Leflunomide What is it and what is it used for?

What is leflunomide?

Leflunomide is a drug classified as an active ingredient belonging to the group of antirheumatic drugs, with an effect on inflammatory and painful processes in the joints. (1)

What is leflunomide used for?

• Thanks to its mechanism of action, leflunomide inhibits an enzyme that participates in the de novo synthesis of pyrimidine, essential in DNA synthesis, as well as reversibly inhibits the proliferation of activated and autoimmune lymphocytes. This action helps mitigate certain osteoarticular ailments in patients .
• It is used to treat:
  • The signs and symptoms of active rheumatoid arthritis. (two)

Dosage and routes of administration of leflunomide

Leflunomide comes in tablets, containing leflunomide 20 mg and 100 mg. The administration is orally and the informative dosage can be as follows:

• Adults: It is recommended to start with a loading dose of 100 mg once a day for 3 days and then continue with a maintenance dose of one 20 mg tablet per day.

What products contain leflunomide?

Some of the medicines that contain leflunomide or are:

• Almura®
• Carriage®
• Inflaxen®
• Arthritis®

Almura®

• Almura® is a synthetic medicine that uses leflunomide as an active ingredient.
• It is used in the treatment of inflammatory and painful processes in the joints.

Carriage®

• Arava® is a pharmaceutically manufactured medicine that uses leflunomide as an active ingredient.
• It is indicated in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis .

Inflaxen®

• Inflaxen® is an antirheumatic drug, which contains leflunomide as an active ingredient.
• It is used to treat rheumatic conditions in adults.

Arthritis®

• Artritin® is a medication developed to address the symptoms of osteoarticular pain .
• It is used in the treatment of patients suffering from symptoms of active rheumatoid arthritis .

Leflunomide Side Effects

Clinical studies have shown that taking leflunomide can cause some of the following side effects  in certain patients :

• Possible allergic reactions due to contact of the patient with any of the components of the drug.
• Headache , dizziness, asthenia, paresthesia.
• Joint disorders and synovitis.
• Alopecia, eczema and dry skin .
• Angina, chest pain, palpitations and high blood pressure.
• Tachycardia, vasculitis and vasodilatation.
• Erythema multiforme, erythroderma, necrotizing cutaneous vasculitis.
• Rash and Stevens-Johnson syndrome .
• Abdominal pain, diarrhea , anorexia, and mouth ulcers.
• Agranulocytosis, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, or thrombocytosis.
• Risk of serious and fatal infections.
• diabetic neuropathy .

Important: If the patient during treatment with leflunomide observes the appearance of any of these symptoms or another not described, he should stop treatment and notify his doctor .

Contraindications and warnings of leflunomide

Leflunomide treatment is contraindicated in the following circumstances:

• Patient hypersensitivity to any component of the formula.
• In women of childbearing potential without the use of a reliable method of contraception .
• During the pregnancy period.
• During breastfeeding .
• In patients with severe hepatic insufficiency.
• Chronic liver disease or infection by hepatitis B and C viruses.
• In minor children.

To emphasize: Provide all information related to your health history to your doctor, before starting treatment with leflunomide.

Avoid it if you have:

• High blood pressure that is not controlled.
• Medication with other drugs for other pathologies without medical approval, such as methotrexate.
• History of liver damage or disease.
• Renal insufficiency.

Warnings:

• Pharmaceutical products such as leflunomide must be administered with a prescription or prescription.
• Treatment with this drug should be supervised by a doctor.
• Avoid mixing this drug with alcoholic beverages.
• Keep this medicine out of the reach of children.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions during administration of this product.