Daratumumab is an intravenous monoclonal antibody used to treat multiple myeloma. You may receive it alone or with other cancer medicines. This overview explains key safety points, how it works, and common side effects so you can talk with your care team.
Brand Name(s)
- United States: Darzalex
- Canada: Darzalex
Warning(s)
- Infusion reactions can occur and may be serious, especially with early doses. Tell your nurse right away during the infusion if you have chills, fever, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, fast heartbeat, headache, blurred vision, throat irritation, runny or stuffy nose, itching, nausea, vomiting, or chest pain.
- Allergic reactions can happen. Seek urgent care for rash, hives, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, or severe skin reactions.
- Low blood cell counts can raise your risk of infection and bleeding. Watch for fever, sore throat, cough, burning with urination, wounds that do not heal, easy bruising, or bleeding that is hard to stop.
- Infections may reactivate, including hepatitis B and shingles (herpes zoster). If you have had these before or carry the virus, your team may monitor you and consider preventive medicines.
- Lab and blood bank tests: Daratumumab can interfere with blood typing and some lab tests for up to 6 months after your last dose. Always tell your doctors, lab staff, and blood bank that you are receiving or recently received daratumumab, especially before any transfusion.
- Vaccines may not work as well, and some (live) vaccines may increase infection risk. Check with your care team before any vaccination.
- Blood pressure and blood sugar can change. Tell your team if you have headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, extreme thirst, frequent urination, or fruity-smelling breath.
- Electrolyte changes (like low calcium) can occur. Report muscle cramps, tingling, or seizures.
- Eye symptoms (new vision changes, severe eye pain) or chest pain need prompt medical attention.
- Pregnancy: This medicine may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control during treatment and for 3 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
- Breastfeeding: Do not breastfeed while receiving this medicine.
- Older adults may have a higher chance of side effects. Tell all of your health care providers, including dentists and pharmacists, that you are on daratumumab. Keep all lab appointments.
- If you have hereditary fructose intolerance, tell your care team. Some formulations contain sorbitol.
Kind of Cancers It Is Used For (not a complete list)
- Multiple myeloma (newly diagnosed or previously treated). It is often combined with other medicines such as lenalidomide, pomalidomide, bortezomib, carfilzomib, and dexamethasone.
Your care team will choose the combination and schedule based on your situation.
Mechanism of Action
- Daratumumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets a protein called CD38 on multiple myeloma cells.
- By binding to CD38, it flags cancer cells for your immune system to destroy (through antibody-dependent and complement-dependent mechanisms) and can directly trigger cell death.
- It may also change the immune environment in the bone marrow to help your body fight the cancer.
Common Side Effects
- Infusion-related symptoms, especially with the first doses: chills, fever, cough, throat irritation, runny or stuffy nose, shortness of breath, itching, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, or chest discomfort.
- Tiredness or weakness.
- Headache or dizziness.
- Stomach and bowel changes: nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach upset.
- Pain in the back, joints, muscles, arms, or legs; muscle spasms.
- Cold-like symptoms: cough, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose.
- Shortness of breath.
- Swelling in the arms or legs.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Changes in blood sugar or blood pressure.
- Low calcium levels (may cause cramps or tingling).
- Low blood counts (white cells or platelets), which can raise the risk of infection, bruising, or bleeding.
Call your care team right away for signs of severe infection, unusual bleeding, severe allergic reaction, chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, seizures, or sudden vision changes.
Learn more on MedlinePlus: Daratumumab injection
Last reviewed: 2025-12-17
