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Drug · FAERS side-effect profile with label screen

Nilotinib side effects: what 29,315 FDA adverse event reports show

Nilotinib · 1,145 reaction terms · 110,637 drug–reaction co-reports · data 2026-09-14
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Drug class

Kinase inhibitor

FDA label, Indications wording

Who reports

29,315 reports · 74% serious · 5,616 with death outcome · 48% female

openFDA FAERS counts, all years, deduplication not applied

Used for

Nilotinib is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of: Adult and pediatric patients greater than or equal to 1 year of age with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. ( 1.1 ) Adult patients with chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) Ph+ CML resistant to or intolerant to prior therapy that included imatinib.

FDA label, Indications and Usage

What it is

Nilotinib capsules contains nilotinib, which belongs to a pharmacologic class of drugs known as kinase inhibitors. Nilotinib drug substance, in the form of hydrochloride monohydrate, is a whit.

FDA label, Description section

Boxed warning

QT PROLONGATION and SUDDEN DEATHS Nilotinib prolongs the QT interval. Prior to nilotinib capsules administration and periodically, monitor for hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia and correct deficiencies [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] .

FDA label
How to read this page. FAERS is a spontaneous-reporting system: counts are not incidence rates and a signal is not proof of causation. Each reaction below is run through an automated screen — is the term in the FDA label (known), in the indications (the disease being treated), an administrative/coding term, or none of these (unlabeled)? That screen is mechanical text matching, not a causality assessment. The 30 hand-written Bradford Hill assessments are on the causality assessment page. Not medical advice.

Causality screen of the 40 strongest signals

Labeled adverse reaction 5Labeled (related wording) 9Likely indication confounding 5Reporting / coding artifact 3Lab value / disease marker 5Not in label — unassessed 13
What the badges mean

Strongest disproportionality signals

Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only (and, for the 300 most-reported drugs, adjusted for age band), and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers. Each row also shows the PRR against the other drugs of the same FDA class, which removes most confounding by the condition being treated, and a calibrated p-value: on validation, known non-causes average an ROR of about 2, so significance is judged against that empirical null (✓ = p < 0.05 after calibration). 1,105 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.

