Thalidomide is a medicine used to treat leprosy which is a disease caused by a bacterial that affects the skin and nerves, causing loss of sensation, muscle weakness and paralysis. In addition, it is also recommended in patients with HIV and lupus.
This medicine for oral use, in the form of tablets, can only be used at the recommendation of the doctor and is totally contraindicated in pregnancy and prohibited in women of childbearing age, between menarche and menopause, as it leads to malformation of the baby, such as absence of lips, arms and legs, increased number of fingers, hydrocephalus or malfunctioning of the heart, intestines and kidneys, for example. For this reason, in the case of using this medicine for medical indication, a term of responsibility must be signed.
Price
This medication is restricted to hospital use and is provided free of charge by the government and therefore is not sold in pharmacies.
Indications
The use of Thalidomide is indicated for the treatment:
- Leprosy, which is a leprosy reaction type II or type erythema nodosum; AIDS, because it reduces fever, malaise and muscle weakness: Lupus, graft-versus-host disease, because inflammation decreases.
The onset of action of the medication can vary between 2 days to 3 months, depending on the cause of the treatment and can only be used by women who are not of childbearing age and in children over 12 years old.
How to use
The use of this medicine in tablets can only be initiated on the recommendation of the doctor and after following a specific protocol for the use of this medicine that requires the patient to sign a consent form. The doctor usually recommends:
- Treatment of leprosy reaction of knotty type or type II between 100 to 300 mg, once a day, at bedtime or at least, 1 hour after the evening meal; Treatment of lepromatous and nodular ritema, start with up to 400 mg per day, and reduce the doses for 2 weeks, until reaching the maintenance dose, which is between 50 and 100 mg per day. Debilitating syndrome, associated with HIV: 100 to 200 mg once a day at bedtime or 1 hour after the last meal.
During treatment one should not have intimate contact and if it occurs, two contraceptive methods must be used at the same time, such as contraceptive, injectable or implanted pill and condom or diaphragm. In addition, it is necessary to start preventing pregnancy about 1 month before starting treatment and for another 4 weeks after termination.
In the case of men who have sexual activity with women of childbearing age, they must use condoms in any type of intimate contact.
Side effects
The most common side effects of using this medication are if it is used by the pregnant woman, which leads to malformations in the baby. In addition, it can lead to tingling, pain in the hands, feet and neuropathy.
Gastrointestinal intolerance, drowsiness, dizziness, anemia, leukopenia, leukemia, purpura, arthritis, back pain, low blood pressure, deep vein thrombosis, angina, heart attack, agitation, nervousness, sinusitis, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or imprisonment may also occur. womb, conjunctivitis, dry skin.
Contraindications
The use of this medication is completely contraindicated in pregnancy because it causes malformations in the baby, such as the absence of legs, arms, lips or ears, in addition to malfunctioning of the heart, kidneys, intestines and uterus, for example.
In addition, 40% of babies die shortly after birth and it is also contraindicated during breastfeeding, because its effect is not known. It also cannot be used in case of allergy to Thalidomide or any of its components.
