Leflunomide

Do not take leflunomide if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or plan to father a child. You or your partner should not become pregnant while you are taking leflunomide. Leflunomide may harm the fetus. If you are female, you will need to take a pregnancy test before you start treatment, and you must use an effective method of birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with leflunomide, and for 2 years after treatment. If you are male, you and your partner should use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with leflunomide, and for 2 years after treatment. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use during your treatment. If you or your partner become pregnant during your treatment with leflunomide, call your doctor immediately. Talk to your doctor if you or your partner plan to become pregnant within 2 years after stopping treatment with leflunomide. Your doctor can prescribe a treatment that will help to remove this medication more quickly from your body.

Leflunomide may cause liver damage that can be life-threatening and even cause death. The risk for liver damage is greatest in people who already have liver disease. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had hepatitis or any other type of liver disease. Your doctor may tell you not to take leflunomide. Also, tell your doctor if you if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take so they can check whether any of your medications may increase the risk that you will develop liver damage during your treatment with leflunomide. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: nausea, extreme tiredness, unusual bleeding or bruising, lack of energy, loss of appetite, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark-colored urine, or flu-like symptoms. If liver damage is suspected, your doctor may stop leflunomide and may give you a treatment that will help to remove leflunomide more quickly from your body.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body's response to leflunomide.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking leflunomide.

Leflunomide is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function). Leflunomide is in a class of medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). It works by decreasing inflammation and slowing the progress of the condition, which can help improve the physical activity of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Leflunomide comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. Your doctor may tell you to take a larger dose of leflunomide for the first 3 days of treatment. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take leflunomide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may need to decrease your dose or stop treatment if you experience certain severe side effects. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment.

Leflunomide may help control the symptoms of your rheumatoid arthritis but does not cure it. Continue to take leflunomide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking leflunomide without talking to your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking leflunomide,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to leflunomide, teriflunomide (Aubagio), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in leflunomide tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• Some medications should not be taken with leflunomide. Other medications may cause dosing changes or extra monitoring when taken with leflunomide. Make sure you have discussed any medications you are currently taking or plan to take before starting leflunomide with your doctor and pharmacist. Before starting, stopping, or changing any medications while taking leflunomide, please get the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
• The following nonprescription product may interact with leflunomide: cimetidine (Tagamet). Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking this medication before you start taking leflunomide. Do not start any of these medications while taking leflunomide without discussing with your healthcare provider.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had serious infections or if you frequently get infections, cancer or other conditions affecting the bone marrow or the immune system (including human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]), diabetes, or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Do not breastfeed while you are taking leflunomide.
• ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking leflunomide.
• Taking leflunomide may decrease your ability to fight infection. Tell your doctor if you have an infection now or if you have any signs of infection such as fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms. If you experience any of the following symptoms during your treatment with leflunomide, call your doctor: fever; sore throat; cough; flu-like symptoms; area of warm, red, swollen, or painful skin; painful, difficult, or frequent urination; or other signs of infection. Your treatment with leflunomide may need to be interrupted if you have an infection.
• You may already be infected with tuberculosis (TB; a serious lung infection) but not have any symptoms of the disease. In this case, leflunomide may make your infection more serious and cause you to develop symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had TB, if you have lived in or visited a country where TB is common, or if you have been around someone who has or has ever had TB. Before you begin your treatment with leflunomide, your doctor will perform a skin test to see if you have TB. If you do have TB, your doctor will treat this infection with antibiotics before you begin taking leflunomide.
• do not have any vaccinations without talking to your doctor.
• you should know that leflunomide may cause high blood pressure. You should have your blood pressure checked before starting treatment and regularly while you are taking this medication.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Leflunomide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• heartburn
• headache
• dizziness
• weight loss
• back or joint pain
• weakness
• hair loss

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING or SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• rash with or without a fever
• hives
• itching
• swelling of the face, eyes, mouth, throat, tongue, or lips
• red, blistering, or peeling skin
• sores or ulcers on the skin
• mouth sores
• difficulty breathing
• shortness of breath
• new or worsening cough
• chest pain
• pale skin
• unusual tiredness
• unusual bruising or bleedning
• pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs, or feet

Receiving medications which suppress the immune system may increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer. An increase in cancers was not reported in clinical studies with leflunomide to date. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking leflunomide.

Leflunomide may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom) and light.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• extreme tiredness
• weakness
• pale skin
• fast heartbeat
• shortness of breath

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

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