Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S

Description

About

Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is used to treat symptoms such as stiff,swollen and painful joints that are commonly seen in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis,osteoarthritis and similar illnesses.Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S belongs to a group of drugs known as DMARDS (Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs) and mainly works by blocking the natural chemical pathways of the immune system,that cause inflammation in the human body.

A tablet a day,to be taken orally (by mouth) is the commonly prescribed dosage.Dosage essentially depends on the patient’s response to Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S and any adverse effects felt by the patient while undergoing treatment.Dosage is not to be increased or decreased without the consent of a physician and Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is to be taken for the recommended time period only.

Side effects such as,flu-like symptoms,stomach problems,headaches and dizziness may be commonly felt by patients;these effects tend to be temporary and resolve on their own in a few days’ time.Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is not recommended to patients suffering from liver,kidney and heart illnesses.During treatment with Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S,the doctor will periodically do lab tests to monitor patient’s potassium and liver enzyme levels as well the patient’s blood pressure levels.

Indications

Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S can be used to treat:

• Active rheumatoid arthritis
• Active psoriatic arthritis 

How Does Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S Work

Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S works by preventing the immune system from carrying out its functions are thereby decreasing the inflammation happening at the joints.

How To Use Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S

Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is prescribed to be taken once daily;orally (by mouth) either with or without food.Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S’s dosage may differ for each patient as the treatment regime for each patient depends upon their illness,each patient’s response to Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S and any pre-existing medical condition a patient might have.Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is not prescribed to pregnant or lactating mothers nor to women who are planning to start a family.

It is normal to experience the changes of the drug on your body after a minimum of 2-4 weeks.During the course of the treatment,the doctor may alter the dosage (dosage is decreased after 3 days) depending on the patient’s response to treatment and any adverse effects felt by the patient.

It is advised that the drug is taken at the same time each day,an alarm can be placed to remind patients to take Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S at the proper time each day.If patient misses a dose of Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S,they should take it immediately but if the time for the next dose of the drug is near then its beneficial for patients to skip the missed dose and take the tablets as per schedule,doubling of doses has proven to cause severe side effects.

Dosage

Adult Dosage

Patients are commonly prescribed a high dosage for three days after which 10 or 20 mg of Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is prescribed 

Child Dosage

There isn’t sufficient evidence to suggest that Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is safe for patients under the age of 18 years 

Elderly Dosage 

For patients aged 65 years and above,due to decreased kidney function,Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S may not be effectively removed from the body and so,in such cases the doctor may prescribe an altered (lower) dose of the Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S.

Pregnancy Use And Lactation

This drug is not to be taken or prescribed to expecting and lactating mothers as it may have fatal consequences for the unborn child,especially if taken in the third trimester of pregnancy.If you are taking the drug and become pregnant,inform your doctor immediately,the doctor will ask you to stop using Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S and is likely to replace it with a different pregnancy safe drug.Small amounts of this drug can be transferred to the child through breast milk and therefore cause adverse effects in the child thus Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S isn’t recommended to lactating mothers.If you are planning to conceive and are taking Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S as treatment,then refer to the doctor.The physician is likely to change your medicine and dosage.

Contraindications

Please tell your doctor if you have a history of any of the following before using Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S:

• Allergy to Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S or any other medicine or food substance 
• Moderate to severe liver impairment/disease
• Moderate to severe kidney impairment/disease
• Hypoprotienemia 
• AIDs
• Autoimmune disorders
• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding women
• Low red blood cell count 
• Low white blood cell count 
• Low platelet count 
• Suffering from any active infection

Precautions

Please tell your doctor about any of the following conditions before using Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S:

• Mild to moderate liver impairment
• Mild to moderate kidney impairment

Interactions With Other Medications

Please tell your doctor about the use of the following before using Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S:

• Other DMARDs
• Alcohol
• Hepatotoxic (liver-damaging) drugs 
• Haemotoxic (poisonous to blood) drugs
• Methotrexate
• Drugs metabolised by CYP2C9 (not NSAIDs)
• Live vaccines
• Cholestyramine
• Activated charcoal.

Adverse Effects

Common Adverse Effects

Like most medicines,Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S has certain side effects which include:

• Weakness
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Mouth ulcers
• Flu like symptoms 
• Stomach problems (such as diarrhea,nausea,vomiting)
• Headaches 
• Abdominal cramps

These effects tend to be mild and resolve in a few days of taking Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S.

