Revlimid, made simple.
Revlimid is an oral medicine used to treat several blood cancers. It is a serious medicine, and it comes with a safety program that everyone must follow. This guide explains how it works, what the safety program is, and what to watch for, in plain words. A Mississippi pharmacist wrote it for you, with care.
This guide is here to teach you. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your doctor or pharmacist. Always do what your doctor tells you, and ask a pharmacist before you change how you take any medicine.
Print this guide for your fridgeWhat Revlimid is and why your doctor gave it to you
Revlimid is a capsule taken by mouth. Its other name is lenalidomide, and it is also sold as a generic under that name.
It is used to treat several blood cancers, including multiple myeloma, certain myelodysplastic syndromes, and certain lymphomas. It is often taken alongside other treatments your cancer team has chosen.
Revlimid works with your immune system. It helps your body's own defenses recognize and fight the cancer, and it works against the blood supply that cancer cells need. Your cancer team chose it as part of a plan made for your specific situation.
The simple version: Revlimid is an oral cancer medicine that boosts your immune system against the cancer. It is powerful, it works in cycles, and it comes with a required safety program explained below.
How Revlimid works
Revlimid works in a few ways at once. It helps the immune system, your body's defense system, find and attack cancer cells. It interferes with the blood supply that cancer cells need to grow. And in some blood cancers it acts directly on the cancer cells to slow them down.
Because it works through the immune system, Revlimid is not a fast switch. It works over the weeks and cycles of your treatment plan.
Your cancer team will explain what to expect for your specific cancer, since Revlimid is used for several different ones.
Your dose, and how cycles work
Revlimid is taken in cycles. A common pattern is to take it daily for a stretch of days, then have a break, then begin the next cycle, though the exact pattern depends on your cancer and your plan. Your doctor sets your dose and your schedule, and your pharmacist checks it. This page will not tell you what dose to take.
Take Revlimid at about the same time each day on your dosing days. Swallow the capsules whole with water. Do not open, break, or chew them. If a capsule does break open, avoid touching the powder, and wash any skin that contacts it.
Because of the safety program, each prescription is limited to a 28 day supply. That is a legal requirement, not a pharmacy choice, so plan your refills with that in mind.
Timing, and what to do if you miss a dose
Take Revlimid at about the same time each day on your dosing days, following the cycle your team set up.
If you miss a dose:
- If you miss a dose and it has been less than about 12 hours since your usual time, take it.
- If more than about 12 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
- Never take two doses at once to catch up.
- If you are unsure, or you have missed several doses, call your cancer team or your pharmacist.
Side effects, what is normal and what is not
Common.
- Tiredness.
- Loose stools, or constipation.
- A higher chance of catching infections.
- Some people notice itching or a mild rash.
Call your cancer team if you notice:
- Signs of infection, such as a fever, chills, a sore throat, or a cough.
- Unusual bruising, or bleeding that does not stop.
- Swelling, pain, warmth, or redness in a leg.
- Yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine.
Go to the emergency room right away if:
- You have sudden chest pain or sudden trouble breathing, which can be a blood clot in the lung.
- You have sudden weakness on one side of your body, trouble speaking, or a sudden severe headache.
- You have a widespread rash, or skin that is blistering or peeling.
- You have a fever and feel very unwell, especially if your blood counts are known to be low.
What to be careful with
Revlimid raises the chance of blood clots, so your cancer team will often prescribe a blood-thinning medicine, even something as simple as aspirin, to lower that risk. Take it as directed.
Revlimid also affects your blood counts, which is why you will have regular blood tests, and it can interact with other medicines. Some medicines and supplements, including St. John's Wort, are a poor match.
Two firm rules. Do not donate blood while taking Revlimid, and for 4 weeks after your last dose, because the medicine is in your blood. And do not share Revlimid with anyone, ever.
The simple rule: tell every doctor and every pharmacist that you take Revlimid, and check any new medicine or supplement with your pharmacist first. At Fairview, we check every new prescription against your list.
