Health Library

Thalidomide (By mouth)

Thalidomide (tha-LID-oh-mide)

Treats multiple myeloma. Also used to treat and prevent erythema nodosum leprosum, a skin disease caused by leprosy.

Brand Name(s):

Thalomid

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Capsule

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• Take this medicine with water at least 1 hour after the evening meal at bedtime.
• Do not open the blister pack until you are ready to take the capsule. Do not open or crush it. If you touch a broken capsule or the medicine in the capsule, wash your skin with soap and water right away.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
• Missed dose: If it is more than 12 hours until your next regular dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is less than 12 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Return any unused capsules to your doctor or pharmacist.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not receive pembrolizumab together with thalidomide and dexamethasone if you have multiple myeloma.
• Some medicines can affect how thalidomide works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Amiodarone, bortezomib, carbamazepine, cimetidine, cisplatin, digoxin, disulfiram, docetaxel, famotidine, griseofulvin, lithium, metronidazole, modafinil, paclitaxel, penicillin, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, St John's wort, vincristine
  • Birth control pills
  • Blood pressure medicine
  • Medicine to treat depression (including TCAs)
  • Medicine to treat HIV infection
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Females who can get pregnant should use 2 forms of birth control starting 4 weeks before treatment begins, during treatment, and for at least 4 weeks after the last dose. Males should use a condom during sex while they are taking this medicine and for at least 4 weeks after the last dose, even if they had a vasectomy. Continue to use birth control even if the dose is stopped for a short time. Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner misses a period or may be pregnant.
• Females who can get pregnant must have a negative pregnancy test before starting treatment with this medicine. Pregnancy tests may be done weekly for the first month during treatment, and then every 2 to 4 weeks.
• Do not breastfeed during treatment with this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have bradycardia (slow heartbeat), HIV infection, plan to have surgery, or a history of seizures, heart attack, or stroke.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Increased risk for blood clots, heart attack, or stroke
  • Peripheral neuropathy (nerve problem)
  • Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
  • Increased risk for bleeding or infections
  • Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
  • Seizures
  • Tumor lysis syndrome (electrolyte and metabolic problem that can be life-threatening)
• This medicine may make you dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Stand or sit up slowly if you feel lightheaded.
• Do not donate blood or sperm while you are taking this medicine and for at least 4 weeks after your last dose.
• This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, joint pain or swelling, lower back or side pain, swelling of the feet or lower legs
• Chest pain that may spread, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, nausea, unusual sweating
• Fever, chills, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, body aches
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
• Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
• Seizures
• Slow, uneven, or fast, pounding heartbeat
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Anxiety, agitation, confusion, tremors
• Constipation, loss of appetite, weight changes
• Mild skin rash or dry skin
• Tiredness, sleepiness

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024