Teriflunomide
About Teriflunomide
Teriflunomide is a prescription oral medicine used to manage relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. Its primary medical purpose is to help reduce the frequency of clinical relapses and slow down the physical worsening of the condition. By keeping the disease activity under control, it supports your daily physical functioning.
This medication is taken once daily and should be taken consistently at the same time each day to maintain stable levels in your body. You can take it with or without food. To achieve the best results, it is helpful to support your treatment with structured lifestyle habits, such as regular physical therapy and a balanced diet designed to manage chronic inflammation.
While taking Teriflunomide, you may experience common side effects like temporary hair thinning, diarrhoea, or nausea. However, it is vital to contact your doctor immediately if you notice serious symptoms, such as severe upper stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or unusual bruising, which can point to more severe underlying issues.
Do not take this if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or have severe liver problems. Before starting this treatment, always tell your doctor if you have a history of chronic infections, high blood pressure, or lung disease, as this medicine may not be suitable for you.
This medicine can interact with other drugs, including certain vaccines and therapies that affect your immune system. You should also avoid drinking alcohol during treatment because both alcohol and this medicine can strain your liver. If you are breastfeeding, elderly, or planning a family, speak with your healthcare provider to discuss safe usage guidelines.
Uses of Teriflunomide
Medicinal Benefits
When used as directed as part of your treatment plan, this medicine may provide the following benefits:
- Reduces Multiple Sclerosis Relapses: Using Teriflunomide can help you experience longer periods of stable health between multiple sclerosis relapses. By keeping symptoms under control, it allows you to maintain your daily physical routines with fewer interruptions.
- Helps Preserve Mobility: This medicine helps preserve your physical mobility and independence by protecting the central nervous system from ongoing inflammatory damage. This delay in disability progression contributes to a better quality of life over the long term.
- Convenient Once-Daily Tablet: As a once-daily oral tablet, Teriflunomide offers a convenient alternative to injectable therapies. This simple dosing routine makes it easier to stay consistent with your prescribed treatment plan.
Directions for Use
- Teriflunomide can be taken with or without food.
- Recommended once daily or as advised by your doctor.
- Swallow Teriflunomide as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not chew or break Teriflunomide.
Storage
Side Effects of Teriflunomide
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Temporary hair thinning or hair loss
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Slightly elevated blood pressure
- Abnormal liver test results
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Signs of liver damage, including yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, severe stomach pain, or persistent vomiting
- Signs of a severe infection, such as a high fever, severe chills, persistent sore throat, or deep cough
- Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in your hands or feet
- New or worsening breathing difficulties, such as shortness of breath or a dry cough
- Severe skin reactions, such as a widespread rash, blistering, or skin peeling
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Complete your liver tests: Ensure you undergo all scheduled blood tests before starting and during your treatment, as your doctor must check your liver enzymes regularly.
- Use effective birth control: Both men and women must use reliable contraception during treatment. Without a medical washout procedure, the active drug can take up to two years to completely leave your body. If pregnancy is planned, your doctor may recommend an accelerated elimination (washout) procedure using medicines such as cholestyramine or activated charcoal to remove it more quickly.
- Check your blood pressure: Monitor your blood pressure regularly at home and report any significant increases to your healthcare provider.
- Avoid live vaccines: Do not receive any live vaccines while taking this medicine and for a period after stopping, as your body’s immune response may be reduced.
- Report nerve pain: Alert your doctor immediately if you develop new or worsening numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation in your limbs.
Drug Interactions
- May Interact with Other Medicines: May increase the levels and side effects of other drugs in your body, such as warfarin, certain cholesterol-lowering medicines (like atorvastatin or rosuvastatin), and some cancer treatments.
- Some Medicines May Reduce Effectiveness: Certain medications, such as rifampin, can speed up the removal of Teriflunomide from your body, potentially making it less effective.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is unknown if Teriflunomide interacts with alcohol. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
unsafeTeriflunomide belongs to pregnancy category X. Do not take Teriflunomide if you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy or think you may be pregnant.
Breast Feeding
unsafeTeriflunomide may pass into breast milk. Your doctor will make a decision whether to discontinue nursing or the medicine, taking into account the importance of the medicine to the mother.
