Tavneos (avacopan) is a brand-name oral capsule that’s prescribed to help treat certain types of blood vessel swelling in adults. As with other drugs, Tavneos can cause side effects. These include headache and nausea.

Tavneos 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 Tavneos in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Tavneos use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Tavneos’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Tavneos include:

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 Tavneos and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* An allergic reaction is possible after taking Tavneos. For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Tavneos 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 Tavneos’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Tavneos, 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 and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Tavneos. For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Tavneos may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Tavneos.

Liver damage

Tavneos may cause liver damage during treatment. In clinical trials, this side effect was common.

Symptoms can include:

A liver problem can be mild or more serious. In some cases, it may become life threatening.

What you can do

Before you start taking Tavneos, your doctor will likely order blood tests to check your liver function. They’ll also regularly test your liver function throughout your treatment. You’ll typically have a liver function test every 4 weeks for the first 6 months of treatment. It’s important to attend all of your appointments for these tests.

If you have symptoms of liver problems while taking Tavneos, call your doctor right away. They’ll likely order a liver function test. If the results suggest a problem with your liver, your doctor may recommend stopping Tavneos until your liver recovers.

If you have questions or concerns about the risk of liver problems with Tavneos, talk with your doctor.

Infection

Tavneos can weaken the immune system. This can increase the risk of developing an infection, which can be mild or serious. In clinical trials, infections were commonly reported with Tavneos. The most common serious infections were urinary tract infections (UTIs) and pneumonia.

Symptoms typically depend on the type of infection. However, they can include:

What you can do

Before you start taking Tavneos, tell your doctor if you currently have an infection or have a recurring infection. Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat any infection you may have before you start taking Tavneos.

While taking Tavneos, tell your doctor right away if you develop any symptoms of infection. If your doctor diagnoses an infection, they’ll typically prescribe medication to treat it. They may also have you stop taking Tavneos until the infection goes away.

If you have questions about the risk of infection with Tavneos, talk with your doctor.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Tavneos can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect was rare in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

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 Tavneos. 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 Tavneos. 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:

Liver problems. If you have a liver problem, Tavneos could make your condition worse. This drug hasn’t been studied in people with severe liver problems. However, Tavneos may cause liver damage as a side effect.

For this reason, Tavneos isn’t recommended if you have a long-term, unmanaged liver condition. This includes unmanaged hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or liver cirrhosis. If you have a liver problem, talk with your doctor about whether Tavneos is right for you.

Infection. Tavneos can increase your risk of serious infection, such as pneumonia. Before you start taking Tavneos, tell your doctor if you have a current or recurring infection. Also tell them if you’ve had any serious past infections, such as tuberculosis, and if you have any infections that keep coming back. If you have a serious active infection, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tavneos until the infection has been treated.

Hepatitis B. If you’ve had hepatitis B in the past, taking Tavneos could reactivate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in your body. This could cause serious liver problems. Your doctor will likely test you for HBV before prescribing Tavneos.

If you test positive for HBV, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat this. They can treat your HBV either before or during treatment with Tavneos. Your doctor may also want to monitor your condition more frequently during treatment.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Tavneos or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tavneos. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either, talk with your doctor before you start taking Tavneos. This drug may not be safe for you to take. Your doctor can help decide whether Tavneos is safe for you and your pregnancy.

Alcohol consumption. It may not be safe to drink alcohol while taking Tavneos. Alcohol may increase your risk of certain side effects from Tavneos, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, and liver problems. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Tavneos, talk with your doctor. They can advise how much alcohol, if any, is safe to drink during treatment.

If you’d like to learn more about Tavneos, 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 Tavneos. For details about other aspects of Tavneos, refer to this article.
  • A look at your condition. For details about vasculitis (blood vessel swelling), 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.