LENALIDOMIDE

82/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Celgene Corporation

Lenalidomide Adverse Events: High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

557,894 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About LENALIDOMIDE

LENALIDOMIDE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Celgene Corporation. Based on analysis of 557,894 FDA adverse event reports, LENALIDOMIDE has a safety score of 82 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 LENALIDOMIDE include DIARRHOEA, DEATH, FATIGUE, PNEUMONIA, OFF LABEL USE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for LENALIDOMIDE.

AI Safety Analysis

Lenalidomide has a safety concern score of 82 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 557,894 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Celgene Corporation.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Diarrhoea, Death, Fatigue. Of classified reports, 64.2% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Lenalidomide reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events, particularly death and pneumonia.

The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including hematological and neurological issues. Reports indicate significant gastrointestinal and respiratory side effects.

Patients taking Lenalidomide should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Lenalidomide can interact with other drugs, potentially affecting its efficacy or increasing side effects. Warnings include the risk of thrombosis and infection, especially in patients with pre-existing conditions. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 82/100

Lenalidomide received a safety concern score of 82/100 (high concern). This is based on a 64.2% serious event ratio across 408,476 classified reports. The score accounts for 557,894 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

DIARRHOEA30,628 reports
DEATH26,182 reports
FATIGUE26,153 reports
PNEUMONIA18,405 reports
OFF LABEL USE18,216 reports
RASH17,711 reports
PLASMA CELL MYELOMA16,822 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL11,858 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED11,646 reports
CONSTIPATION10,846 reports
NAUSEA10,622 reports
ASTHENIA9,911 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED9,427 reports
NEUTROPENIA8,928 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE8,592 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS7,568 reports
DYSPNOEA7,526 reports
THROMBOSIS7,451 reports
FALL7,335 reports
ANAEMIA7,332 reports
PRURITUS7,196 reports
DIZZINESS7,111 reports
PYREXIA7,094 reports
FULL BLOOD COUNT DECREASED7,024 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING6,619 reports
COVID 196,478 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA6,429 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE6,391 reports
PAIN5,959 reports
DECREASED APPETITE5,937 reports
BACK PAIN5,227 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED5,155 reports
MALAISE4,981 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION4,922 reports
VOMITING4,894 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED4,883 reports
INFECTION4,685 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS4,651 reports
DEHYDRATION4,437 reports
LABORATORY TEST ABNORMAL4,418 reports
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS4,327 reports
COUGH4,308 reports
SEPSIS4,231 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION4,158 reports
HEADACHE4,135 reports
INSOMNIA4,092 reports
ADVERSE DRUG REACTION4,085 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY3,973 reports
PANCYTOPENIA3,962 reports
RENAL FAILURE3,932 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM3,790 reports
UNEVALUABLE EVENT3,746 reports
ARTHRALGIA3,712 reports
HYPOTENSION3,657 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA3,646 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION3,397 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE3,375 reports
INFLUENZA3,289 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL3,211 reports
NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED3,044 reports
THERAPY INTERRUPTED3,031 reports
PARAESTHESIA2,920 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER2,845 reports
CARDIAC DISORDER2,834 reports
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT2,799 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS2,730 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT2,729 reports
TREMOR2,729 reports
ADVERSE EVENT2,717 reports
JOINT SWELLING2,634 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT2,587 reports
RASH PRURITIC2,578 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL2,548 reports
HOSPITALISATION2,511 reports
BRONCHITIS2,397 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA2,392 reports
RED BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED2,367 reports
MULTIPLE MYELOMA2,358 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE2,345 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY2,295 reports
SINUSITIS2,289 reports
DRY SKIN2,286 reports
RENAL DISORDER2,226 reports
CHEST PAIN2,219 reports
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION2,217 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT2,184 reports
BLOOD POTASSIUM DECREASED2,179 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE2,150 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN2,132 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER2,126 reports
MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME2,114 reports
HERPES ZOSTER2,087 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE CONGESTIVE2,079 reports
URTICARIA2,076 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY2,039 reports
CATARACT1,959 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED1,887 reports
TOOTH DISORDER1,868 reports
ILLNESS1,865 reports
SOMNOLENCE1,846 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Death and pneumonia are among the most serious reactions reported.
  • Hematological issues such as decreased white blood cell count and thrombocytopenia are common.
  • Neurological symptoms like peripheral neuropathy and dizziness are frequently reported.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 202,495, Female: 190,984, Unknown: 651. The most frequently reported age groups are age 72 (9,795 reports), age 74 (9,503 reports), age 73 (9,462 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 408,476 classified reports for LENALIDOMIDE:

  • Serious: 262,213 reports (64.2%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 146,263 reports (35.8%)
Serious 64.2%Non-Serious 35.8%

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

Male202,495 (51.4%)
Female190,984 (48.5%)
Unknown651 (0.2%)

Reports by Age

Age 729,795 reports
Age 749,503 reports
Age 739,462 reports
Age 759,371 reports
Age 719,280 reports
Age 709,241 reports
Age 699,150 reports
Age 768,980 reports
Age 688,944 reports
Age 778,546 reports
Age 678,374 reports
Age 788,153 reports
Age 667,991 reports
Age 657,835 reports
Age 797,562 reports
Age 807,071 reports
Age 646,885 reports
Age 636,711 reports
Age 816,283 reports
Age 626,281 reports

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

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Lenalidomide can interact with other drugs, potentially affecting its efficacy or increasing side effects. Warnings include the risk of thrombosis and infection, especially in patients with pre-existing conditions.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Lenalidomide, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include diarrhoea, death, fatigue, 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 report any new or worsening symptoms to their healthcare provider immediately. Follow prescribed dosing instructions carefully to minimize the risk of adverse events. 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 lenalidomide due to its high rate of serious adverse events. Healthcare providers should be vigilant in managing patient risks and monitoring for signs of severe reactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The FDA has received approximately 557,894 adverse event reports associated with Lenalidomide. 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 Lenalidomide?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Lenalidomide include Diarrhoea, Death, Fatigue, Pneumonia, Off Label Use. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Diarrhoea (30,628 reports), Death (26,182 reports), Fatigue (26,153 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Lenalidomide.

What percentage of Lenalidomide adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 408,476 classified reports, 262,213 (64.2%) were classified as serious and 146,263 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 Lenalidomide (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Lenalidomide break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 202,495, Female: 190,984, Unknown: 651. 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 Lenalidomide?

The most frequently reported age groups for Lenalidomide adverse events are: age 72: 9,795 reports, age 74: 9,503 reports, age 73: 9,462 reports, age 75: 9,371 reports, age 71: 9,280 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 Lenalidomide?

The primary manufacturer associated with Lenalidomide 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 Lenalidomide?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Lenalidomide include: Rash, Plasma Cell Myeloma, Neuropathy Peripheral, White Blood Cell Count Decreased, Constipation. 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 Lenalidomide?

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

Lenalidomide has a safety concern score of 82 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. Lenalidomide reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events, particularly death and pneumonia.

What are the key safety signals for Lenalidomide?

Key safety signals identified in Lenalidomide's adverse event data include: Death and pneumonia are among the most serious reactions reported.. Hematological issues such as decreased white blood cell count and thrombocytopenia are common.. Neurological symptoms like peripheral neuropathy and dizziness are frequently reported.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Lenalidomide interact with other drugs?

Lenalidomide can interact with other drugs, potentially affecting its efficacy or increasing side effects. Warnings include the risk of thrombosis and infection, especially in patients with pre-existing conditions. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Lenalidomide.

What should patients know before taking Lenalidomide?

Patients should report any new or worsening symptoms to their healthcare provider immediately. Follow prescribed dosing instructions carefully to minimize the risk of adverse events.

Are Lenalidomide side effects well-documented?

Lenalidomide has 557,894 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including hematological and neurological issues. The volume of reports for Lenalidomide reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Lenalidomide?

The FDA closely monitors lenalidomide due to its high rate of serious adverse events. Healthcare providers should be vigilant in managing patient risks and monitoring for signs of severe reactions. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Other Drugs by Celgene Corporation

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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.