What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fingolimod?
You should not use fingolimod if you are allergic to it, or if you have certain serious heart conditions, especially:
- severe heart failure (that required you to be in the hospital);
- "AV block" or sick sinus syndrome (unless you have a pacemaker);
- long QT syndrome; or
- recent (within the past 6 months) heart attack, stroke, "mini-stroke" or TIA, chest pain (unstable angina), or other serious heart problem.
Your doctor will check your heart function before you start taking fingolimod.
Some heart rhythm medications can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with fingolimod. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use: amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, flecainide, dronedarone, ibutilide, mexiletine, procainamide, propafenone, quinidine, or sotalol.
Before you take fingolimod, tell your doctor if you have never had chickenpox or if you have never received a varicella vaccine (Varivax). You may need to receive the vaccine and then wait 1 month before taking fingolimod.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- an active or chronic infection;
- a heart rhythm disorder;
- chest pain (angina) or other heart problems;
- a heart attack or stroke, including "mini-stroke";
- high or low blood pressure;
- fainting spells;
- diabetes;
- skin cancer;
- liver disease;
- an eye condition called uveitis; or
- asthma, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder.
Using fingolimod may increase your risk of developing skin cancer (melanoma). Ask your doctor about skin symptoms to watch for.
Fingolimod may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine, and for at least 2 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during this time.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of fingolimod on the baby.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.