Composition
Cap 50 mg/100 mg: Thalidomide 50 mg/100 mg.
Indications & Dosage
First-line treatment for untreated multiple myeloma, in patients aged 65 years and over, or to avoid high-dose chemotherapy due to significant co-morbidity such as cardiac risk factors (in combination with melphalan and prednisolone): Adult 18-75 years: 200 mg once daily at bedtime for 6-week cycle for a max. of 12 cycles. Adult 76 years and over: 100 mg once daily at bedtime for 6-week cycle for a max. of 12 cycles.
Contraindications
Patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy should not be treated with thalidomide unless the potential clinical benefits outweigh the risk
Precautions
Liver and renal impairment, neurological disorders, high tumour burden; risk of tumourlysis syndrome, patients aged 76 years and over; increased risk of serious side-effects, constipation, congestive heart failure, hypertension, use caution in patient with history of seizures, performing task with required alertness.
Interactions
Sedatives.
Pregnancy
Positive evidence of risk: Avoid
Lactation
Contraindicated. Discontinue breast-feeding
Side Effects
Anaemia, asthenia, bradycardia, cardiac failure, confusion, constipation, deep veinthrombosis, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, dysaesthesia, dyspepsia, dyspnea, interstitial lung disease, leucopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, paraesthesia, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral oedema, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, pyrexia, skin reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, syncope, thrombocytopenia, tremor, vomiting, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, cerebrovascular events, convulsions, GI haemorrhage, GI perforation, hepatic disorders, hypothyroidism, intestinal obstruction, myocardial infarction, renal failure, second primary malignancy, toxic epidermal necrolysis