What it costs
The cost is different for every person, because every insurance plan is different.
Here is the honest way to find your price. If you pay cash, call Fairview and we will give you a price for your situation. If you have private insurance, there may be a coupon or a savings program from the maker of the drug that helps lower your cost, and we will check if one is available for you. The best step is to let a pharmacist look at your plan. We do this for every patient.
Do not let cost make you skip doses. Call us first. There is almost always something we can do.
There is also a generic version of many medicines. The generic is the same medicine. Ask your pharmacist if a generic is a good fit for you.
What should be checked
Revlimid treatment includes regular checks. These keep you safe and let your team see how the cancer is responding.
Your cancer team should check:
- Your blood counts, regularly, since Revlimid lowers them.
- How the cancer is responding to treatment.
- Your liver, and your thyroid.
- Any sign of a blood clot or infection.
Your pharmacist should:
- Confirm the safety program steps are complete before each fill.
- Check every new medicine and supplement against Revlimid.
- Make sure your refills line up with your treatment cycles.
- Keep your information private, always.
At Fairview, we handle the safety program steps and the cycle timing so you can focus on your treatment. Your care is handled discreetly and with respect.
Special situations
The REMS safety program.
Revlimid is dispensed through a required safety program, called a REMS. Everyone involved, the prescriber, the pharmacy, and you, follows specific steps before each prescription. This is because Revlimid can cause severe birth defects, and the program exists to make absolutely sure no developing baby is ever exposed. It can feel like a lot of steps, especially the pregnancy testing for those who can become pregnant. It is not a judgment of you. It is a safety system, and it is the law. Your pharmacist will walk you through exactly what your steps are.
Pregnancy, and preventing pregnancy.
This is the most serious point about Revlimid. It causes severe birth defects and the loss of a pregnancy. If you can become pregnant, the safety program requires reliable contraception and regular pregnancy tests, on a strict schedule, before and during treatment. If you are a man taking Revlimid, you must use a condom during any sexual contact with a person who could become pregnant, during treatment and for 4 weeks after your last dose, because the medicine is present in semen.
Blood clots.
Revlimid raises the risk of blood clots. Your team will usually prescribe a blood thinner to protect you. Take it as directed, stay active as you are able, and know the warning signs: a swollen, painful leg, or sudden chest pain and breathlessness.
Infections and low blood counts.
Revlimid lowers the blood cells that fight infection and help clotting. That is why blood tests are frequent. Take any fever or sign of infection seriously, and call your team rather than waiting.
Cost should never be the reason you stop.
A generic lenalidomide is available, which lowers the cost for many people, and there are manufacturer and foundation assistance programs as well. If cost is a worry, call Fairview before you ever skip a dose, and we will help you find the lowest price and any program you qualify for.
How Fairview helps Revlimid patients
When you fill Revlimid at Fairview, here is what you get. This is normal care for us, and it is always private.
When you start:
- We walk you through your safety program steps, plainly.
- We check all your medicines and supplements against Revlimid.
- We coordinate your fills with your treatment cycles.
- We talk through cost, including whether the generic lowers your price.
At every refill:
- We confirm the safety program steps are complete.
- We check your file for any new medicines.
- We make sure your timing matches your next cycle.
On our own, without being asked:
- If a refill is at risk of running late, we call you.
- If we see a medicine that does not mix with Revlimid, we call your doctor.
- We check your cost at every fill to keep it as low as possible.
- We keep your care discreet and respectful, always.
Questions people ask about Revlimid
Revlimid, also called lenalidomide, treats several blood cancers, including multiple myeloma, certain myelodysplastic syndromes, and certain lymphomas. It works largely by helping your immune system fight the cancer.
Related guides
Have a question about your Revlimid? Ask a pharmacist you can trust.
A cancer diagnosis and a medicine with this many steps can feel overwhelming. You do not have to hold all of it yourself. Fairview handles the safety program and the timing, privately and without judgment, so you can focus on your treatment and your life. If something made you wonder, ask us.