DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
THALOMID® (THALIDOMIDE) MUST ONLY BE ADMINISTERED IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF THE TERMS OUTLINED IN THE THALOMID REMS™ PROGRAM. THALOMID® (THALIDOMIDE) MAY ONLY BE PRESCRIBED BY PRESCRIBERS CERTIFIED WITH THE THALOMID REMS™ PROGRAM AND MAY ONLY BE DISPENSED BY PHARMACISTS CERTIFIED WITH THE THALOMID REMS™ PROGRAM.
Drug prescribing to females of reproductive potential should be contingent upon initial and continued confirmed negative results of pregnancy testing.
Multiple Myeloma
THALOMID is administered in combination with dexamethasone in 28-day treatment cycles. The dose of THALOMID is 200 mg administered orally once daily with water, preferably at bedtime and at least 1 hour after the evening meal. The dose of dexamethasone is 40 mg daily administered orally on days 1-4, 9-12, and 17-20 every 28 days.
Patients who develop adverse reactions such as constipation, somnolence, or peripheral neuropathy may benefit by either temporarily discontinuing the drug or continuing at a lower dose. With the abatement of these adverse reactions, the drug may be started at a lower dose or at the previous dose based on clinical judgment.
Erythema Nodosum Leprosum
For an episode of cutaneous ENL, THALOMID dosing should be initiated at 100 to 300 mg/day, administered once daily with water, preferably at bedtime and at least 1 hour after the evening meal. Patients weighing less than 50 kilograms should be started at the low end of the dose range.
In patients with a severe cutaneous ENL reaction, or in those who have previously required higher doses to control the reaction, THALOMID dosing may be initiated at higher doses up to 400 mg/day once daily at bedtime or in divided doses with water, at least 1 hour after meals.
In patients with moderate to severe neuritis associated with a severe ENL reaction, corticosteroids may be started concomitantly with THALOMID. Steroid usage can be tapered and discontinued when the neuritis has ameliorated.
Dosing with THALOMID should usually continue until signs and symptoms of active reaction have subsided, usually a period of at least 2 weeks. Patients may then be tapered off medication in 50 mg decrements every 2 to 4 weeks.
Patients who have a documented history of requiring prolonged maintenance treatment to prevent the recurrence of cutaneous ENL or who flare during tapering should be maintained on the minimum dose necessary to control the reaction. Tapering off medication should be attempted every 3 to 6 months, in decrements of 50 mg every 2 to 4 weeks.
DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
THALOMID 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg capsules will be supplied through the THALOMID REMS™ program [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling].
THALOMID is available in the following capsule strengths:
50 mg capsules [white opaque], imprinted “Celgene/50 mg” with a “Do Not Get Pregnant” logo.
100 mg capsules [tan], imprinted “Celgene/100 mg” with a “Do Not Get Pregnant” logo.
150 mg capsules [tan and blue], imprinted “Celgene/150 mg” with a “Do Not Get Pregnant” logo
200 mg capsule [blue], imprinted “Celgene/200 mg” with a “Do not Get Pregnant” logo.
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