#39;s office or clinic for 6 hours after taking the first dose of Gilenya so that your heart rate can be checked. At the beginning of treatment, Gilenya causes the heart rate to slow down. Gilenya can also cause an irregular heartbeat, especially after the first dose. Irregular heartbeat usually returns to normal in less than one day. Slow heart rate usually returns to normal within one month.
Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or tired or are conscious of your heartbeat.
When to take it
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it. It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to.
Your doctor will check your progress to make sure the medicine is working and will discuss with you how long your treatment should continue.
Do not stop taking Gilenya unless your doctor tells you to.
Gilenya will stay in your body for up to 2 months after you stop taking it. Your white blood cell count (lymphocyte count) may also remain low during this time and the side effects described in this leaflet may still occur.
If you have to restart Gilenya more than 2 weeks after you stopped taking it, the initial effect on your heart rate may occur again.
If you are a woman, see section Things you must do.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone number: 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have accidentally taken too much Gilenya. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include:
swelling in hands or feet
tingling or numbness in hands or feet
muscle pain
fever
While you are taking Gilenya
Things you must do
You should avoid becoming pregnant while taking Gilenya or in the two months after you stop taking it because Gilenya may harm your unborn baby.
Talk to your doctor about the associated risk. Talk with your doctor about reliable methods of birth control that you should use during treatment and for 2 months after you stop treatment.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Gilenya should not be taken if you are pregnant.
Tell your doctor about any changes in your vision, especially if:
the centre of your vision gets blurry or has shadows
if you develop a blind spot in the centre of your vision
if you have problems seeing colours or fine detail
Gilenya may cause macula oedema (swelling of a small area at the back of the eye), which usually happens in the first 4 months of treatment. Your chance of developing macular oedema is higher if you have diabetes or have had an inflammation of the eye called uveitis. It can cause some of the same vision symptoms as an MS attack (optic neuritis).
Tell your doctor if you think you have an infect |
