Created: 2006-10-13 15:56:59.0
Modified: 2010-08-19 11:13:10.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Do not donate blood while using this medicine and for 1 month after stopping.
• If you have HIV infection, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Talk with healthcare provider before receiving any vaccinations. Use with this medicine may either increase the risk of serious infection or make the vaccination less effective.
• 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) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions.
• You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.
• Use two forms of birth control that you can trust before treatment begins, during treatment, and for 4 weeks after treatment ends.
• Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work to prevent pregnancy. Use another form of birth control while taking this medicine.
• If you are a male and sexually active, use a latex condom even if you have had a vasectomy.
• If you are male, do not donate sperm while using this medicine and for 1 month after stopping.
• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.
• Headache.
• Anemia and low white blood cell count.
• Low calcium levels.
• Swelling.
• Rash.
• Blood clots can rarely occur.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Not hungry.
• Nerve damage may occur.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Swelling or pain of leg or arm.
• Numbness or tingling of hands or feet.
• If you suspect a blood clot.
• Any rash.
• For females, if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
Angiogenesis Inhibitor; Immunomodulator, Systemic; Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blocking Agent
• Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. Use during pregnancy can cause birth defects. A female must use two effective forms of birth control during treatment. A male must use a latex condom even if he has had a vasectomy. A written explanation of risks must be presented, reviewed, and signed by the patient before receiving this medicine. If a patient is younger than 18 years of age, this written warning must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
• This medicine can cause blood clots in your veins or lungs. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain or swelling of the legs or arms.
• This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• Please read the medication guide.
• If you have an allergy to thalidomide or any other part of this medicine.
• 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, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have numbness, pain, or tingling of hands or feet.
• If you are of childbearing age, but are not using two forms of birth control or if you are planning to become pregnant during your treatment or within 4 weeks after treatment has ended.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding.
• Thalidomide decreases the body's harmful response to diseases affecting the immune system.
• It injures cancer cells causing their death.
• Take this medicine with water at bedtime at least 1 hour after the evening meal.
• Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• If you are a female of childbearing age, take a pregnancy test before starting this medicine.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• 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.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• This medicine is used to treat Behçet's syndrome.
• This medicine is used to treat graft versus host reactions after bone marrow transplant.
• This medicine is used to treat lupus.
This medicine is used to treat mouth sores.
• This medicine is used to treat multiple myeloma.
• This medicine is used to treat skin symptoms of leprosy.
