Leflunomide

Leflunomide Immunosuppressant Medication for Pets with Autoimmune Conditions

Leflunomide is an immunosuppressant medication used primarily to treat autoimmune conditions in animals. Veterinarians often prescribe it alongside prednisone to enhance symptom control and potentially reduce the necessary dosage of prednisone. It may take up to a month to assess how well leflunomide is working for your pet.

Leflunomide Dosing & Administration

Leflunomide is typically given once daily and can be given with or without food. If nausea occurs after a dose, give future doses with food to help reduce nausea.

Follow the prescription label and the plan provided for your pet. If questions come up about dosing or how to give the medication, contact your pet’s veterinary team.

Missed Doses & Changing Medications

If your pet misses a dose of leflunomide, give it as soon as you remember unless it’s close to the next scheduled dose time on the prescription label. If it’s close, skip the missed dose and give the next dose at the regular scheduled time.

For leflunomide, follow any additional timing instructions from your veterinary team, including skipping a missed dose if less than six hours remain until the next scheduled dose.

Contact your pet’s veterinary team before making changes to a leflunomide plan.

Monitoring & Lab Work

Because pets taking leflunomide often have serious medical conditions, frequent veterinary check-ups are important. A veterinary team typically recommends a recheck visit at least once a month initially.

Laboratory monitoring includes checking liver values every three months. Occasionally, drug level testing may be used to refine dosing recommendations.

Special Precautions for Leflunomide

Individuals who are pregnant or attempting to conceive should avoid handling this medication due to potential risks.

Potential Side Effects of Leflunomide

Side effects are often dose-related. If concerns come up, contact your veterinary team.

Reported side effects include:

  • Diarrhea, vomiting, and decreased appetite

  • Lethargy

  • Decreased levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets

  • Elevated cholesterol or liver enzymes (your veterinary team will advise if these changes require medication adjustments)

Leflunomide FAQs

  • Leflunomide is an immunosuppressant medication used primarily to treat autoimmune conditions in animals. It’s often prescribed alongside prednisone to enhance symptom control and potentially reduce the necessary dosage of prednisone.

  • It may take up to a month to assess the effectiveness of leflunomide for a pet.

  • Leflunomide is typically given once daily and can be given with or without food. If nausea occurs, giving future doses with food may help.

  • If your pet misses a dose of leflunomide, give it as soon as you remember unless it’s close to the next scheduled dose time on the prescription label. If it’s close, skip the missed dose and give the next dose at the regular scheduled time.

    Follow any additional timing instructions from your veterinary team, including skipping a missed dose if less than six hours remain until the next scheduled dose.

  • A veterinary team typically recommends at least monthly visits at first. Liver values should be monitored every three months through lab tests, and drug level testing may be used occasionally to refine dosing.