Leflunomide Tablets

Leflunomide

Tablet

Leflunomide 10 mg Tablet is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders. It works by inhibiting pyrimidine synthesis, thereby reducing inflammation, slowing disease progression, and preventing joint damage.

Leflunomide is an immunomodulatory agent used in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Leflunomide is an isoxazole derivative that is rapidly converted to its active metabolite teriflunomide in the gut wall and liver. Leflunomide acts by inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, which is a rate limiting step in pyrimidine synthesis necessary for DNA replication of rapidly dividing cells. Activated Tlymphocytes are particularly sensitive to the inhibition of pyrimidine synthesis caused by leflunomide.
Leflunomide blocks the formation of deoxyribonucleic acid (also known as DNA), which is important for developing cells, such as those in the immune system. It suppresses your immune system to reduce inflammation that causes pain and swelling in rheumatoid arthritis.
This drug works by selectively interfering with the ability of white blood cells called lymphocytes to produce the disease response that ultimately leads to pain, inflammation and joint damage.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is thought to be an autoimmune disease. The immune system normally makes antibodies (small proteins) to attack bacteria, viruses, and other germs. In people with autoimmune diseases, the immune system makes antibodies against tissues of the body. In people with RA, antibodies are formed against the tissues that surround the joints. This causes inflammation, pain, and swelling around the affected joints. Over time, it causes damage. Medicines called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are prescribed to suppress the inflammation.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include inflammation of joints, swelling, difficulty moving and pain. Other symptoms that affect the entire body include loss of appetite, fever, loss of energy and anaemia (lack of red blood cells).
Psoriatic arthritis is a particular type of arthritis that develops in some people who also have a skin condition called psoriasis.
Symptoms of active psoriatic arthritis include inflammation of joints, swelling, difficulty moving, pain and patches of red, scaly skin (skin lesions).