Lenalidomide — uses, dosing, side effects & the brands that sell it · pharmaranks
Lenalidomide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Lenalidomide is a thalidomide analog sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and mantle-cell lymphoma. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
By the pharmaranks editorial team·Reviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sources·How we research
Key facts
Drug class
Thalidomide Analog
Treats
Multiple Myeloma, Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Mantle-Cell Lymphoma
From the FDA label for Revlimid (application NDA021880). Other lenalidomide products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
MM combination therapy: 25 mg once daily orally on Days 1-21 of repeated 28-day cycles. ( 2.1 ). • MM maintenance therapy following auto-HSCT: 10 mg once daily continuously on Days 1-28 of repeated 28-day cycles ( 2.1 ). • MDS: 10 mg once daily ( 2.2 ). • MCL: 25 mg once daily orally on Days 1-21 of repeated 28-day cycles ( 2.3 ). • FL or MZL: 20 mg once daily orally on Days 1-21 of repeated 28-day cycles for up to 12 cycles ( 2.4 ). • Renal impairment: Adjust starting dose based on the creatinine clearance value ( 2.6 ). • For concomitant therapy doses, see Full Prescribing Information ( 2.1 , 2.4 , 14.1 , 14.4 ). 2.1 Recommended Dosage for Multiple Myeloma REVLIMID Combination Therapy The recommended starting dose of REVLIMID is 25 mg orally once daily on Days 1-21 of repeated 28-day cycles in combination with dexamethasone. Refer to Section 14.1 for specific dexamethasone dosing. For patients greater than 75 years old, the starting dose of dexamethasone may be reduced [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . Treatment should be continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In patients who are not eligible for auto-HSCT, treatment should continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. For patients who are auto-HSCT-eligible, hematopoietic stem cell mobilization should occur within 4 cycles of a REVLIMID-containing therapy…
Lenalidomide side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described in detail in other sections of the prescribing information: o Embryo-Fetal Toxicity [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.2) ] o Hematologic Toxicity [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] o Venous and Arterial Thromboembolism [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] o Increased Mortality in Patients with CLL [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] o Second Primary Malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] o Increased Mortality in Patients with MM When Pembrolizumab Is Added to a Thalidomide Analogue and Dexamethasone [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] o Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] o Severe Cutaneous Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] o Tumor Lysis Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] o Tumor Flare Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] o Impaired Stem Cell Mobilization [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] o Thyroid Disorders [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13) ] o Early Mortality in Patients with MCL [see Warnings and Precautions (5.14) ] o Hypersensitivity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.15) ] • MM: Most common adverse reactions (≥20%) include diarrhea, fatigue, anemia, constipation, neutropenia, leukopenia, peripheral edema, insomnia, muscle cramp/spasms, abdominal pain, back pain, nausea,…
Every lenalidomide product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Lenalidomide pill imprints
Imprint
Strength
Colour
Shape
Maker
25mg
25 mg
white
capsule
—
NAT;2;5mg
2.5 mg
white
capsule
—
NAT;5mg
5 mg
white
capsule
—
NAT;10mg
10 mg
white
capsule
—
NAT;15mg
15 mg
white
capsule
—
NAT;20mg
20 mg
Frequently asked questions
What is lenalidomide?
REVLIMID, a thalidomide analogue, is an immunomodulatory agent with antiangiogenic and antineoplastic properties. The chemical name is 3-(4-amino-1-oxo 1,3-dihydro-2 H -isoindol-2-yl) piperidine-2,6-dione and it has the following chemical structure: 3-(4-amino-1-oxo 1,3-dihydro-2 H -isoindol-2-yl) piperidine-2,6-dione The empirical formula for lenalidomide is C 13 H 13 N 3 O 3, and the gram molecular weight is 259.3. Lenalidomide is an off-white to pale-yellow solid powder. It is soluble in organic solvent/water mixtures, and buffered aqueous solvents. Lenalidomide is more soluble in organic solvents and low pH solutions. Solubility was significantly lower in less acidic buffers, ranging from about 0.4 to 0.5 mg/ml. Lenalidomide has an asymmetric carbon atom and can exist as the optically active forms S(-) and R(+), and is produced as a racemic mixture with a net optical rotation of zero. REVLIMID is available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg and 25 mg capsules for oral administration. Each capsule contains lenalidomide as the active ingredient and the following inactive ingredients: lactose anhydrous, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate. The 5 mg and 25 mg capsule shell contains gelatin, titanium dioxide and black ink. The 2.5 mg and 10 mg capsule shell contains gelatin, FD&C blue #2, yellow iron oxide, titanium dioxide…
What kind of drug is lenalidomide?
The FDA classifies lenalidomide as a thalidomide analog. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take lenalidomide with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run lenalidomide against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is lenalidomide sold under?
We track 2 lenalidomide-containing products in the U.S.: Revlimid and Lenalidomide. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Who shouldn’t take lenalidomide
Pregnancy ( Boxed Warning , 4.1 , 5.1 , 8.1 ). • Demonstrated severe hypersensitivity to lenalidomide ( 4.2 , 5.9 , 5.15 ). 4.1 Pregnancy REVLIMID can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female. Limb abnormalities were seen in the offspring of monkeys that were dosed with lenalidomide during organogenesis. This effect was seen at all doses tested. Due to the results of this developmental monkey study, and lenalidomide's structural similarities to thalidomide, a known human teratogen, lenalidomide is contraindicated in females who are pregnant [see Boxed Warning ]. If this drug is used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential risk to a fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.2) , Use in Special Populations (8.1 , 8.3) ] . 4.2 Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions REVLIMID is contraindicated in patients who have demonstrated severe hypersensitivity (e.g., angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) to lenalidomide [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9 , 5.15 )].
Lenalidomide drug interactions
Digoxin: Monitor digoxin plasma levels periodically due to increased C max and AUC with concomitant REVLIMID therapy ( 7.1 ). • Concomitant use of erythropoietin stimulating agents or estrogen containing therapies with REVLIMID may increase the risk of thrombosis ( 7.2 ). 7.1 Digoxin When digoxin was co-administered with multiple doses of REVLIMID (10 mg/day) the digoxin C max and AUC inf were increased by 14%. Periodically monitor digoxin plasma levels, in accordance with clinical judgment and based on standard clinical practice in patients receiving this medication, during administration of REVLIMID. 7.2 Concomitant Therapies That May Increase the Risk of Thrombosis Erythropoietic agents, or other agents that may increase the risk of thrombosis, such as estrogen containing therapies, should be used with caution after making a benefit-risk assessment in patients receiving REVLIMID [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . 7.3 Warfarin Co-administration of multiple doses of REVLIMID (10 mg/day) with a single dose of warfarin (25 mg) had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of lenalidomide or R- and S-warfarin. Expected changes in laboratory assessments of PT and INR were observed after warfarin administration, but these changes were not affected by concomitant REVLIMID administration. It is not known whether there is an interaction between dexamethasone and…
Across the brands we track, lenalidomide is currently marketed as capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic lenalidomide?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic lenalidomide product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.