Mifepristone

Generic name: Mifepristone (Korlym)
Brand names: Korlym
Dosage form: oral tablet (300 mg)

Usage of Mifepristone

This medication guide provides information about the Korlym brand of mifepristone. Mifeprex is another brand of mifepristone that is not covered in this medication guide.

Korlym is used to treat high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in adults with Cushing's syndrome who also have type 2 diabetes mellitus or glucose intolerance.

Korlym should not be used to treat type 2 diabetes that is not related to Cushing's syndrome.

Korlym may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Mifepristone side effects

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

Korlym may cause serious side effects. Stop using Korlym and call your doctor at once if you have:

nausea;

unusual weakness or tiredness;

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

abnormal vaginal bleeding;

worsening of any medical problems for which you use steroid medicine;

low blood sugar--headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery; or

low potassium--leg cramps, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects of mifepristone may include:

nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;

low potassium;

tired feeling;

headache, dizziness;

pain in your arms and legs;

thickened lining of your uterus;

swelling in your arms and legs; or

high blood pressure.

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 Mifepristone

You should not take Korlym if you are allergic to mifepristone.

You should not take Korlym if you are a woman who still has her uterus and you have:

endometrial hyperplasia (changes in the cells lining your uterus);

endometrial cancer (cancer of the cells lining your uterus); or

unusual or unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Many drugs can interact and cause dangerous effects. Some drugs should not be used together with mifepristone. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

cyclosporine;

dihydroergotamine, ergotamine;

fentanyl;

lovastatin, simvastatin;

pimozide;

quinidine;

sirolimus, tacrolimus; or

steroid medicine (dexamethasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, and others).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

low levels of potassium in your blood;

heart disease;

a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder;

liver or kidney disease;

an organ transplant; or

a problem with your adrenal glands.

You will need to have a negative pregnancy test before you start taking Korlym, or if you restart the medicine after not taking it for longer than 2 weeks.

Do not use mifepristone if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause a miscarriage. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 1 month after your last dose.

Mifepristone can make hormonal birth control less effective, including birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings. To prevent pregnancy while using mifepristone, use a barrier form of birth control: condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 21 days after your last dose. If you use a breast pump during this time, throw out any milk you collect. Do not feed it to your baby.

Mifepristone is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How to use Mifepristone

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Always take this medicine with food.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Warnings

You should not take Korlym if you are a woman who still has her uterus and you have unexplained vaginal bleeding, endometrial hyperplasia, or a certain type of uterine cancer.

Do not use mifepristone if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause a miscarriage. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using Korlym and for at least 1 month after your last dose.

You will need to have a negative pregnancy test before you start taking Korlym, or if you restart the medication after not taking it for longer than 2 weeks.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

What other drugs will affect Mifepristone

Mifepristone 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.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect mifepristone, especially:

antifungal medicine (ketoconazole, and others);

an antibiotic;

an antidepressant;

antiviral medicine to treat HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C;

blood pressure medications;

a blood thinner--warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven;

steroid medicine (dexamethasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, and others); or

thyroid medication.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect mifepristone. 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.