Lenalid

Lenalid affects the immune system. It promotes immune responses to help slow tumor growth. Lenalid is used to treat multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer), either in combination with another medicine or after stem cell transplant.

Lenalid is also used to treat anemia (a lack of red blood cells) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome caused by an abnormal chromosome. This disorder is also called deletion 5q MDS, because part of chromosome 5 is missing. In people with this disorder, the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells. Lenalid is also used to treat mantle cell lymphoma (a rare cancer of the lymph nodes), after other medications have been tried without success. Lenalid should not be used for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) unless you are in a controlled medical study. Lenalidomide can increase the risk of death from serious heart problems in people with CLL.

Use birth control to prevent pregnancy, whether you are a man or a woman. For women: Use two forms of birth control beginning 4 weeks before you start taking Lenalid and ending 4 weeks after you stop taking it. For men: Use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment, and for up to 4 weeks after your treatment ends.

Lenalid may cause blood clots. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have symptoms such as sudden numbness, severe headache, problems with vision or speech, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or swelling in your arm or leg.

Lenalid can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches). You will need frequent blood tests while you are taking Lenalid.

You should not use Lenalid if you are allergic to lenalidomide.

Lenalid can cause severe, life-threatening birth defects or death of a baby if the mother or the father is taking this medicine at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Even one dose of lenalidomide can cause major birth defects of the baby's arms and legs, bones, ears, eyes, face, and heart. Never use Lenalid if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if your period is late while taking Lenalid.

For Women: If you have not had a hysterectomy, you will be required to use two reliable forms of birth control beginning 4 weeks before you start taking Lenalid and ending 4 weeks after you stop taking it. Even women with fertility problems are required to use birth control while taking this medicine. You must also have a negative pregnancy test at 10 to 14 days before treatment and again at 24 hours before. While you are taking Lenalid, you will have a pregnancy test every 2 to 4 weeks.

The birth control method you use must be proven highly effective, such as birth control pills, an intrauterine device (IUD), a tubal ligation, or a sexual partner's vasectomy. The extra form of birth control you use must be a barrier method such as a latex condom, a diaphragm, or a cervical cap.

Stop using Lenalid and call your doctor at once if you quit using birth control, if your period is late, or if you think you might be pregnant. Not having sexual intercourse (abstinence) is the most effective method of preventing pregnancy.

For Men: If a man fathers a baby while using Lenalid, the baby may have birth defects. Use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment, and for up to 4 weeks after your treatment ends. You must agree in writing to always use latex condoms when having sex with a woman who is able to get pregnant, even if you have had a vasectomy. Contact your doctor if you have had unprotected sex, even once, or if you think your female sexual partner may be pregnant.

To make sure Lenalid is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: an allergic reaction to thalidomide; kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); liver disease; a blood clots or stroke; high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides; a thyroid disorder; lactose intolerance; or if you smoke; or if you also use pembrolizumab (Keytruda).

Using Lenalid may increase your risk of developing other types of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk. It is not known whether lenalidomide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using Lenalid.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Lenalid: (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have: signs of a stroke or blood clot - sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache, problems with speech or vision, shortness or breath, swelling or redness in your arm or leg; heart attack symptoms - chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, sweating; liver problems - upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); low blood cell counts - fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, swollen gums, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding; signs of a tumor getting worse - swollen glands, low fever, rash, or pain; or signs of tumor cell breakdown - lower back pain, blood in your urine, little or no urinating; numbness or tingly feeling around your mouth; muscle weakness or tightness; feeling short of breath; confusion, fainting.

Common Lenalid side effects may include: fever, cough, tiredness; itching, rash, swelling; or nausea, diarrhea, constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.