Nivolumab is an immunotherapy called a PD-1 inhibitor. It helps your immune system find and attack cancer cells. You receive it as an IV infusion in a clinic or hospital.
Brand Name(s)
- US: Opdivo
- Canada: Opdivo
Warning(s)
- Serious immune-related side effects can affect many organs, including the lungs, bowels, liver, kidneys, hormone glands (thyroid, pituitary, adrenal), pancreas, muscles, nerves, eyes, skin, heart, and brain. These can happen during treatment or after it ends and can be life-threatening.
- Call your care team or get urgent help right away for any of the following: severe diarrhea; bloody, black, or tarry stools; severe stomach pain; new or worse cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or fever; yellow skin or eyes; very bad rash or skin peeling; severe headache, confusion, stiff neck, fainting, seizures, or extreme weakness; eye pain or vision changes; fast or irregular heartbeat; swelling; unusual bruising or bleeding; muscle weakness or numbness/tingling.
- Infusion reactions can happen, sometimes during the first dose. Tell your nurse right away if you have chills, fever, flushing, itching, rash, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, back or neck pain, or fainting during the infusion.
- High blood sugar (including new or worse diabetes) has happened. Tell your care team if you have unusual thirst or hunger, peeing more often, headache, shaking, sweating, fruity-smelling breath, or fast breathing.
- If you have had an organ or cornea transplant, there is a risk of graft rejection. If you are having or recently had an allogeneic stem cell transplant, serious complications can occur. Discuss risks and warning signs with your care team.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: This drug may harm an unborn baby. You may need a pregnancy test before starting. Use birth control during treatment and for 5 months after your last dose. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 5 months after the last dose.
- Drug interactions: Do not take this drug with lenalidomide, pomalidomide, or thalidomide. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines, vitamins, and herbal products you use.
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take nivolumab. You will need regular blood work and other tests as directed.
- If you are being treated for bladder or urinary tract cancer, watch for signs of a urinary tract infection (burning with urination, blood in urine, fever, pelvic or lower belly pain) and report them promptly.
Kind of Cancers It Is Used For (not a complete list)
- Melanoma (alone or with ipilimumab; also after surgery in some cases).
- Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including some cases after surgery and chemotherapy, or in advanced disease (sometimes with chemotherapy).
- Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma), alone or with other medicines such as ipilimumab or targeted therapies.
- Bladder and other urothelial cancers, including use after surgery in some high-risk cases.
- Classical Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back or did not respond to other treatments.
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
- Esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers (alone, with chemotherapy, or after chemoradiation and surgery).
- Gastric (stomach) cancer, in some advanced cases with chemotherapy.
- Colorectal cancer that is MSI‑H or dMMR, usually after other treatments.
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma (with ipilimumab).
- Certain liver cancers (hepatocellular carcinoma), in specific situations, sometimes with ipilimumab.
Mechanism of Action
Nivolumab blocks PD‑1, a “brake” on T cells. By turning off this brake, your immune system can better recognize and attack cancer cells.
Because it boosts immune activity, it can also cause your immune system to attack healthy organs. This is why close monitoring and early reporting of new symptoms are important.
Common Side Effects
- Tiredness or weakness.
- Skin rash, itching, or light patches of skin color (vitiligo).
- Bone, joint, or muscle pain.
- Upset stomach, diarrhea.
- Changes in lab tests (for example, liver enzymes, electrolytes, or blood sugar). Your care team will check these with blood tests.
Not all side effects are listed here. Call your care team if side effects bother you, do not get better, or are severe. Report urgent symptoms right away as noted in the Warnings section.
Learn more about nivolumab on MedlinePlus
Last reviewed: 2025-12-04
