Introduction

Cancer is a very serious disease that often takes over a person’sperson’s life, causing debilitating effects that could sometimes lead to death. Cancer is caused by harmful or malignant cells that slowly degrade the regular function of the body of a person, affecting healthy cells, tissues, and organs. A cluster of malignant or harmful cells forms a cancerous tumor. To treat cancer, we need a particular kind of treatment that will stop the growth of these cells or the tumor affecting the person. This may often involve the use of some medication. Lenalidomide is a medication used to treat various types of cancers in a person’s body. It is used to stop the growth of cancer and bring back the persons body to it’s normal state.

What is Lenalidomide?

Lenalidomide

Lenalidomide is a chemotherapy drug. This medication targets proteins within cancer cells and inhibits the growth of the cancer cells, hence inhibiting the development of the cancerous tumor in the body of the person affected by it. Lenalidomide may be used for patients suffering from multiple myeloma, certain types of lymphoma, and some myelodysplastic syndromes that cause anemia, wherein people may need blood transfusions, which is considered a severe condition. Lenalidomide could also be prescribed for other treatments besides these depending on the patient, their health condition, age, weight, height, etc. You can discuss with your doctor or a suitable medical professional if Lenalidomide would be suitable for you or when else it may be used when affording treatment.

Lenalidomide uses 

Different kinds of medication have different uses. There are also some Lenalidomide uses that one may like to keep in mind, especially if you are a cancer patient or have received a prescription for Lenalidomide.

Some notable Lenalidomide uses are:

There may be other Lenalidomide uses than the ones listed above. If you need to use Lenalidomide or would like to learn more about Lenalidomide uses, you may approach a doctor or a suitable medical professional at a hospital or any other suitable medical facility near you. They will be able to provide you with the necessary information and guidance relating to Lenalidomide uses. 

Lenalidomide side effects 

A person may want to avail of Lenalidomide uses for their treatment. While medications may generally be used for treating a patient and some kinds of positive purposes, they may also sometimes have detrimental effects on a patient of varying nature depending on the dosage of the medication, the health condition of the patient, other characteristics such as their height, weight, age among others. It is important to understand these side effects and comprehend how we may approach them and deal with them to experience the least negative effects of the medication being taken. We may also do this for Lenalidomide side effects which may be in addition to the Lenalidomide uses.

Some notable Lenalidomide side effects when making Lenalidomide uses are:

  • Reactions such as rashes on the skin, itching, hives, swollen face, lips, or tongue
  • Difficulty breathing 
  • Some tightness or pain in the chest region
  • A heartbeat that is fast and irregular 
  • Feeling dizzy
  • Low blood count results in a reduction in the amount white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the body of a person, due to which one may be susceptible to infections and bleeding
  • Rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
  • Any kind of redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin that could also be inside the mouth
  • Having seizures
  • Bleeding for no reason leading to bloody or black, tarry stools, red or dark-brown urine, spitting up blood or brown material resembling coffee, red spots on skin, bruising or bleeding from eyes, gums, or nose
  • Having a blood clot resulting in difficulty breathing, problems with vision, pain in the chest region, headaches, pain, swelling, warmth in the leg, difficulty speaking, feeling numb or weak in the face, arm, or leg
  • A liver injury, which may cause urine to be dark yellow or brown, flu-like symptoms, stools that are light in color, appetite loss, feeling nauseous, right upper belly pain, feeling weak, yellowing of eyes or skin
  • Experiencing a stroke leading to vision problems, feeling confused, difficulty speaking or understanding, headaches, sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, difficulty walking or doing regular movements, feeling dizzy, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sweating without reason
  • Vomiting without reason 

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention, but you must inform your doctor or doctor about if they persist or continue to become more severe with time are:

  • Feeling constipated 
  • Regular coughing
  • Upset stomach
  • Pain in joints 
  • Having cramps in muscles 
  • Swollen arms, legs, or skin
  • Feeling tired without reason
  • Disturbed sleep

While you may note the above Lenalidomide side effects, it is important to understand that the list of Lenalidomide side effects may not cover all the possible kinds of them. You must stay cautious and alter your health condition after taking this medication. If you are experiencing any unusual reactions to the drug after taking it, even if it is not listed above, you may be experiencing some kinds of Lenalidomide side effects. It would be best to immediately inform your doctor or a suitable medical professional about these Lenalidomide side effects. Your doctor or the medical professional can guide and advise you on what to do next when you experience Lenalidomide side effects. You may also discuss Lenalidomide side effects that may occur on making Lenalidomide uses with a pharmacist. 