Rare Adverse Effects

• Anemia 
• Change in taste
• Anxiety 
• Decreased potassium levels
• Numbness in hands and feet 
• Increased fat and cholesterol levels 

If any of the following adverse effects are seen or felt,the patient is advised to immediately contact their doctor

How To Cope With Some Of The Adverse Effects

• Headaches- In which case make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid the use of alcohol. Take a prescribed painkiller. Consult your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe
• Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) or diarrhoea –Avoid eating rich or spicy food. It might help to take medication after food. If you’re being sick, try drinking small, frequent sips of water. If you have diarrhoea, replenish with plenty of water or other fluids. 
• Feeling dizzy (lightheaded) or weak –If the medication makes you feel dizzy or weak, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down until you feel better and do not rise too fast or immediately from a sitting or lying down position to a standing posture. Do not drive or use tools or machinery in case of any of these effects.
• Change in taste- this tends to go away as soon as the patient stops taking the medicine but while treatment;salt water with baking soda (half a teaspoon of salt and baking soda in water) rinses and chewing on sugar free gum can help dissipate the change in taste.

Key Facts About Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S

• Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is prescribed to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis
• A tablet daily is the commonly prescribed dosage
• Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is not safe to be prescribed to children under the age of 18 years nor to pregnant and/or breastfeeding women 
• Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S may cause headaches,dizziness and stomach problems 
• Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S may stay in the body for upto two years  

FAQ

#1.WHY IS CHOLESTYRAMINE PRESCRIBED AFTER TREATMENT WITH Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S can stay in the human body for upto two years after treatment with Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S ends and therefore to remove Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S immediately and effectively from the body,patients are prescribed cholestyramine.

#2.HOW TO STORE Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is to be kept away from the reach of children,in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity as that tends to ruin certain drugs.

#3.WHAT IF I TAKE TOO MUCH OF Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

 An extra dose or two of Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is not known to cause any harm but an excess ingestion of Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is a cause for concern and should be avoided and immediately reported to the doctor as it may lead to serious side effects such as fainting,breathlessness and irregular heartbeats.

#4.WHAT IF I MISS A DOSE OF Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

If you miss a dose of the medication, make sure you take it as soon as possible on that same day. If you don’t remember you missed the dose until the next dosage time or next day, do not double the dose and take your medication as per schedule.

#5.WILL Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S AFFECT MY SEXUAL ACTIVITY?

No,there isn’t sufficient evidence to suggest that patients experience a decrease in libido.

#6.CAN I TAKE Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S DURING MY PREGNANCY?

No,Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S is deemed unsafe to be ingested during pregnancy.

#7.WHAT LAB TESTS WILL BE PRESCRIBED WHILE TREATMENT WITH Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S AND HOW OFTEN?

Kidney and liver function tests along with blood tests to keep a check on serum potassium levels are advised to be done periodically.It is also advised that patients learn to monitor their own blood pressure levels daily from the comfort of their homes and inform their doctor of any changes seen.

#8.IS IT SAFE TO HAVE Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S ALONG WITH ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES?

Yes.There is no evidence to suggest that Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S interacts with oral contraceptives.

#9.CAN Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S CAUSE DIZZINESS? IF SO, HOW SHOULD I MANAGE IT?

Yes. It can cause dizziness as one of the most common side effects. If this happens, you should sit or lie down until the symptoms pass. However, please note this is temporary and usually goes away as the treatment continues. It is also advised to avoid the consumption of alcohol during the course of your treatment, as it may worsen the dizziness.

#10.DOES Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S CAUSE ADDICTION?

No.This drug has shown no evidence to prove addiction of any kind in any patient.

#11.HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO CONTINUE TAKING THE MEDICATION?

It is a long-term treatment and you might have to continue taking the medication even for the rest of your life.

#12.CAN I CONSUME ALCOHOL WITH Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

Alcohol is also known to lower your blood pressure which if taken with the medication may lead to extreme dizziness. It is best to avoid the intake of alcohol during the course of your treatment.

#13.WHAT IF I FORGET TO TAKE THE Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

It is advised that the drug is taken at the same time each day,an alarm can be placed to remind patients to take Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S at the proper time and at least an hour before having any meal.If patient misses a dose of Lefora 20mg Tablet 10 ‘S,they should take it immediately but if the time for the next dose of the drug is near then its beneficial for patients to skip the missed dose and take the tablets as per schedule,doubling of doses has proven to cause severe side effects.