Nodia

Nodia is indicated in adults for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to reduce signs and symptoms and to retard structural damage as manifested by x-ray erosions and joint space narrowing.

Dosage & Administration

Leflunomide once-daily oral dosing for rheumatoid arthritis patients. After a loading dose of 100 mg once daily for 3 days, the maintenance dose is 20 mg once daily. Leflunomide does not require step wise dose increment over time. The dose may be decreased to 10 mg daily if tolerability issues arise.

Adverse reactions associated with the use of Nodia include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, respiratory infection, bronchitis, elevated liver enzymes, aggravation of pre-existing hypertension, alopecia, and rash.

Caution should be taken for those female with child bearing potential who are not using reliable contraception and for the subject of renal insufficiency. Nodia should be stopped before becoming pregnant. Liver function should be monitored before starting treatment.

Leflunomide is an isoxazole immunomodulatory agent which inhibits de novo pyrimidine synthesis and has anti-proliferative activity. Following oral administration, it is rapidly metabolized to A771726, which is active in vitro and is presumed to be the active drug in vivo. Leflunomide has demonstrated prophylactic and therapeutic effects in animal models of autoimmune disease. In addition, leflunomide has exhibited anti-inflammatory and weak analgesic and antipyretic activity. In a model of experimental septicemia, leflunomide did not alter the resistance of mice to bacterial pathogens.