Thalidomide

Pronunciation

Brand Names

Therapeutic Categories

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 hobbies until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines 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 hobbies 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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