Leflunomide
Leflunomide is an active ingredient of the class «immunosuppressive drug».
Chemical compound
Boxed warning (US label)
EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY and HEPATOTOXICITY WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY and HEPATOTOXICITY Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Teratogenicity and embryo-lethality occurred in animals administered leflunomide.
What it is used for
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
ARAVA is indicated for the treatment of adults with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ARAVA is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adults with active rheumatoid arthritis.
Leflunomide is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with: active rheumatoid arthritis as a 'disease-modifying antirheumatic drug' (DMARD); active psoriatic arthritis.
How it works
- Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitor
Class: immunosuppressive drug
Common side effects
The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hepatotoxicity Immunosuppression Bone marrow suppression Serious infections Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms Skin ulcers Peripheral neuropathy Interstitial…
Who should not take it
ARAVA is contraindicated in: Pregnant women. ARAVA may cause fetal harm. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking this drug, stop ARAVA, apprise the patient of the potential hazard to the fetus, and begin a drug elimination procedure.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Exposure Registry There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to ARAVA during pregnancy.
Interactions
- Atorvastatin
- Benzylpenicillin
- Cimetidine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Duloxetine
- Furosemide
- Ketoprofen
- Levonorgestrel
- Methotrexate
- Paclitaxel
- Pioglitazone
- Pravastatin
- Repaglinide
- Rifampicin
- Simvastatin
- Teriflunomide
- Tizanidine
- Warfarin
- Zidovudine
Brand names
United States
Arava
European Union
Arava · Leflunomide Zentiva (previously Leflunomide Winthrop)
Canada
Accel-Leflunomide · Apo-Leflunomide · Mar-Leflunomide · Odan-Leflunomide · Pro-Leflunomide · Sandoz Leflunomide · Teva-Leflunomide
Approval status
- US Food and Drug Administration
- prescription · since 1998
- European Medicines Agency
- authorised · since 1999
- Health Canada
- prescription · marketed
- First approval anywhere
- 1998
Codes
- ATC
- L04AA13, L04AK01
- RxNorm CUI
- 27169
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL960
- PubChem CID
- 3899
- UNII
- G162GK9U4W
- Wikidata
- Q248550
Frequently asked questions
What is Leflunomide used for?
Leflunomide is used for: Rheumatoid arthritis, Arthritis, and Psoriatic arthritis.
What kind of medicine is Leflunomide?
Leflunomide is an active ingredient of the class «immunosuppressive drug».
What are the brand names of Leflunomide?
Brand names of Leflunomide include Arava, Leflunomide Zentiva (previously Leflunomide Winthrop), Accel-Leflunomide, Apo-Leflunomide, Mar-Leflunomide, Odan-Leflunomide, Pro-Leflunomide, and Sandoz Leflunomide.
Medicines in the same class
- Sirolimus
- Adalimumab
- Everolimus
- Fingolimod
- Cladribine
- Apremilast
- Teriflunomide
- Tofacitinib
- Mycophenolate mofetil
Sources and licences
- ChEMBL (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0)
- openFDA / DailyMed (public domain)
- European Medicines Agency (reuse with acknowledgement)
- Health Canada Drug Product Database (Open Government Licence – Canada)