Lefumide 20 mg Tablet

Lefumide 20 mg Tablet contains 20 mg of leflunomide in each tablet. It is an immunomodulating medicine used to help reduce inflammation and slow joint damage in adults with rheumatoid arthritis. This product is sold as a tablet, making it a convenient oral option when a doctor decides leflunomide is appropriate. It is not a painkiller in the usual sense, but it may help improve pain, swelling, and stiffness by treating the underlying disease process.

How it works: Leflunomide works by lowering the activity of certain immune cells that drive inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. In tablet form, Lefumide 20 mg Tablet is swallowed and absorbed through the digestive tract to help reduce joint inflammation over time.

Lefumide 20 mg Tablet is the higher-strength tablet in this product line compared with Lefumide 10 mg Tablet. Doctors may choose the 20 mg strength for adults who need the standard maintenance dose or who have already been assessed on a lower strength and need a stronger tablet for ongoing treatment. Because leflunomide can take time to show benefit and can cause serious side effects, this strength is used only under medical supervision.

• Rheumatoid arthritis in adults
• Reducing joint swelling and stiffness
• Helping slow joint damage from autoimmune inflammation
• Disease-modifying treatment for inflammatory arthritis

• Swallow Lefumide 20 mg Tablet whole with water; do not crush, split, or chew unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
• Take it at the same time each day if you are prescribed daily dosing.
• You may take it with or without food, but taking it with food can help if it upsets your stomach.
• Follow the exact schedule your doctor prescribes; some patients are given a loading dose first, while others are not.
• Do not take extra tablets to make up for a missed dose unless your prescriber specifically instructs you to do so.

Each Lefumide 20 mg Tablet provides 20 mg of leflunomide per tablet. Adults are commonly prescribed one 20 mg tablet once daily for maintenance, but the exact dose and whether a loading dose is used are decided by the doctor. Do not exceed the dose prescribed for you; dosing may be adjusted based on side effects, liver tests, and response.

Do not change your dose or stop the medicine without speaking to your doctor.

Common side effects of Leflunomide may include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Headache
• Hair thinning
• Abdominal pain
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Rash

• Lefumide 20 mg Tablet can cause serious liver problems, so alcohol use and liver disease need careful review before treatment.
• This 20 mg strength is not for self-starting; it should be used only after a doctor confirms it is appropriate for your condition.
• Do not use if you are pregnant, and avoid becoming pregnant during treatment because leflunomide can seriously harm an unborn baby.
• Tell your doctor about past tuberculosis, frequent infections, or a weak immune system before starting this medicine.
• Regular blood tests are often needed to monitor liver function and blood counts while taking Lefumide 20 mg Tablet.
• Use caution with medicines that affect the liver, and report persistent fatigue, dark urine, or severe stomach symptoms right away.
• If you have planned surgery or develop a serious infection, your prescriber may need to review whether to pause or stop treatment.

• Methotrexate or other medicines that can harm the liver
• Warfarin and other blood thinners
• Other immunosuppressants or biologic arthritis medicines
• Rifampin, which can change leflunomide levels
• Live vaccines, which may not be safe while taking this medicine

Store Lefumide 20 mg Tablet in its original strip or box at room temperature, away from moisture and direct heat, and keep it out of reach of children.