitabine Hydrochloride, given its high safety concerns and serious adverse event profile. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

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

PaclitaxelDocetaxelCisplatin
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.