Long-term side effects of Lenalidomide

A person could also experience Long-term side effects of Lenalidomide if they take this medication. Sometimes patients may experience Lenalidomide side effects that do not last very long. In other situations, a patient could experience long-term side effects of Lenalidomide, which may affect their health, especially if they take this medication for a long time. It is good to know about the long-term side effects of Lenalidomide, so one can recognize and address them if they experience any. You must seek medical attention from a doctor or a medical professional if you experience any long-term side effects of Lenalidomide, especially if the long-term side effects of Lenalidomide become more severe with time.

Some long-term side effects of Lenalidomide are:

  • Severe heart issues such as atrial fibrillation, heart attack, or heart failure
  • Lenalidomide could elevate your risk of having blood clots

While the above may illuminate what kinds of long-term side effects of Lenalidomide are, there may be other long-term side effects of Lenalidomide that a person could experience. You must stay observant of any reactions to the medication. Suppose you suspect you may be experiencing some long-term side effects of Lenalidomide that are not mentioned above and have been experienced over a long period. In that case, you must inform your doctor or a suitable medical professional about this as soon as possible. If you cannot talk to your doctor about the same, you could also discuss the long-term side effects of Lenalidomide use with a pharmacist.

Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost

It may help a person to know about Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost, whether they are finding out about Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost in advance after receiving a prescription or may generally like to be informed about Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost. Cancer treatment and other medical care have become increasingly expensive in recent years, especially since the coronavirus pandemic when the healthcare system felt a lot of pressure. This is another reason a person may want to keep updated about or know about Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost.

 Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost is:

  • 10 Mg Lenalidomide Capsules, NATCO, 30 Cap Botl at Rs 3600/bottle 

If you would like to know anything else relating to Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost, you may consult your doctor or any other kind of suitable medical professional. You may also inquire about Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost from your pharmacist. You must note that the Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost may vary depending on the pharmacy or seller you are buying it from. It may help to know the Lenalidomide price or Lenalidomide cost.

Lenalidomide for chemotherapy 

One may want to know about Lenalidomide for chemotherapy when comprehending Lenalidomide uses. A patient receives chemotherapy as treatment for cancer. The cancerous or malignant cells divide rapidly and may often hinder the regular functioning of a person’s body. They may do so by affecting the healthy cells, tissues, and organs inside the person’sperson’s body. The tumor slowly takes over the body and, in some circumstances, could even cause death. This is why it is important to detect the tumor or malignant cells in a person’s body at the earliest possible stage. 

The chemotherapy medication targets some proteins that are important to the growth of cancer cells. Targeting this particular protein hinders the growth of the cancer cells and the cancerous tumor that is affecting the person. Slowly and steadily, the number of cancerous cells in the person’sperson’s bendy reduces, and the body is able to function again as it normally would in the best-case scenario. This is the basic process when using Lenalidomide for chemotherapy. 

One must note, however, that Lenalidomide for chemotherapy may often be a kind of treatment that sometimes takes a toll on a person’s health and makes them quite weak. A person may have severe reactions to the medication at times. They may sometimes have to depend on others to do regular things. This is because when a patient undergoes chemotherapy or Lenalidomide for chemotherapy is given to a person, the Lenalidomide for chemotherapy has no way of differentiating between the cancerous cells and the healthy cells that are in the person’sperson’s body. This means that the chemotherapy medication may often attack and inhibit the growth of healthy cells in a person’sperson’s body. The lack of healthy cells in the person’sperson’s body to fight off the cancerous cells and other kinds of infection may often cause a person to become weak. 

What are some alternative names for Lenalidomide?

It may be useful to know about the alternative names of a medication. This may help a person if the alternative name for that medication is used in the course of treatment, by a pharmacist, or in some other situation. They will be able to tell that the medicine being referred to is the same one, which will avoid any confusion. The brand name for Lenalidomide is Revlimid.

What must I inform my doctor about before taking Lenalidomide?

Before you consume Lenalidomide, your doctor may need to know if you have any of the following conditions:

  • Any blood clots in your legs or the lungs
  • Have high blood pressure
  • Have high levels of cholesterol
  • Are you suffering from or have recently suffered from some infection
  • Have irregular menstrual cycles or periods
  • Are you suffering from or have recently had any kidney disease
  • Are you suffering from or have recently had any liver disease
  • Smoke regularly
  • Consume alcohol
  • Consume tobacco products 
  • You have any disease that affects your thyroid 
  • You have had any kinds of reactions to Lenalidomide, thalidomide, foods, dyes, preservatives, or any other type of medications or substances 
  • You are currently pregnant, or are you trying to have a child
  • Are currently nursing a child (breastfeeding)

This list may cover only some things that you should inform your doctor about. Suppose you think that you may have some conditions or habits that may be relevant to the treatment or kind of medication you are taking. In that case, you must inform your doctor or the medical professional that is overlooking your treatment and Lenalidomide intake.

What other medications could react with Lenalidomide?

