All About Camzyos

What are the side effects of Camzyos?

Like most drugs, Camzyos may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Camzyos may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Camzyos. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Camzyos can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Camzyos’ prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Camzyos that have been reported include:

• dizziness
• fainting
• mild allergic reaction*

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Camzyos can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Camzyos, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Camzyos that have been reported include:

• boxed warning: risk of heart failure *
• severe allergic reaction†

* For more information, see the “What should be considered before taking Camzyos?” section below.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Camzyos.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Camzyos. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

What does Camzyos cost?

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Camzyos. What you’ll pay for Camzyos may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

• Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Camzyos when using coupons from the site.
• Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. The Camzyos Co-Pay Program may also be available.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline. Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

What is Camzyos’ dosage?

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Camzyos that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Form and strengths

Camzyos is available as an oral capsule. It comes in four strengths:

• 2.5 mg
• 5 mg
• 10 mg
• 15 mg

Recommended dosage

You’ll take your dose of Camzyos once daily. Your doctor will prescribe the dose that’s best to treat your condition.

To learn more about Camzyos’ dosage, see this article.

Questions about taking Camzyos

Below are some common questions about taking Camzyos.

• Can Camzyos be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you should not chew, crush, or split the Camzyos capsules. Camzyos should be swallowed whole. If you have difficulty swallowing your Camzyos capsules, see this article or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Should I take Camzyos with food? You can take your dose of Camzyos with or without food.
• Is there a best time of day to take Camzyos? There’s no best time of day to take Camzyos, but you should take your dose around the same time each day. This helps to keep a consistent amount of medication in your body, which helps the drug work better.
• What if I miss a dose of Camzyos? If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember if it’s still within the same day of the missed dose. But if it’s the next day when you remember you’ve missed a dose, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its usual time. You should not take two doses of Camzyos on the same day to make up for a missed dose. If you missed a dose of Camzyos and you have questions about when to take your next dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Will I need to use Camzyos long term? Yes. If Camzyos works to treat your condition and is safe for you, you’ll likely take it long term for your hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Overdose

Do not take more Camzyos than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to negative effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

• low blood pressure
• fainting
• decreased heart rate
• serious heart problems, which can lead to your heart stopping

What to do in case you take too much Camzyos

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Camzyos. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

What should be considered before taking Camzyos?

Below is important information you should consider before taking Camzyos.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Camzyos can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain foods.

Before taking Camzyos, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Drug interactions

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Camzyos. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Camzyos. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Other interactions

Camzyos can also interact with other substances such as:

• Foods: Camzyos interacts with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. You should not consume grapefruit products during your Camzyos treatment. Doing so may raise your risk of side effects from Camzyos, including heart failure.*
• Alcohol: Camzyos is not known to interact with alcohol. However, it’s possible for alcohol to worsen your hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much alcohol (if any) may be safe for you to consume.

* Camzyos has a boxed warning for this side effect. To learn more, see the “Boxed warning” section below.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Camzyos is not safe to take during pregnancy. This drug may cause harm to a fetus. If you become pregnant while taking Camzyos, tell your doctor right away. They can help determine the best treatment plan for you.

If you can become pregnant, your doctor will order a pregnancy test before you start Camzyos treatment to ensure you aren’t pregnant.

It’s not known whether Camzyos is safe to take while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before starting Camzyos treatment.

Birth control

If you can become pregnant, you should use birth control (such as condoms) during your Camzyos treatment and for at least 4 months after stopping treatment.

It’s important to note that Camzyos can interact with certain types of hormonal birth control. For more information, see the “Drug interactions” section above.

If you have questions about which type of birth control is right for you while taking Camzyos, talk with your doctor.

Boxed warning

Camzyos has a boxed warning about the risk of heart failure. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Camzyos can decrease your heart’s ejection fraction, which may lead to heart failure. Due to this risk, your doctor will monitor your heart before and during your Camzyos treatment through echocardiograms.

You may have a higher risk of heart failure from Camzyos if you have a serious infection or another heart condition, such as an abnormal heart rhythm.

In addition, taking certain other medications with Camzyos may increase your risk of heart failure. For more information on drugs that may interact with Camzyos, see the “Drug Interactions” section above.

If you develop heart failure during your Camzyos treatment, your doctor will likely recommend that you stop taking it and switch to a different treatment.

You should be aware of symptoms of heart failure while you’re taking Camzyos. If you develop any symptoms of heart failure during your treatment with Camzyos, tell your doctor or go to the hospital right away. Symptoms may include:

• chest pain
• swelling of the feet or legs
• heart palpitations (feeling like your heart has skipped a beat or added an extra beat)
• abnormal heart rhythm
• shortness of breath

Due to the risk of heart failure, Camzyos is available only through a risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) program. The FDA requires REMS programs for certain drugs to help make sure they’re prescribed safely.

Other warnings

Camzyos can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Camzyos is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Camzyos. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

• previous allergic reaction to Camzyos
• pregnancy
• breastfeeding

What are some frequently asked questions about Camzyos?

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Camzyos.

How does Camzyos work?

Camzyos helps treat obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). With this condition, your heart has difficulty pumping blood because your heart muscle becomes thicker than usual.

Camzyos works by relaxing your heart muscle and allowing your heart to pump blood easier. This also helps reduce symptoms of obstructive HCM.

If you have other questions about how Camzyos works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can Camzyos cause long-term side effects?

Yes, Camzyos may cause long-term side effects in some people. Camzyos may cause heart failure, which can continue even after you stop taking the drug. Camzyos has a boxed warning for the risk of heart failure. To learn more, see the “What should be considered before taking Camzyos?” section below.

It’s important to know the symptoms of heart failure and see a doctor or go to the hospital right away if you develop any of them. Symptoms may include:

• swelling of the feet or legs
• chest pain
• heart palpitations (feeling like your heart has skipped a beat or added an extra beat)
• abnormal heart rhythm
• shortness of breath

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects with Camzyos, talk to your doctor.

How often do I need to have an echocardiogram while taking Camzyos?

Your doctor will recommend that you have echocardiograms throughout your Camzyos treatment. This is because the drug can cause heart failure. Echocardiograms will help show your doctor whether you’re developing heart failure.*

You’ll have an echocardiogram before starting treatment with Camzyos. Next, you’ll have an echocardiogram 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after starting treatment. After that, you should get an echocardiogram every 12 weeks.

If your dose of Camzyos increases or if you had stopped taking Camzyos, your doctor may recommend echocardiograms more often. You may also need echocardiograms more often if you take certain medications that can increase your risk of heart failure.

If you have any questions or concerns about how often you’ll need echocardiograms, talk with your doctor.

* Camzyos has a boxed warning for this side effect. To learn more, see the “What should be considered before taking Camzyos?” section above.

What is Camzyos used for?

Camzyos is used to treat obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in adults. Specifically, Camzyos helps treat class II to III obstructive HCM that’s causing symptoms.

With this condition, your heart has difficulty pumping blood because the heart muscle becomes thicker than usual. This means it becomes harder for your heart to pump blood throughout your body.

Camzyos treats obstructive HCM by relaxing your heart muscle and allowing your heart to pump blood easier. This also helps decrease your symptoms of obstructive HCM.

Similar drugs

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Camzyos, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Camzyos:

• beta-blockers, such as metoprolol (Toprol XL, Lopressor), nebivolol (Bystolic) or carvedilol (Coreg)
• blood thinners, such as warfarin (Jantoven), rivaroxaban (Xarelto) or apixaban (Eliquis)
• heart rhythm medications, such as disopyramide or amiodarone (Pacerone)
• calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil (Verelan) or diltiazem (Cardizem)