Additional Information
* The online pharmacies to which you may be referred from this website will only dispense a controlled substance to a person who has a valid prescription issued for a legitimate medical purpose based upon a medical relationship with the prescribing practitioner. This includes at least one prior in-person medical evaluation or medical evaluation via telemedicine in accordance with applicable requirements of section 309 of the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Act.
Why is this medication prescribed
Leflunomide is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Leflunomide decreases the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and slows damage to joints caused by the disease.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Proper Use of This Medicine
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less of it, and do not take it more often than your doctor ordered.
Dosing
The dose of leflunomide will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of leflunomide. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For rheumatoid arthritis:
- Adults At first, 100 mg once a day for three days, then 20 mg once a day. Your doctor may decrease the dose as needed.
- Children Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
What other information should I know
Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your doctor will order certain laboratory tests to monitor your response to leflunomide.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For leflunomide, the following should be considered:
Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to leflunomide. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy Leflunomide must not be taken during pregnancy because it may cause birth defects in humans. Women of childbearing age are advised to use reliable contraception before receiving leflunomide.
Breast-feeding It is not known whether leflunomide passes into the breast milk. However, leflunomide is not recommended during breast-feeding, because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.
Children Although there is no specific information comparing use of leflunomide in children with use in any other age group, use is not recommended in children up to 18 years of age.
Older adults Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way as they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of leflunomide in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Males
Studies have not been done in animals or humans to determine if leflunomide will cause birth defects in the children of men taking leflunomide at the time of conception. However, it is recommended that men taking this medicine use condoms as a form of birth control during sexual intercourse. Men taking leflunomide who intend to father a child, should stop taking the medicine and tell their doctor immediately.
Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC] medicine.
Other medical problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of leflunomide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Disease of the immune system or
- Infections, severe Leflunomide may decrease the body's ability to fight infection
- Liver disease, including hepatitis B or C or
- Renal disease The chance of side effects may be increased
Warnings
| Pregnant women and women of childbearing age who are not using a reliable method of birth control should not take leflunomide. Pregnancy must be avoided during treatment and for 2 years after treatment with leflunomide. If your period is late or you miss a period during treatment with leflunomide, call your doctor immediately. Talk to your doctor if you plan to become pregnant after stopping treatment with leflunomide. Your doctor can prescribe a treatment that will decrease the risk of harm to the fetus. |
In case of emergency overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
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