Dimara Tablet 20mg

About Dimara Tablet 20mg

Uses

• Active rheumatoid arthritis in adults
• Reducing joint pain, stiffness, and swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis
• Slowing joint damage and disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis
• Improving physical function in people with rheumatoid arthritis
• Used alone or combined with other disease modifying drugs like methotrexate

Benefits

• Helps control long term joint inflammation instead of just easing pain
• Can reduce the need for high dose steroids over time
• Once daily dosing makes it easier to stay consistent with treatment

What Experts Say

Rheumatologists across Pakistan often prescribe Leflunomide when methotrexate alone does not control joint symptoms well, or when a patient cannot tolerate methotrexate. It works by slowing down the immune cells responsible for attacking joint tissue, which helps calm swelling and reduce long term joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis.

Regular blood monitoring is a standard part of Leflunomide treatment. Doctors usually check liver function tests and complete blood counts every two to four weeks during the first months, then less often once the dose is stable. This medicine can affect the liver in some patients, so skipping these checkups is one of the most common and risky mistakes.

Most patients notice less morning stiffness and joint pain within four to six weeks of starting treatment, though full benefit can take three to six months to appear. Since Leflunomide stays in the body for a long time after stopping, doctors in Pakistan usually recommend a proper washout procedure with cholestyramine if a woman plans pregnancy or if serious side effects occur.

Drug Class

• Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD)
• Pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor

Dimara Tablet 20mg formula

• Leflunomide

Available forms

• Tablet

How to use Dimara Tablet 20mg?

• Take Dimara Tablet 20mg once daily with or without food, at the same time each day.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water, do not crush or chew it.
• Do not stop the medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor, even if joints feel better.
• Get liver function and blood tests done as scheduled by your doctor throughout treatment.
• Use reliable birth control while taking this medicine, since it can harm an unborn baby.

Drug Interactions

• Methotrexate: Combining it with Leflunomide raises the risk of liver toxicity and needs closer monitoring.
• Warfarin: Leflunomide can increase the blood thinning effect, raising bleeding risk.
• Live Vaccines: These should be avoided during treatment since Leflunomide weakens immune response.
• Rifampicin: This antibiotic can raise Leflunomide levels in the blood, increasing side effect risk.
• Cholestyramine: This is used deliberately to speed up removal of Leflunomide from the body when needed.

Risks and warnings

• Liver Damage: This medicine can raise liver enzymes and rarely cause serious liver injury, so regular liver tests are required.
• Pregnancy Risk: Leflunomide can cause serious birth defects and must be avoided during pregnancy and while trying to conceive.
• Infection Risk: It lowers immune defense, so infections may take longer to clear and can become more serious.
• Blood Count Changes: It may lower white blood cells and platelets, increasing the risk of infections and bleeding.
• Skin Reactions: Rarely, it can trigger severe skin reactions that need immediate medical attention.

Dimara Tablet 20mg Side Effects

• Diarrhea or loose stools
• Nausea or stomach upset
• Mild hair thinning
• Headache
• Skin rash or itching
• Raised blood pressure
• Respiratory tract infections
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Weight loss
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet

Storage Conditions

• Store below 30°C in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
• Keep the tablets in their original blister pack until ready to use.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Avoid storing in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink where moisture is high.