Leflunomide Stada
Leflunomide Stada is a medicine for rheumatic diseases, used to treat active rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis in adults.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
20 mg
Active Ingredient
Leflunomide
Manufacturer
STADA Arzneimittel AG
How to Use
Dosage
Start with 100 mg once a day for the first three days. After that, take 10 mg or 20 mg once a day for rheumatoid arthritis, or 20 mg once a day for psoriatic arthritis.
Method
Swallow the tablet whole with a good amount of water.
Important
After the initial loading dose, the maximum daily dose is 20 mg.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •slight decrease in white blood cells
- •mild allergic reactions
- •loss of appetite, weight loss (usually minor)
- •feeling tired or weak
- •headache, dizziness
- •unusual skin feelings, like tingling
- •slight increase in blood pressure
- •inflammation of the colon
- •diarrhea
- •nausea, vomiting
- •inflammation or sores in the mouth
- •stomach aches
- •increase in certain liver test values
- •more hair loss
- •eczema (red rash), dry skin, rash, itching
- •tendon pain (often in hands or feet)
- •increase in a certain blood enzyme (creatine phosphokinase)
- •nerve problems in arms or legs (peripheral neuropathy)
RARE
- •decrease in red blood cells (anemia) and platelets
- •decrease in blood potassium
- •anxiety
- •changes in taste
- •hives
- •tendon rupture
- •increase in blood fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides)
- •decrease in blood phosphate
- •increase in certain white blood cells (eosinophils); general decrease in all blood cells
- •severe increase in blood pressure
- •inflammation in the lungs
- •increase in certain liver values, possibly leading to hepatitis or jaundice
- •severe infection (sepsis) which can be fatal
- •increase in a certain blood enzyme (lactate dehydrogenase)
- •severe decrease in certain white blood cells (agranulocytosis)
- •severe and possibly serious allergic reactions
- •inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), including skin tissue death
- •inflammation of the pancreas
- •severe liver damage, such as liver failure or tissue death, which can be fatal
- •severe, sometimes life-threatening skin reactions (like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme)
Important Warnings
- If you are allergic to leflunomide or any other ingredient in this medicine (especially if you have had a severe skin reaction like Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
- If you have liver problems.
- If you have moderate or severe kidney disease.
- If you have very low protein levels in your blood.
- If you have a disorder affecting your immune system (e.g., AIDS).
Show 9 more warnings
- If your bone marrow is not working well, or you have very low red or white blood cells or platelets.
- If you have a severe infection.
- If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Women who can get pregnant must use reliable birth control.
- Tell your doctor if you have had lung inflammation before, or if you get a cough or trouble breathing during treatment.
- Men who plan to have children should talk to their doctor, and the medicine must be cleared from the body before conception.
- If you are having major surgery or have unhealed wounds, as this medicine might slow down wound healing.
- You will have regular blood tests and blood pressure checks, as this medicine can affect your blood and liver, and might raise blood pressure.
- Avoid alcohol during treatment, as it can increase the risk of liver damage.
- This medicine might make you feel dizzy; do not drive or use machines if you feel dizzy.