POMALIDOMIDE

82/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Celgene Corporation

Pomalidomide Adverse Events: High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

136,988 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About POMALIDOMIDE

POMALIDOMIDE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Celgene Corporation. Based on analysis of 136,988 FDA adverse event reports, POMALIDOMIDE 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 POMALIDOMIDE include PLASMA CELL MYELOMA, 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 POMALIDOMIDE.

AI Safety Analysis

Pomalidomide 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 136,988 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Celgene Corporation.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Plasma Cell Myeloma, Death, Fatigue. Of classified reports, 61.6% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. High percentage of serious adverse events (61.6%) indicates significant safety concerns.

A wide range of reactions, including fatal outcomes, infections, and hematological issues, are reported. Frequent occurrences of hematological and respiratory issues suggest these as primary safety concerns.

Patients taking Pomalidomide should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Pomalidomide can cause severe hematological and respiratory issues, and patients should be monitored closely for these conditions. Drug interactions, particularly with other hematological agents, should be carefully managed. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 82/100

Pomalidomide received a safety concern score of 82/100 (high concern). This is based on a 61.6% serious event ratio across 98,251 classified reports. The score accounts for 136,988 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

PLASMA CELL MYELOMA7,851 reports
DEATH7,465 reports
FATIGUE7,170 reports
PNEUMONIA6,104 reports
OFF LABEL USE4,356 reports
DIARRHOEA3,744 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED3,568 reports
NEUTROPENIA3,199 reports
RASH2,925 reports
DYSPNOEA2,764 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL2,591 reports
ASTHENIA2,583 reports
CONSTIPATION2,559 reports
NAUSEA2,437 reports
DIZZINESS2,159 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE2,127 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE2,067 reports
PYREXIA1,892 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING1,813 reports
COVID 191,796 reports
FULL BLOOD COUNT DECREASED1,719 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED1,703 reports
FALL1,671 reports
ANAEMIA1,641 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS1,610 reports
MALAISE1,529 reports
BACK PAIN1,521 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS1,478 reports
PRURITUS1,434 reports
PAIN1,433 reports
INFECTION1,366 reports
INFLUENZA1,301 reports
LABORATORY TEST ABNORMAL1,278 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION1,274 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA1,252 reports
THROMBOSIS1,208 reports
NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED1,143 reports
SEPSIS1,139 reports
COUGH1,087 reports
HOSPITALISATION1,071 reports
TREMOR1,044 reports
HEADACHE1,023 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION987 reports
VOMITING983 reports
DECREASED APPETITE967 reports
ADVERSE DRUG REACTION928 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED917 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY860 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE842 reports
UNEVALUABLE EVENT835 reports
ARTHRALGIA795 reports
ADVERSE EVENT770 reports
BRONCHITIS766 reports
DEHYDRATION751 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA731 reports
RENAL FAILURE728 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE719 reports
SINUSITIS712 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA704 reports
CARDIAC DISORDER691 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY673 reports
JOINT SWELLING670 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION667 reports
INSOMNIA667 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL665 reports
ILLNESS647 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED638 reports
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS629 reports
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT623 reports
THERAPY INTERRUPTED623 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL617 reports
HYPOTENSION616 reports
SOMNOLENCE616 reports
PANCYTOPENIA585 reports
CHEST PAIN557 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT554 reports
ALOPECIA550 reports
HYPERTENSION542 reports
PARAESTHESIA539 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM518 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED503 reports
RENAL DISORDER497 reports
PLASMA CELL MYELOMA RECURRENT489 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE488 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER485 reports
BALANCE DISORDER485 reports
VISION BLURRED481 reports
BONE PAIN476 reports
CATARACT475 reports
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION467 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT461 reports
RED BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED442 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY434 reports
CONTUSION419 reports
SWELLING419 reports
LEUKOPENIA414 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE408 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS402 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT385 reports
ERYTHEMA381 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High number of fatalities reported.
  • Significant hematological issues such as decreased white blood cell count and thrombocytopenia.
  • Multiple respiratory issues including pneumonia and dyspnea.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 49,156, Female: 45,823, Unknown: 59. The most frequently reported age groups are age 72 (2,671 reports), age 74 (2,570 reports), age 75 (2,556 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 98,251 classified reports for POMALIDOMIDE:

