Gilenya

Generic name: Fingolimod
Drug class: Selective immunosuppressants

Usage of Gilenya

Gilenya (fingolimod) belongs to a class of medications called sphingosine l-phosphate receptor modulators. Fingolimod works by decreasing the action of immune cells that may cause nerve damage.

Gilenya is used to prevent episodes of symptoms and slow the worsening of disability in adults and children 10 years of age and older with relapsing-remitting forms (course of disease where symptoms flare up from time to time) of multiple sclerosis (MS; a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and people may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination, and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control).

Gilenya will not cure MS, it will only decrease the frequency of relapse symptoms.

Gilenya side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Gilenya: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Fingolimod may cause a brain infection that can lead to disability or death. Tell your doctor if you have problems with speech, thought, vision, or muscle movement. These symptoms can get worse quickly.

Fingolimod can affect your immune system (even 2 months after you've taken this medicine). You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have:

signs of a new infection - fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;

trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or

swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

new darkened area on your skin, a sore that does not heal, a mole that has changed in size or color, a bump that looks shiny, pearly, or pink;

vision problems such as increased sensitivity to light, blurred vision, having a blind spot or shadows in the center of your vision, or unusual color to your vision (may occur 3 to 4 months after you start taking Gilenya);

new or worsened breathing problems;

sores in your mouth and throat, cold sores, sores on your genital or anal area;

new or worsening symptoms of multiple sclerosis at least 12 weeks after your last dose;

sudden confusion, severe headache, weakness, vision loss, or seizure;

increased blood pressure;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

heart problems - chest pain, slow or irregular heartbeats, and feeling dizzy or tired; or

liver problems - nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common Gilenya side effects may include:

headache, back pain;

stomach pain, diarrhea;

pain in your arms or legs;

cough, stuffy nose, flu symptoms; or

abnormal liver function tests.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Gilenya

You should not use Gilenya if you are allergic to fingolimod, or if you have:

severe heart failure (that required you to be in the hospital);

a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker);

long QT syndrome; or

recent (within the past 6 months) heart attack, stroke, "mini-stroke" or TIA, chest pain (unstable angina), or other serious heart problem.

Some heart rhythm medications can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with Gilenya. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use: amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, Flecainide, dronedarone, ibutilide, mexiletine, procainamide, propafenone, quinidine, or sotalol.

Before you take Gilenya, tell your doctor if you have never had chickenpox or received a varicella vaccine (Varivax). You may need to receive the vaccine and then wait 1 month before taking this medicine.

Make sure you are current on all vaccines before you start taking Gilenya.

Tell your doctor if you have recently received a vaccine, or if you are scheduled to receive a vaccine.

To make sure Gilenya is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

fever or an active or chronic infection;

a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicine);

a heart rhythm disorder;

chest pain (angina) or other heart problems;

a heart attack or stroke, including "mini-stroke";

high blood pressure;

fainting;

diabetes;

skin cancer;

sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder;

an eye condition called uveitis; or

liver disease.

Fingolimod may harm an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control while taking Gilenya and for at least 2 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of fingolimod on the baby.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while taking this medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Gilenya

Usual Adult Dose for Multiple Sclerosis:

0.5 mg orally once a day Comments: -This drug can be taken with or without food. -See DOSE ADJUSTMENTS for recommended pre-dose testing and monitoring recommendations. Use: For relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS)

Usual Pediatric Dose for Multiple Sclerosis:

10 years and older and weighing 40 kg or less: 0.25 mg orally once a day 10 years and older and weighing more than 40 kg: 0.5 mg orally once a day Comments: -This drug can be taken with or without food. -See DOSE ADJUSTMENTS for recommended pre-dose testing and monitoring recommendations. Use: For relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients 10 years and older

Warnings

You should not use Gilenya if you take certain heart rhythm medicines, or if you've had a serious heart condition in the past 6 months. Serious heart conditions include certain heart rhythm disorders, heart failure, chest pain, heart attack, or stroke.

Fingolimod can slow your heart rate when you start taking it. You will receive your first dose in a setting where your heart rhythm can be monitored. Tell your doctor if you have slow heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath, or feel like your heart is skipping beats.

You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have flu symptoms, cough, night sweats, neck stiffness, confusion, vision problems, increased sensitivity to light, loss of balance or coordination, or weakness on one side of the body. Your risk of infection could last for 2 months after you stop taking this medicine.

You may have increased sensitivity to light, blurred vision, eye pain, or have a blind spot or shadows in the center of your vision, unusual color to your vision, or other vision problems while you are taking Gilenya, which may occur 3 to 4 months after your first dose.

What other drugs will affect Gilenya

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Fingolimod can cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV.

Gilenya can have long lasting effects on your body, especially on your immune system. For 2 months after your last dose, tell any doctor who treats you that you have taken Gilenya.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can interact with fingolimod, especially:

drugs that weaken the immune system such as cancer medicine, steroids, and medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection;

ketoconazole; or

heart medications.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with fingolimod. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.