Berinert (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. The most common side effect is an unpleasant taste in the mouth. If side effects become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.

Berinert is a prescription drug used in adults and children to treat immediate symptoms of hereditary angioedema (HAE).

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Berinert can cause.

Berinert can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult to tolerate.

Berinert’s commonly reported side effects include:

Mild side effects have been reported with Berinert. These include:

  • abdominal pain
  • common cold symptoms, such as a sore throat or runny nose
  • headache
  • mild allergic reaction
  • nausea
  • skin rash
  • unpleasant taste in your mouth (see “Tips for managing side effects” for more information)

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Berinert may cause mild side effects other than those listed here. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Berinert may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Berinert’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Berinert, 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.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect from Berinert and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Berinert can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should receive Berinert treatment again.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Berinert, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

There may be things you can do to help make certain Berinert side effects more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for immediate symptoms of HAE.

Unpleasant taste in your mouth

Dysgeusia (a bad taste in the mouth) was a common side effect reported in studies of Berinert. The taste may be bitter, metallic, sour, or sweet. This side effect can happen up to 3 days following your Berinert intravenous (IV) infusion. (This is an injection into a vein given over time.)

Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include:

  • drinking plenty of water and fluids
  • using mouthwash
  • avoiding metallic cookware and utensils
  • brushing your tongue and teeth before eating

Talk with your doctor if this side effect interferes with your daily life. They may be able to recommend additional ways to help manage it.

Infection, including CJD

Serious infection, including CJD, is a potential side effect of Berinert, according to the drug’s prescribing information. Berinert is made from human blood, so it can carry the risk of transmitting viruses such as hepatitis, HIV, and (theoretically) the CJD agent.

CJD symptoms often start out very mild but progress quickly. They usually include:

CJD can also lead to coma. The disease is typically fatal within a year due to the associated medical issues.

There’s currently no effective treatment or cure for CJD. But doctors may prescribe treatments to help ease symptoms. Possible symptom treatments include:

If you have symptoms of CJD, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious blood clots

Serious blood clots were an uncommon side effect reported in studies of Berinert. Blood clots (such as pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis) can lead to heart attack or stroke in some cases.

Symptoms of a blood clot can include:

You may have an increased risk of blood clots with Berinert if you’ve had blood clots in the past or have certain risk factors for developing them.

  • Certain birth control pills containing estrogen, or androgen drugs such as testosterone, can increase your risk of blood clots. Receiving a Berinert infusion while taking either of these kinds of medication can further increase this risk.
  • If you’re unable to be physically active for a long period (such as being immobile, confined to a wheelchair, or recovering following surgery), you may have a higher risk of blood clots with Berinert.
  • You may have an increased risk of stroke with Berinert if you have severe obesity.
  • Your risk of blood clots with Berinert may be higher if you have an indwelling venous catheter. (This is a small tube that a healthcare professional inserts into your vein through which your doctor administers Berinert.)

Talk with your doctor about your risk factors before receiving a Berinert infusion. If you have symptoms of a blood clot, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Before receiving Berinert, discuss your health history with your doctor. Berinert may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • history of blood clots
  • immobility
  • indwelling catheter in a vein
  • morbid obesity
  • taking birth control pills or androgen medications
  • previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • alcohol consumption

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.