Table of contents:
- Functions & Usage
- What is the drug Lenalidomide used for?
- How do you use the drug Lenalidomide?
- How to store Lenalidomide?
- Precautions & Warnings
- What should be considered before using the drug Lenalidomide?
- Is Lenalidomide safe for pregnant and lactating women?
- Side effects
- What are the possible side effects of Lenalidomide?
- Drug Interactions
- What medicines can interfere with the drug Lenalidomide?
- Can certain foods and drinks interfere with the action of the drug Lenalidomide?
- What health conditions can interfere with the performance of the drug Lenalidomide?
- Dose
- What is the dosage for Lenalidomide for adults?
- What is the dosage of Lenalidomide for children?
- In what dosages and preparations is Lenalidomide available?
- What to do in an emergency or overdose?
- What should I do if I forget to take medicine or forget to take medicine?
Functions & Usage
What is the drug Lenalidomide used for?
Lenalomide is a drug to treat anemia in patients with certain blood / bone marrow disorders (myelodysplastic syndrome - MDS). These patients do not have enough red blood cells that work properly and often need blood transfusions to treat their anemia. Lenalidomide can reduce the need for blood transfusions. This drug can also be used to treat certain cancers (multiple myeloma, mantle cell lymphoma MCL).
Lenalidomide is not recommended for the treatment of certain types of cancer (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) because of the increased risk of serious side effects related to heart disease and death. If you have this type of cancer, consult your doctor about the risks of using this drug.
Lenalidomide is a type of medicine known as an immunomodulator. It is believed to work by reducing the immune system's response, thereby decreasing the number of worker red blood cells that the body naturally destroys.
How do you use the drug Lenalidomide?
This drug should be used only in the Revlimid REMS guidelines to avoid possible exposure of this drug to an unborn baby. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Read the Medication Guide and if available, the patient information leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking Lenalidomide and each time you have a refill. If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Before starting therapy, women of childbearing age must have two negative pregnancy tests before they can use this medicine. (See Warning section.)
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Swallow this whole drug with water. Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to therapy, and laboratory test results. Make sure to follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Do not open, chew, or crush the capsules, or treat them more than necessary. If any of the powder from the capsules gets on your skin, wash the affected area with soap and water.
Because this medicine can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and can harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not be treated with this medicine or inhale the dust from the capsules of this medicine. Everyone should wash their hands thoroughly after taking this medicine.
Take this medicine regularly to get optimal benefits. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time each day. Tell your doctor, if your condition does not change or if it gets worse.
How to store Lenalidomide?
This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product
Precautions & Warnings
What should be considered before using the drug Lenalidomide?
Before using Lenalidomide:
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic or have a severe reaction to Lenalidomide or other medicines or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Lenalidomide. Ask your pharmacist or check your medication guide for a list of the ingredients in Lenalidomide.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications (prescription or non-prescription), vitamins, nutritional supplements, and any herbal products you are currently using or will be using.
- Tell your doctor if you are lactose intolerant and if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease. In addition, tell your doctor if you have ever taken thalidomide (Thalomid) and experienced a rash while you were taking this medication.
- Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding
Is Lenalidomide safe for pregnant and lactating women?
There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This medicine is included in the pregnancy risk category X. (A = No risk, B = No risk in some studies, C = Possible risk, D = There is positive evidence of risk, X = Contraindicated, N = Unknown)
It is not known whether Lenalidomide passes into breast milk or if this drug could harm a baby who is being breastfed. Therefore, you should not breastfeed while using this medicine.
Side effects
What are the possible side effects of Lenalidomide?
Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the following signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor if you experience any of the following serious side effects:
- Chest pain, sudden difficulty breathing, coughing up blood
- Pain or swelling in the arm, thigh or calf
- Easy bruising, bleeding or feeling unusually tired
- Fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms
- Pain in the lower back, there is blood in the urine
- Urinating less or not at all
- Numbness or tingling around the mouth
- Muscle weakness, tightness, or contractions, exaggerated reflexes
- Fast or slowed heart rate, weak pulse, feeling difficult to breathe, confusion, fainting
- The skin blisters, peels and a rash of red, or crust
- The first symptom of a skin rash no matter how light it is
Less serious side effects may include:
- Nausea, diarrhea, constipation
- Dry and itchy skin
- Runny nose or nasal congestion
- Muscle or joint pain
- Headache
- Fatigue
Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Drug Interactions
What medicines can interfere with the drug Lenalidomide?
Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document.
Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.
- Itraconazole
- Digoxin
Can certain foods and drinks interfere with the action of the drug Lenalidomide?
Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.
What health conditions can interfere with the performance of the drug Lenalidomide?
Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:
- Blood clotting problems (eg, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism)
- Heart attack, recently had a heart attack
- Liver disease
- Neutropenia (too few white blood cells)
- Stroke, history of having a stroke
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) - Use with caution. It might make things worse.
- Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol or fat in the blood)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Smoking - May increase the risk of serious side effects.
- Infection - May reduce your body's resistance to infection.
- Severe kidney disease - Use with caution. The impact may be increased due to the slow release of this drug from the body.
- Lactose intolerance - This medication contains lactose, which can make the condition worse.
Dose
The information provided is not a substitute for a doctor's prescription. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the dosage for Lenalidomide for adults?
Usual Adult Dose for Myelodysplastic Diseases
10 mg orally once a day
Usual Adult Dose for Multiple Myeloma
25 mg / day of lenalidomide with water orally in the form of a single 25 mg capsule on day 1 to day 21 of the 28 day cycle.
Usual Adult Dose for Lymphoma
25 mg, orally once daily on day 1 to day 21 of a 28 day cycle.
What is the dosage of Lenalidomide for children?
The dosage for children has not been determined. Consult your doctor for more information
In what dosages and preparations is Lenalidomide available?
Capsules, Oral: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 25 mg.
What to do in an emergency or overdose?
In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.
What should I do if I forget to take medicine or forget to take medicine?
If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment.