Show:
ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Cytogenetic analysis abnormal495640.1
567.1–722.6ROR 651.1 · calibrated p 4e-15 ✓
331.6 EB05 307.8 · IC025 +7.8
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=431not reported in cached trials
Philadelphia chromosome positive176233.6
197.1–276.9ROR 235.0 · calibrated p 1e-10 ✓
172.4 EB05 152.1 · IC025 +6.6
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=175not reported in cached trials
Splenitis31216.3
144.7–323.5ROR 216.6 · calibrated p 9e-10 ✓
150.6 EB05 111.1 · IC025 +4.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=31 · 100% consumernot reported in cached trials
Blast crisis in myelogenous leukaemia255186.1
162.1–213.5ROR 187.7 · calibrated p 8e-10 ✓
145.8 EB05 131.4 · IC025 +6.6
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
shares a disease stem with the indications wording
serious n=255NCT00471497: 1/280 (0.4%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Polymerase chain reaction positive71186.0
143.3–241.6ROR 186.5 · calibrated p 1e-9 ✓
141.8 EB05 116.2 · IC025 +5.8
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=67not reported in cached trials
Amaurosis fugax200164.7
141.2–192.0ROR 165.8 · calibrated p 2e-9 ✓
132.0 EB05 117.4 · IC025 +6.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=200 · 96% clinicianNCT00471497: 1/280 (0.4%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Chronic myeloid leukaemia827155.8
144.6–167.8ROR 160.3 · calibrated p 3e-9 ✓
127.4 EB05 120.3 · IC025 +6.8
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=827not reported in cached trials
Labelled drug-food interaction medication error82139.3
109.9–176.4ROR 139.6 · calibrated p 1e-8 ✓
113.4 EB05 94.3 · IC025 +5.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=15 · 72% consumernot reported in cached trials
Philadelphia positive chronic myeloid leukaemia15137.3
79.0–238.7ROR 137.4 · calibrated p 9e-8 ✓
100.7 EB05 64.8 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=15not reported in cached trials
Peripheral artery stenosis75134.2
104.8–171.7ROR 134.5 · calibrated p 2e-8 ✓
109.8 EB05 90.5 · IC025 +5.6
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious n=75NCT01061177: 1/1,089 (0.1%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Xanthelasma16115.1
67.8–195.2ROR 115.1 · calibrated p 2e-7 ✓
88.9 EB05 58.0 · IC025 +3.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=15not reported in cached trials
Gene mutation identification test positive53101.8
76.3–135.7ROR 102.0 · calibrated p 2e-7 ✓
86.4 EB05 68.6 · IC025 +5.2
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=47not reported in cached trials
Blast cell crisis3789.0
63.2–125.3ROR 89.1 · calibrated p 6e-7 ✓
76.1 EB05 57.7 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=37NCT01061177: 2/1,089 (0.2%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Intermittent claudication16783.7
71.3–98.2ROR 84.1 · calibrated p 5e-7 ✓
74.3 EB05 65.3 · IC025 +5.7
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious n=164NCT00471497: 2/279 (0.7%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Vertebral artery stenosis1680.5
48.0–135.1ROR 80.6 · calibrated p 2e-6 ✓
66.9 EB05 43.6 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=16NCT00471497: 1/277 (0.4%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Peripheral arterial occlusive disease41079.4
71.7–87.9ROR 80.5 · calibrated p 6e-7 ✓
71.2 EB05 65.6 · IC025 +5.9
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious n=401NCT01061177: 2/1,089 (0.2%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Arterial insufficiency1353.6
30.5–94.2ROR 53.6 · calibrated p 3e-5 ✓
46.7 EB05 29.0 · IC025 +3.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=13not reported in cached trials
Vertebral artery occlusion1447.9
27.9–82.3ROR 47.9 · calibrated p 6e-5 ✓
42.5 EB05 26.9 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=14not reported in cached trials
Chromosome analysis abnormal1440.9
23.9–70.2ROR 41.0 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
37.0 EB05 23.4 · IC025 +3.2
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=12not reported in cached trials
Arteriosclerosis50940.8
37.3–44.6ROR 41.5 · calibrated p 4e-5 ✓
38.6 EB05 35.8 · IC025 +5.1
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 30.4NCT01061177: 2/1,089 (0.2%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Carotid artery stenosis17136.6
31.4–42.7ROR 36.8 · calibrated p 9e-5 ✓
34.7 EB05 30.6 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=171NCT01061177: 1/1,089 (0.1%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Blood uric acid abnormal1935.2
22.2–55.9ROR 35.3 · calibrated p 2e-4 ✓
32.6 EB05 22.1 · IC025 +3.4
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=17not reported in cached trials
Second primary malignancy37733.9
30.6–37.6ROR 34.4 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
32.4 EB05 29.7 · IC025 +4.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 25.4not reported in cached trials
Peripheral artery occlusion6333.7
26.2–43.4ROR 33.8 · calibrated p 2e-4 ✓
31.9 EB05 25.8 · IC025 +4.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=63NCT00471497: 1/277 (0.4%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Arterial stenosis3731.4
22.6–43.7ROR 31.5 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
29.7 EB05 22.5 · IC025 +3.9
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious n=37 · ♀ 23% (drug 48%) · 100% clinicianNCT00471497: 1/277 (0.4%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Basophil count increased3130.7
21.4–44.0ROR 30.7 · calibrated p 4e-4 ✓
29.0 EB05 21.4 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=29not reported in cached trials
Femoral artery occlusion1330.1
17.3–52.5ROR 30.2 · calibrated p 6e-4 ✓
27.9 EB05 17.3 · IC025 +2.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=13not reported in cached trials
Chloroma1628.1
17.1–46.3ROR 28.1 · calibrated p 8e-4 ✓
26.3 EB05 17.1 · IC025 +3.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=16NCT00471497: 1/280 (0.4%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Blast cells present1827.9
17.4–44.7ROR 27.9 · calibrated p 7e-4 ✓
26.2 EB05 17.5 · IC025 +3.2
3/3 methods agree
Lab value / disease markerserious n=18not reported in cached trials
Leukaemia recurrent6327.6
21.5–35.6ROR 27.7 · calibrated p 5e-4 ✓
26.5 EB05 21.4 · IC025 +4.1
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
shares a disease stem with the indications wording
serious n=63not reported in cached trials
Exposure via father4826.9
20.2–35.9ROR 27.0 · calibrated p 6e-4 ✓
25.7 EB05 20.2 · IC025 +3.9
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=16NCT01061177: 1/1,089 (0.1%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)

Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)

✓ Trial adverse-event data found on ClinicalTrials.gov

Largest completed trials with posted results that list Nilotinib as a study intervention. The right-hand column of the signal table shows whether each FAERS term was also recorded in these trials, with a real denominator (18 of 40 signal terms matched).

