Managing Common Side Effects

There are some things you can do that may help with some of the unpleasant side effects of treatment with VIDAZA. Always let your treatment team know about any symptoms that you have.

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are the most common side effects of treatment with VIDAZA.¹ They can be managed in most patients. You will probably be given medicine before your treatment to help control these symptoms.

In addition, these tips may help you handle nausea and vomiting:

• Breathe deeply and slowly if you start to feel ill
• Eat several small meals daily instead of 3 large ones
• Avoid sweet, fried, or fatty foods
• To avoid cooking odors, eat foods cold or at room temperature
• Eat dry foods like toast (even before getting out of bed) if you feel ill in the mornings
• Drink cool, clear, unsweetened fruit juices. You might try apple juice or light-colored sodas, like ginger ale,* that have lost their fizz
• Wear loose clothing
• Try ginger tea, fresh ginger, and pickled or candied ginger²*

*Ginger may affect blood clotting. Be sure to let your doctor know if you are taking any products that contain ginger.

Injection Site Reactions

When receiving VIDAZA treatment, you may want to ask the nurse to find injection sites that will not be rubbed by your clothing (such as a belt). Remember that other items (such as seat belts or elastic waistbands) could cause you discomfort.

Another common side effect of treatment is injection site reactions.¹ An injection site reaction can be anything from a bruise to a large, painful, red welt. Injection site reactions usually go away after several days. If injection site reactions become a problem, you may want to ask your doctor about IV (intravenous) administration.

If an injection site is painful or red, apply a compress for 15 minutes at a time. You may use a cool or warm compress, whichever is more comfortable.

• Do not use hot compresses; these may make your symptoms worse or make your skin blister at the injection site
• Do not ice the injection site; this may affect how VIDAZA gets into your bloodstream to fight MDS

Be sure to ask your treatment team about other side effects that may occur. The side effects of VIDAZA (and the effects of MDS — some of them are the same) can be unpleasant. It's important to actively treat the disease and stay on treatment for as long as your doctor recommends. This may help you to move beyond supportive care.