Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This section answers some of the questions you might have about your treatment. It is a good idea to jot down any other questions you have in your immunotherapy diary, so that you can ask your healthcare professional at your next appointment.
Your treatment may interact with other medicines. It is important to tell your healthcare professional about any medicines you are currently taking or are planning to take.
It is important to ensure that any medications are compatible with your pembrolizumab treatment. Ensure your healthcare professional is aware of any treatments you are currently taking or planning to take.
You should tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including vitamins and herbal supplements. Your healthcare professional can help you to decide if they are suitable to take or not.
Consult your healthcare professional before receiving any vaccinations, including flu or COVID vaccination.
Discuss your holiday plans with your healthcare professional before you book your holiday. Some extra preparation may be necessary, and you should always carry your Patient Alert Card with you.
A healthy diet is important. You can discuss any changes to your diet with your healthcare professional.
Alcohol consumption should be kept to a minimum when taking pembrolizumab. You can discuss this with your healthcare professional.
Gentle exercise, such as short walks, may help by reducing constipation and the feeling of tiredness. Please discuss with your healthcare professional before starting any exercise.
Yes. It is possible that your treatment could harm or cause death to your unborn baby. If you are female and able to become pregnant you should use an effective method of contraception during and for at least 4 months after the last dose of pembrolizumab. Talk to your healthcare professional about birth control methods that you can use during this time, and tell your healthcare professional right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known if pembrolizumab passes into your breast milk. Since it is known that antibodies can be secreted in human milk, a risk to newborns/infants cannot be excluded. Please speak to your healthcare professional for further guidance if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed before starting treatment.
You may feel dizzy, tired or weak while taking pembrolizumab, which can affect your ability to drive or use tools or machines. If this happens, please avoid these activities.
GB-PDO-03630 | Date of Preparation: July 2025
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Registered in England No. 233687 © 2025 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
GB-NON-11683 | Date of Preparation: July 2025
Reporting of side effects: If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.