Caveats: trial populations, doses and follow-up differ from the reporting population; AE terms are sponsor-coded and matched here by wording; absence from a trial list means the term was not reported above the sponsor's frequency threshold, not that it cannot occur.

Most frequently reported reactions

By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.

ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Death3,2252.7
2.6–2.8ROR 2.9 · calibrated p 0.662
2.7 EB05 2.6 · IC025 +1.4
3/3 methods agree
Outcome field, not a reaction
boxed warning mentions mortality
serious PRR 2.1NCT00471497: 2/277 (0.7%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Fatigue (tiredness)2,1121.9
1.9–2.0ROR 2.0 · calibrated p 0.955
1.9 EB05 1.9 · IC025 +0.9Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.9NCT01061177: 2/1,089 (0.2%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Rash1,6532.7
2.6–2.9ROR 2.8 · calibrated p 0.682
2.7 EB05 2.6 · IC025 +1.4
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.5NCT01061177: 233/1,089 (21.4%) on Nilotinib
Nausea1,5451.4
1.3–1.5ROR 1.4 · calibrated p 0.591
1.4 EB05 1.3 · IC025 +0.4Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.4NCT01061177: 1/1,089 (0.1%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Headache1,4901.7
1.6–1.8ROR 1.7 · calibrated p 0.795
1.7 EB05 1.6 · IC025 +0.7Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.0NCT01061177: 5/1,089 (0.5%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)1,3911.8
1.7–1.9ROR 1.8 · calibrated p 0.829
1.8 EB05 1.7 · IC025 +0.7Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.7NCT01061177: 5/1,089 (0.5%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Pain1,3441.6
1.5–1.6ROR 1.6 · calibrated p 0.700
1.6 EB05 1.5 · IC025 +0.6Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.6NCT01061177: 4/1,089 (0.4%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Diarrhoea (diarrhea)1,2151.4
1.3–1.4ROR 1.4 · calibrated p 0.553
1.4 EB05 1.3 · IC025 +0.3Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.3NCT01061177: 2/1,089 (0.2%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Drug ineffective (drug did not work)1,2070.7
0.6–0.7ROR 0.6 · calibrated p 0.102
0.7 EB05 0.6 · IC025 -0.7
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 1.0not reported in cached trials
Malaise (feeling unwell)1,1391.9
1.8–2.0ROR 1.9 · calibrated p 0.883
1.9 EB05 1.8 · IC025 +0.8Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.9not reported in cached trials
Pruritus (itching)1,1322.1
2.0–2.3ROR 2.2 · calibrated p 0.956
2.1 EB05 2.0 · IC025 +1.0
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.6NCT01061177: 180/1,089 (16.5%) on Nilotinib
Pyrexia (fever)1,1292.3
2.2–2.5ROR 2.4 · calibrated p 0.861
2.3 EB05 2.2 · IC025 +1.1
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.1NCT01061177: 6/1,089 (0.6%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Arthralgia (joint pain)1,0891.9
1.8–2.0ROR 1.9 · calibrated p 0.897
1.9 EB05 1.8 · IC025 +0.8Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.0NCT01061177: 2/1,089 (0.2%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Vomiting1,0571.6
1.5–1.7ROR 1.6 · calibrated p 0.730
1.6 EB05 1.5 · IC025 +0.6Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.5NCT01061177: 5/1,089 (0.5%) on Nilotinib (serious AE)
Asthenia (weakness)1,0572.0
1.9–2.1ROR 2.1 · calibrated p 0.972
2.0 EB05 1.9 · IC025 +0.9Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.9NCT01061177: 97/1,089 (8.9%) on Nilotinib

Unlabeled candidate signals

These flagged terms were not found in the FDA label text and do not match an artifact pattern. They are the pairs that would merit a structured assessment (temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across databases, trial or cohort evidence). The screen has not done that; string-matching misses label wording, and a strong PRR can still be stimulated reporting, co-medication, or the disease itself.

Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.

Common questions

What are the most reported side effects of Nilotinib?

In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Nilotinib are fatigue, rash, nausea, headache, dyspnoea, pain. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.

Does Nilotinib have an FDA boxed warning?

Yes. The current FDA label carries a boxed warning: QT PROLONGATION and SUDDEN DEATHS Nilotinib prolongs the QT interval. Prior to nilotinib capsules administration and periodically, monitor for hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia and correct deficiencies [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] .

Do FAERS signals prove that Nilotinib causes these side effects?

No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.

Sources & methods

Page generated 2026-10-14. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.