Thalomid (Thalidomide) for Myeloma

Overview
Thalomid is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat multiple myeloma. Thalomid is often combined with a corticosteroid like Dexamethasone to treat patients newly diagnosed with myeloma. Thalomid is also known by its drug name, thalidomide.

Thalomid is an immunomodulator – a drug that modulates the immune system. It is unknown how Thalomid works to fight myeloma, but it may prevent the growth of new blood vessels that supply tumors.

How do I take it?
Thalomid is taken orally on specific days in a 28-day cycle.

Thalomid comes in the form of a capsule.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Thalomid lists common side effects including fatigue, low calcium levels, swelling, constipation, numbness and tingling, trouble breathing, muscle weakness, low blood count, rash, confusion, weight loss, nausea, anxiety, tremor, fever, weight loss, blood clots, weight gain, dizziness, and dry skin.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Thalomid include fetal harm in pregnant women, blood clots in the lungs or veins, heart attack, stroke, bradycardia (slowed heart rate), drowsiness, tingling in the hands and feet, low blood pressure and dizziness, low blood count, low heart rate, seizures, severe skin reactions, and hypersensitivity reactions.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Thalomid — Celgene
https://www.thalomid.com

Drug Therapy for Multiple Myeloma — American Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/...