lenalidomide, a thalidomide analogue. ▪ INDICATIONS: This drug is used to treat transfusion-dependent anemia due to low or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and to treat multiple myeloma in combination with dexamethasone. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and known hypersensitivity to this drug prohibit its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Adverse effects of this drug include chest pain, hypotension, palpitations, abdominal pain, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, dysgeusia, xerosis, anemia, leucopenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesia, arthralgia, back pain, myalgia, depression, dizziness, fatigue, fever, headache, sweating, peripheral neuropathy, cough, dyspnea, epistaxis, and rhinitis. A life-threatening side effect is pulmonary embolism.
