Thalidomide (Systemic)

Brand Names : THALOMID

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 thalidomide, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to thalidomide. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Thalidomide must not be used by pregnant women . If this medicine is taken early in pregnancy (within the first 8 weeks [2 months]), your baby may be born dead or with serious birth defects. Even a single dose (1 capsule) taken by a pregnant woman can cause severe birth defects. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant. Men who are taking thalidomide must always use condoms when having sexual contact with women who may become pregnant, even if they have undergone successful vasectomy.

Breast-feeding - It is not known if thalidomide passes into breast milk. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of using this medicine with your doctor.

Children - A small number of children have been safely treated with thalidomide. Be sure to discuss with your child's doctor the use of this medicine in children.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients up to 90 years of age and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

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. When you are taking thalidomide, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Alcohol or
• Barbiturates or
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness) or
• Chlorpromazine (e.g., Thorazine) or
• Reserpine (e.g., Serpalan) or
• Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression) - Use of these medicines with thalidomide may make you more drowsy

• Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
• Cisplatin (e.g., Platinol) or
• Dapsone (e.g., Avlosulfon) or
• Didanosine (e.g., Videx) or
• Ethambutol (e.g., Myambutol) or
• Ethionamide (e.g., Trecator-SC) or
• Hydralazine (e.g., Apresoline) or
• Isoniazid (e.g., Nydrazid) or
• Lithium (e.g., Eskalith, Lithobid) or
• Metronidazole (e.g., Flagyl) or
• Nitrofurantoin (e.g., Furadantin, Macrodantin) or
• Nitrous oxide or
• Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin) or
• Stavudine (e.g., d4T, Zerit) or
• Vincristine (e.g., Oncovin) or
• Zalcitabine (e.g., HIVID) - Use of these medicines with thalidomide may increase the chance of peripheral neuropathy (tingling, burning, numbness, or pain in your hands or feet) or may make it worse

• Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
• Griseofulvin (e.g., Grifulvin V) or
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-protease inhibitors (indinavir [e.g., Crixivan], nelfinavir [e.g., Viracept], ritonavir [e.g., Norvir], saquinavir [e.g., Fortovase, Invirase]) or
• Rifabutin (e.g., Mycobutin) or
• Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin) - Use of these medicines with certain birth control agents may keep the birth control agents from working properly; effective birth control is required for women taking thalidomide who are able to bear children

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of thalidomide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Decreased white blood cell counts or
• Epilepsy or risk of seizures or
• Peripheral neuropathy - Thalidomide may make these conditions worse