One must be as cautious as possible when simultaneously consuming different kinds of medication. Some types of medicine could react with one another and sometimes even severely affect your health. It would be best to inform your doctor or medical professional overlooking your treatment with Lenalidomide medication about any other kinds of medicine you are taking. It may be helpful if you keep a list of medications you are taking and keep updating it as you start or stop taking these other medications.  

Lenalidomide could react with the following medications:

  • Digoxin
  • Medicines that may raise the risk of thrombosis, such as estrogens or erythropoietic agents such as epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa
  • Warfarin

The above list may not cover all medicine that could react with Lenalidomide. It would be best to discuss this with your doctor and be sure to inform them about any medications you are taking at the same time as Lenalidomide. 

Can pregnant women take this medication?

Lenalidomide can seriously harm a fetus developing in a pregnant person’s body. Taking Lenalidomide while pregnant might cause different congenital disabilities and developmental issues. You must avoid getting pregnant while taking Lenalidomide. People with child-bearing potential may need have 2 negative pregnancy tests before starting this medication. One must do a pregnancy test every 2 to 4 weeks or as directed by their doctor or a suitable medical professional while taking this medicine. You may use multiple types poof reliable birth control together while taking Lenalidomide medication and for 4 weeks after you stop taking it. If you think that you might be pregnant, you must consult about the same with your doctor as soon as you can to reduce harm to the fetus.

Can a person breastfeed while taking this medication?

You must be very careful when breastfeeding a child if you take Lenalidomide. It is generally recommended that you do not nurse or breastfeed an infant while taking this medicine. Still, a doctor could prescribe it if necessary, usually in life-saving situations. The reason for this is that the medication could pass from the mother’s body to the child through breastmilk which may cause harm to the child, leading to adverse reactions that may be greatly detrimental to the child’s health. Mothers must ensure that they properly discuss the effects of the medication on their child or any alternative routes they may take if they are being Lenalidomide and may need to take an alternative medicine so that they can breastfeed and breastfeed their child at the same time.

Can children take Lenalidomide?

One has to be very careful when giving any medication to any child. This is because children are still growing and developing and, as a result, may be more sensitive to medication. You must consult a pediatrician if you would like to understand more about the use of this medicine in children. Special care and precautions may need to be taken when a child is given Lenalidomide.

How should I take Lenalidomide?

You must take Lenalidomide orally or by the mouth with water. It would be best if you took it in the way that is directed by your doctor and did not stray from these directions. For any other instructions, you may refer to the prescription label of the medication itself. You must take the medicine at the times you have been told to take it. If you have been told to take the drug after or during some meals, you must do this and not miss your doses. You must not crush or chew the medicine but swallow it. You must not take more medication than you have been told to take. It would be best if you only stopped taking it on advice from your doctor or a suitable medical professional after they have carefully observed the state of your health and your reaction to the medication. 

What should I do if I miss a dose of Lenalidomide?

One may miss taking a dose of medication at times due to different reasons. While this is normal and understandable, it is important to try and not miss any doses so that the treatment you are undergoing has the necessary on intended effect and your health goes back to normal as fast as it can. In case you miss a dose of Lenalidomide and not too much time has passed since you were supposed to take the missed dose, you may consume it as usual. However, if a lot of time has passed since you were supposed to take your dose, you must consult your doctor. Some doctors may recommend that you refrain from taking the missed dose in this situation and continue taking the next medication dose regularly.  

What if I take an excessive dose of Lenalidomide?

When you take too much of medication, this situation is known as an overdose. Suppose you feel you may have taken too much Lenalidomide medication. In that case, you must contact a poison control hotline or emergency room as soon as you can, especially if you notice some sudden and severe symptoms of the medication overdose. You must avoid taking double or extra doses of the medication to make up for any missed doses. This could cause severe reactions that may harm you.

How must I store Lenalidomide?

One may want to know about how they must store Lenalidomid. It would be best if you stored Lenalidomide in such a way that it is out of the reach of children. This medication has no temperature requirements; you may keep it at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C or 59 and 86 degrees F. You must dispose of any medicine in a proper manner that has yet to be used after the expiration date has passed. You may ask your doctor or pharmacist if you want to understand how you must dispose of it.  

Conclusion

Lenalidomide is an important and useful medication whose role in cancer treatments must not be ignored. Understanding the medicine, its uses, possible side effects, and price, among other factors, will allow a patient to have the most smooth treatment possible. It will also allow the doctor or medical professional to afford treatment to the patient with less confusion and more clarity. Cancer treatment can often be challenging and stretch over a long time. By being as informed as possible about this, the treatment will be much easier, leading to quicker treatment and a cure for the disease.  Crowdfunding allows individuals to reach out to a vast network of supporters, enabling small contributions that collectively make a substantial impact.