Leflunomide; Teriflunomide/Bile Acid Sequestrants Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

Your cholesterol medicine may bind to leflunomide or teriflunomide in your GI tract.

What might happen:

The amount of leflunomide or teriflunomide in your blood may decrease and it may not work as well.

What you should do about this interaction:

Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

  • 1.Aubagio (teriflunomide) US prescribing information. Genzyme Corporation November, 2020.
  • 2.Arava (leflunomide) US prescribing information. Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. November, 2012.
  • 3.Arava (leflunomide) Canadian Prescribing Information. Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc. December, 2015.
  • 4.Sanofi Genzyme. A guide to the accelerated elimination procedure for Aubagio (teriflunomide). available at: https://www.aubagiohcp.com/content/pdf/drug_elimination_guide.pdf May 2017.
  • 5.Lunven C, Guo Z, Turpault S, Delfolie A, Fauchoux N, Turner T, Baldinetti F. Effectiveness and Tolerability of Colesevelam HCl for Accelerated Elimination of Teriflunomide in Healthy Participants. J Clin Pharmacol 2017 Jun;57(6):747-750.
  • 6.Robertson D, Dixon C, Aungst A, McCoy B, Moreo N, Casady L, Maldonado J. Tolerability and efficacy of colestipol hydrochloride for accelerated elimination of teriflunomide. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2017 Dec; 10(12):1403-1407.

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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.