Our Therapies

OPDIVO® Infusion Therapy

autoimmune condition affecting the eyes and surrounding tissues

About OPDIVO® Infusion Therapy

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is a biologic medication known as a PD-1 blocking antibody, given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. It works by releasing a brake on your immune system so that your own T cells can recognize and attack cancer cells, rather than attacking the cancer directly.

OPDIVO® is one of the most widely approved immunotherapies available, and your oncologist selects the schedule that fits your diagnosis and regimen. As a single agent, the usual dosing is 240 mg every two weeks or 480 mg every four weeks, given as a 30-minute infusion. Other schedules are used in combination regimens, including 360 mg every three weeks with chemotherapy, 3 mg/kg every two weeks with ipilimumab, and weight-based dosing for adolescents who weigh less than 40 kg. Treatment may continue until your disease progresses or side effects become difficult to manage, though some regimens are capped at one or two years.

Conditions treated by this therapy

OPDIVO® is FDA-approved for the treatment of many different solid tumors and one blood cancer, used alone or alongside other therapies. Your care team may consider this therapy if you have:

Unresectable or metastatic melanoma, as a single agent or with ipilimumab, and melanoma with lymph node involvement or metastatic disease treated after complete surgical removal (adjuvant therapy)
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including resectable disease treated before surgery with platinum-doublet chemotherapy, and metastatic disease treated with ipilimumab or after platinum-based chemotherapy
Unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, as a first treatment given with ipilimumab
Advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), given with ipilimumab or with cabozantinib as a first treatment, or on its own after prior anti-angiogenic therapy
Classical Hodgkin lymphoma, including previously untreated disease given with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD), and relapsed or progressive disease after transplant or prior therapy
Recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after platinum-based therapy
Locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer), including first-line treatment with cisplatin and gemcitabine, treatment after platinum-containing chemotherapy, and adjuvant treatment after surgery for high-risk disease
Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer, in adults and children 12 and older
Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), given with ipilimumab
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, given with chemotherapy or with ipilimumab as a first treatment, or on its own after prior fluoropyrimidine and platinum therapy
Gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma, given with fluoropyrimidine and platinum chemotherapy, and adjuvant treatment after surgery and chemoradiotherapy for residual disease

Because OPDIVO® is approved across so many cancer types, your oncologist will confirm which indication and regimen apply to your diagnosis, including any required biomarker testing such as PD-L1 expression or MSI-H/dMMR status. Some indications include adolescents 12 years and older, while others are approved for adults only.

OPDIVO® Price

The cost of prescription medications can vary depending on your insurance coverage. If you're concerned about the price of your medication:

Contact your insurance provider to understand your coverage
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about lower-cost alternatives
Check with the drug manufacturer about financial assistance programs
Explore patient assistance options if you're uninsured or underinsured

Remember, many resources exist to help patients access necessary medications. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you're struggling with medication costs. No patient should go without necessary treatment due to financial limitations. If you have questions about financial assistance opportunities, contact a member of our Violet Health team.

What to Expect During OPDIVO® Infusion Therapy

When you arrive at our Violet Health location, you'll settle into a private, welcoming space designed with your comfort and peace of mind in mind. Before and during your intravenous infusion, our experienced team will:

Review your current health status and any symptoms you've noticed
Check your vital signs and review recent lab work, including liver enzymes, kidney function, and thyroid function, before treatment begins
Place your IV using gentle, practiced technique
Administer your OPDIVO® infusion over about 30 minutes through a line with an in-line filter
Give OPDIVO® first on days when it is scheduled alongside ipilimumab or chemotherapy, with a line flush in between
Monitor you closely for any infusion-related reactions
Protect your privacy and comfort throughout the visit

OPDIVO® may be given every two, three, or four weeks depending on your diagnosis and whether other medications are part of your regimen. When OPDIVO® is given on its own, most visits are short. Plan to be with us longer on days when ipilimumab or chemotherapy is also scheduled, since those infusions and the monitoring that follows add time to your appointment.

OPDIVO® Side Effects

As with any medication, OPDIVO® may cause side effects. Being informed helps you know what to watch for and when to contact your healthcare team. Common Side Effects:

Fatigue or weakness
Rash and itching
Muscle, joint, and bone pain
Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
Constipation and abdominal pain
Decreased appetite and weight loss
Cough and shortness of breath
Fever, headache, and dizziness
Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
Back pain and upper respiratory tract infection
Changes in taste (dysgeusia)
Numbness, tingling, pain, or burning in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy), most often when given with chemotherapy
Changes in blood test results, including liver enzymes, kidney function, blood counts, and electrolytes

Side effects tend to be broader and more frequent when OPDIVO® is given with ipilimumab or with chemotherapy. When it is used on its own, the most common effects are fatigue, rash, musculoskeletal pain, itching, diarrhea, and nausea.

OPDIVO® can cause your immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues. These immune-mediated reactions can become severe or life-threatening, can affect more than one organ at a time, and may occur during treatment or after it has ended. They are more common when OPDIVO® is given with ipilimumab. Please alert our clinical staff or seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following:

Lung inflammation (pneumonitis), including new or worsening cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath
Intestinal inflammation (colitis), including diarrhea, stool changes, severe abdominal pain, or blood or mucus in the stool
Liver problems (hepatitis), including yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, severe nausea, bruising or bleeding more easily, or pain on the right side of the abdomen
Hormone gland problems affecting the thyroid, adrenal glands, or pituitary, including headaches, extreme tiredness, weight changes, increased hunger or thirst, dizziness or fainting, constipation, hair loss, mood changes, or feeling cold
New-onset type 1 diabetes, including increased thirst, frequent urination, or diabetic ketoacidosis
Kidney problems (nephritis), including changes in the amount or color of your urine, blood in the urine, or swelling in the ankles
Serious skin reactions, including rash, blistering or peeling skin, painful sores or ulcers in the mouth, nose, throat, or genital area, fever or flu-like symptoms, and swollen lymph nodes
Infusion reactions, including chills or shaking, itching or rash, flushing, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling faint, fever, and back or neck pain
Other immune-mediated problems affecting the heart, nerves, eyes, muscles, or pancreas, including irregular or rapid heartbeat, muscle pain or weakness, eye redness or vision changes, or numbness and tingling

Before treatment, tell your care team if you have an immune system condition such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus, if you have had or plan to have an organ or donor stem cell transplant, if you have received radiation to your chest, or if you take medicines that suppress your immune system. Fatal and other serious complications have occurred in patients who received an allogeneic stem cell transplant before or after PD-1 blocking therapy, and organ transplant rejection has been reported.

Multiple myeloma warning: OPDIVO® is not approved for multiple myeloma. In clinical trials, adding a PD-1 blocking antibody to a thalidomide analogue and dexamethasone increased the risk of death.

Pregnancy warning: OPDIVO® may harm an unborn baby. Tell your care team if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Use effective birth control during treatment and for five months after your last dose, and do not breastfeed during treatment or for five months after your last dose.

Patient Forms

Before you attend your first appointment at Violet Health, please make sure to review the documents below. Please contact us if you have any questions!