  • Serious: 60,511 reports (61.6%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 37,740 reports (38.4%)
Serious 61.6%Non-Serious 38.4%

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

Male49,156 (51.7%)
Female45,823 (48.2%)
Unknown59 (0.1%)

Reports by Age

Age 722,671 reports
Age 742,570 reports
Age 752,556 reports
Age 702,549 reports
Age 712,513 reports
Age 732,499 reports
Age 692,416 reports
Age 772,344 reports
Age 762,334 reports
Age 682,284 reports
Age 782,215 reports
Age 672,142 reports
Age 662,021 reports
Age 792,020 reports
Age 651,951 reports
Age 631,859 reports
Age 641,853 reports
Age 801,820 reports
Age 621,752 reports
Age 811,616 reports

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

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Pomalidomide can cause severe hematological and respiratory issues, and patients should be monitored closely for these conditions. Drug interactions, particularly with other hematological agents, should be carefully managed.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Pomalidomide, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include plasma cell myeloma, 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. Regular blood tests and monitoring of hematological parameters are essential during treatment. 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 ongoing, with Pomalidomide requiring strict monitoring and reporting of adverse events. Healthcare providers should adhere to the prescribing information and guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The FDA has received approximately 136,988 adverse event reports associated with Pomalidomide. 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 Pomalidomide?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Pomalidomide include Plasma Cell Myeloma, Death, Fatigue, Pneumonia, Off Label Use. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Plasma Cell Myeloma (7,851 reports), Death (7,465 reports), Fatigue (7,170 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Pomalidomide.

What percentage of Pomalidomide adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 98,251 classified reports, 60,511 (61.6%) were classified as serious and 37,740 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 Pomalidomide (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Pomalidomide break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 49,156, Female: 45,823, Unknown: 59. 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 Pomalidomide?

The most frequently reported age groups for Pomalidomide adverse events are: age 72: 2,671 reports, age 74: 2,570 reports, age 75: 2,556 reports, age 70: 2,549 reports, age 71: 2,513 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 Pomalidomide?

The primary manufacturer associated with Pomalidomide 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 Pomalidomide?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Pomalidomide include: Diarrhoea, White Blood Cell Count Decreased, Neutropenia, Rash, Dyspnoea. 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 Pomalidomide?

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

Pomalidomide 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. High percentage of serious adverse events (61.6%) indicates significant safety concerns.

What are the key safety signals for Pomalidomide?

Key safety signals identified in Pomalidomide's adverse event data include: High number of fatalities reported.. Significant hematological issues such as decreased white blood cell count and thrombocytopenia.. Multiple respiratory issues including pneumonia and dyspnea.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Pomalidomide interact with other drugs?

Pomalidomide can cause severe hematological and respiratory issues, and patients should be monitored closely for these conditions. Drug interactions, particularly with other hematological agents, should be carefully managed. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Pomalidomide.

What should patients know before taking Pomalidomide?

Patients should report any new or worsening symptoms to their healthcare provider immediately. Regular blood tests and monitoring of hematological parameters are essential during treatment.

Are Pomalidomide side effects well-documented?

Pomalidomide has 136,988 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. A wide range of reactions, including fatal outcomes, infections, and hematological issues, are reported. The volume of reports for Pomalidomide reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Pomalidomide?

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with Pomalidomide requiring strict monitoring and reporting of adverse events. Healthcare providers should adhere to the prescribing information and guidelines. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Other Drugs by Celgene Corporation

Explore other medications manufactured by Celgene Corporation and compare their safety profiles:

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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.