Camzyos (mavacamten) is a brand-name oral capsule that’s prescribed for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in adults. As with other drugs, Camzyos can cause side effects. These include a risk of heart failure and dizziness.
Camzyos can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Camzyos in clinical trials:
- dizziness
- fainting*
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
Mild side effects can occur with Camzyos use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Camzyos’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects that have been reported with Camzyos include:
- dizziness
- mild allergic reaction*
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Camzyos and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
* An allergic reaction is possible after taking Camzyos. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
Camzyos may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Camzyos’s prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Camzyos, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects that have been reported with Camzyos include:
- risk of heart failure*
- fainting†
- severe allergic reaction‡
* Camzyos has a
† For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible after taking Camzyos. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Camzyos may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Camzyos.
Risk of heart failure
Camzyos has a
With heart failure, your heart does not efficiently pump blood throughout the body. Symptoms can include:
- shortness of breath
- swelling due to fluid retention in your legs or ankles
- fatigue
Certain factors can increase your risk of heart failure from taking Camzyos. These include:
- taking the drugs Norpace (disopyramide) or Ranexa (ranolazine)
- taking either Verelan (verapamil) or Cardizem CD (diltiazem) with a beta-blocker medication, such as Lopressor (metoprolol)
- having an existing heart condition, including heart failure
- having a serious infection while taking Camzyos
- developing an irregular heartbeat while taking Camzyos
What you can do
Due to this risk, Camzyos is only available through a special program called the Camzyos Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. You and your doctor must both be enrolled in the REMS program in order for you to receive treatment with Camzyos. Additionally, Camzyos is only available through pharmacies enrolled in the REMS program.
Before and throughout your treatment with Camzyos, your doctor will order tests to check your heart function. The results of these tests can affect whether your doctor prescribes Camzyos or a different treatment for your condition.
If you experience symptoms of heart failure while taking Camzyos, immediately notify your doctor. Your doctor will likely temporarily or permanently stop your Camzyos treatment. If this interruption is temporary, your doctor will likely prescribe a lower Camzyos dosage when you restart treatment.
Fainting
Fainting is a common side effect reported by people treated with Camzyos in clinical trials. Fainting can lead to falls and injuries, which may be severe.
Fainting (also called syncope) happens when you experience a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness. Possible causes include poor circulation or low blood volume (low fluid level in your blood vessels), but fainting can occur without a serious medical condition.
What you can do
If you experience fainting while taking Camzyos, let your doctor know right away. Fainting may result from reduced blood circulation and oxygen supply, which could be caused by heart failure. In addition, Camzyos has a
Your doctor can order tests to monitor your heart function and help diagnose a possible cause for your fainting. What your doctor finds from these tests will help determine whether it’s safe for you to continue taking Camzyos.
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, Camzyos can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
What you can do
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Camzyos. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Camzyos. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:
Heart failure. Camzyos has a boxed warning about the risk of heart failure. If you already have this condition, taking Camzyos could make it worse. To learn more about this boxed warning, see the “Side effect specifics” section.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Camzyos or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Camzyos. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to tell your doctor before you start taking Camzyos. They will likely recommend other treatment options for your condition. This drug may not be safe for you to take during pregnancy. In addition, it’s not known whether it’s safe to take Camzyos if you’re breastfeeding.
If you become pregnant while taking Camzyos, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you stop taking the drug. Or they may recommend that you consider joining the drug’s pregnancy safety study. For more details or to sign up for the study, you can call 800-721-5072.
Alcohol consumption. If you drink alcohol ,Camzyos is likely safe for you to take. For more details about how alcohol consumption affects your heart health, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Side effects with Camzyos are possible but not common. Only a few side effects were reported in the drug’s clinical trials.
If you’d like to learn more about Camzyos, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.
Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:
- More information about Camzyos. For details about other aspects of Camzyos, refer to this article.
- Cost. If you’d like to learn about Camzyos and cost, see this article.
- Dosage. For information about the dosage of Camzyos, view this article.
- Interactions. To find out about Camzyos’s interactions, see this article.
- A look at your condition. For details about obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, see our cardiovascular health hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.