Exploring Lenalidomide in Multiple Myeloma Treatment

What is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects your blood cells. In particular, it affects your white blood cells and plasma cells.

In people with multiple myeloma, white blood cells and plasma cells grow and multiply very quickly and uncontrollably. This causes cancer in your blood. As the cancer cells travel through your blood, they can reach various parts of your body. Some cancer cells may accumulate in certain organs and cause organ-specific symptoms.

What is Lenalidomide?

Lenalidomide, a new anti-tumour drug developed by Celgene Corporation of the United States, is also known as lenalidomide. It is an immunomodulatory agent used to fight tumors and control the proliferation of tumor cells. It was previously approved for marketing by the US FDA. It is mainly used to treat myeloma dysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma, and has been expanded to patients with lymphoma.

Lenalidomide, also widely known as Revlimid, is an immunomodulatory agent used primarily to treat multiple myeloma and certain types of myelodysplastic syndrome. As an oral medication, it inhibits the growth and spread of cancer cells by regulating the patient's immune system.

Lenalidomide can be said to be a new generation of thalidomide derivative drug, and its efficacy is stronger than thalidomide. At present, this drug is the most effective drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma. More than half of the patients can extend their survival time by more than 3 years after taking this drug.

What does lenalidomide?

Lenalidomide stops cancer cells from growing and multiplying, which stops the cancer from progressing (getting worse). Lenalidomide can also cause existing cancer cells to die.

For some types of cancer, the effects of lenalidomide may be stronger if you take it with other medicines. Medicines that increase the effects of lenalidomide include:

Dexamethasone, for people with multiple myeloma

Rituximab for patients with follicular and marginal zone lymphoma.

Usage and Dosage

Lenalidomide is an oral capsule, which is produced in four strengths: 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, and 25mg. Patients with myelodysplastic syndrome should take 10mg of lenalidomide every day. Patients with multiple myeloma should take 25mg every day. Take it with warm water and drink a large glass of warm water while taking the medicine.

The dosage of lenalidomide can be adjusted according to the changes in the patient's clinical symptoms and laboratory test results. You must take it under your doctor guidance only.

Side Effects

The most common adverse reactions of lenalidomide are thrombocytopenia (61.5%) and neutropenia (58.8%). Other common adverse reactions include diarrhoea, itching, rash, fatigue, constipation, nausea, nasopharyngitis, arthralgia, fever, back pain, peripheral edema, cough, dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, dyspnoea and pharyngitis.

Most common side effects of lenalidomide include:

• ·         Cytopenia
• ·         fatigue
• ·         constipate
• ·         rash

If side effects occur, patients should communicate promptly to their doctor, who may adjust the dose or recommend alternative management methods.

Precautions

Physicians should provide patients with medication instructions every time they prescribe lenalidomide to patients, and physicians or pharmacists should take this opportunity to explain to patients the possible risks of lenalidomide.

Patients who are preparing to take the medication are advised to take two different effective contraceptive measures at the same time to prevent pregnancy.

Female patients who are preparing to take lenalidomide should sign an informed consent form under the guidance of a doctor to indicate that they are aware of the importance of contraception when taking lenalidomide.

In addition, all female patients who may be pregnant need to undergo two pregnancy tests before taking the medication (one scheduled 10 to 14 days before administration and the other scheduled within 24 hours before administration). Only those with negative results in both pregnancy tests can officially take lenalidomide.

Lenalidomide Cost

Lenalidomide price plays major role in Multiple myeloma patients because of its high cost. If we look on lenalidomide price in USA, then you can’t imagine to afford it without insurance or generic options. You can consider some good Indian generic options with lowest price without compromising quality as well.  

If you want to learn more about lenalidomide, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about how this medicine works in your body.