|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (tha
LI doe
mide) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Thalomid® |
|
|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Immunosuppressant Agent |
|
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Using this medicine during pregnancy could cause severe
life-threatening birth defects. A man OR a woman must use effective birth
control to prevent pregnancy while taking this medication (if there is ANY
possibility of becoming pregnant or causing pregnancy). Two effective measures
to prevent pregnancy are needed. A written explanation of risks must be
presented, reviewed, and signed by the patient before they are to receive this
medication. If a patient is under 18 years of age, this written warning must be
signed by a parent or legal
guardian.
|
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to thalidomide or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have numbness, pain, or tingling in your hands or feet or a
peripheral neuropathy.
- If you are in your childbearing years or are
pregnant.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to treat skin symptoms of leprosy.
- Other uses include treatment of Behçet's
syndrome, lupus, graft versus host reactions after bone marrow transplant, and
AIDS-related aphthous ulcers.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Thalidomide decreases the body's response to diseases affecting the
immune system.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or
crush.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the
next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- This medicine may be habit-forming with long-term use.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- If you have numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet tell
healthcare provider.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen;
wear protective clothing and eyewear.
- The risk of cancer is higher after taking this medicine. It may be
related to the dose and length of treatment.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- This medicine causes birth defects.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust before beginning treatment, while taking this medicine, and
for 6 weeks after treatment is stopped.
- Women need to use 2 forms of birth control. Birth control pills may
not work. Use other forms of birth control while taking this medicine. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- Men need to protect their partner from getting pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Diarrhea.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Rash.
- Feeling sleepy or lightheaded. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or
activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects
you.
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing
stairs.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Take a pregnancy test before starting this medicine. The result should
be negative.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Fever and/or chills, sore throat, sore mouth, pain with urination, or
coughing up sputum.
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands and feet.
- Pregnant.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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