Driving
cautionTeriflunomide may cause dizziness. So, drive or operate machinery only if you are alert.
Liver
cautionTeriflunomide is not recommended in patients with severe liver impairment. If you have a history of liver disease, inform your doctor before taking Teriflunomide.
Kidney
cautionDo not take Teriflunomide if you have a serious kidney problem which requires dialysis. If you have a history of kidney disease, inform your doctor before taking Teriflunomide.
Children
cautionTeriflunomide is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Prioritise liver health: Avoid or strictly limit your intake of alcohol while on this medication, as combining them increases the risk of severe liver damage.
- Incorporate low-impact exercise: Engage in gentle physical activities like swimming, walking, or stretching to help preserve your balance, muscle strength, and flexibility.
- Manage body temperature: Since heat can temporarily worsen multiple sclerosis symptoms, try to stay cool by taking lukewarm showers and avoiding extreme outdoor heat.
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet: Focus on whole foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, leafy greens, and lean proteins to support your overall neurological health.
- Practice infection prevention: Wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with individuals who have active infections, as this medicine can temporarily lower your white blood cell count.
Special Advise
- Avoid undergoing any vaccination while on treatment with Teriflunomide and for six months after you stop taking it.
- You must not begin taking Teriflunomide until you have taken a pregnancy test with negative results and your doctor tells you that you are not pregnant.
- Women should use effective contraception during treatment with Teriflunomide and for up to 2 years after the last dose.
- Men with partners of reproductive potential must use reliable methods of contraception during treatment with Teriflunomide.
- Regular liver function tests are advised.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Multiple sclerosis: It is an autoimmune disease (the body attacks itself by mistake) that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The immune system damages the myelin sheath (protective covering surrounding the nerve cells), leading to disrupted communication between the brain and the body. People suffering from multiple sclerosis may experience loss of muscle coordination, numbness, weakness, and problems with bladder control, vision, and speech.
FAQs
Teriflunomide is used to treat Multiple sclerosis (MS).
Teriflunomide works by decreasing inflammation and the action of immune cells that cause nerve damage.
Teriflunomide may cause inflammation of the pancreas. Consult the doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting or pain in the abdomen.
Teriflunomide may increase blood pressure. Your doctor may monitor blood pressure levels before and during the treatment.
Without a medical washout procedure, teriflunomide can take up to two years to completely leave your body. If it needs to be removed sooner, your doctor can prescribe an accelerated elimination (washout) procedure using medicines such as cholestyramine or activated charcoal, which usually clears the drug within about 11 days. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medication.
No, you must not become pregnant while taking this medicine, as it can cause severe birth defects. If you are a female of childbearing age, you must use reliable birth control during treatment and until the medicine has completely left your body. Without a medical washout procedure, this may take up to two years after stopping treatment. Your doctor can recommend a washout procedure if you plan to become pregnant sooner.
Some patients experience temporary hair thinning or mild hair loss, usually starting within the first six months of treatment. This symptom is typically temporary and often improves over time without stopping the medication. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are concerned about hair changes.
Your doctor will monitor your blood to check your liver enzymes and your white blood cell counts, as this medicine can affect liver function and lower your body's infection-fighting cells. Talk to your doctor about your scheduled testing timeline.
It is highly recommended to avoid or strictly limit alcohol while taking this medicine. Both alcohol and this medication can put stress on your liver, and using them together significantly increases the risk of liver damage. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about safe lifestyle choices.
No, Teriflunomide is not a chemotherapy drug. It is a disease-modifying therapy classified as an immunomodulator, meaning it adjusts how your immune system behaves without completely suppressing it. It specifically targets the overactive immune cells that contribute to multiple sclerosis symptoms.
The active drug can pass into semen. If you are planning to father a child, you must talk to your doctor, who may recommend stopping the medication and undergoing a washout procedure to safely clear the drug first. Talk to your doctor before making family planning decisions.
You must avoid receiving live vaccines during treatment and for some time after stopping, as your immune system may not respond safely. Non-live vaccines are generally safe but might be less effective while you are on this therapy. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before getting any vaccination.
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