Revlimid (lenalidomide) is a prescription drug used to treat certain blood cancers. Revlimid comes as an oral capsule.

Revlimid is used in certain adults to treat:

To learn more about Revlimid’s uses, see the “What is Revlimid used for?” section.

Revlimid basics

Revlimid contains the active ingredient lenalidomide. Revlimid is a brand-name medication that’s also available as the generic drug lenalidomide.

Revlimid is a type of immunotherapy. Its mechanism of action (how it works) is to slow the growth of cancer. For details, see this article about how Revlimid works or talk with your doctor.

Revlimid has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “What should be considered before taking Revlimid?” section.

Revlimid is used to treat certain blood cancers in adults. These include:

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): MDS is a group of conditions that affect your body’s ability to make healthy blood cells. Revlimid is used for a type of MDS that involves a certain genetic change.

Doctors prescribe Revlimid for MDS and anemia (low red blood cell levels) that requires blood transfusions. It’s used when the MDS is considered low or intermediate risk. This means the condition has a lower risk of turning into a more aggressive blood cancer.

Multiple myeloma: Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells. Doctors prescribe Revlimid for multiple myeloma in either of the following situations:

Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) or follicular lymphoma (FL): MZL and FL are types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that affect white blood cells. Doctors prescribe Revlimid for MZL or FL that has been treated in the past. For this purpose, Revlimid is used with rituximab (Rituxan, Truxima, others) or rituximab/hyaluronidase (Rituxan Hycela).

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL): MCL is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that affects white blood cells. Doctors prescribe Revlimid for MCL that has come back or worsened after treatment with at least two therapies, including bortezomib (Velcade).

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Doctors typically will not prescribe Revlimid for CLL unless it’s part of a clinical study.

Like most drugs, Revlimid may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below contain some of the more common side effects Revlimid may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Revlimid. They can also suggest ways to help reduce or manage them.

For more information, see this Revlimid side effects article.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects Revlimid can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Revlimid that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Revlimid can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from this medication, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Revlimid that have been reported include:

* For more information, see the “What should be considered before taking Revlimid?” section.

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Revlimid can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Revlimid.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Revlimid, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Below are commonly used dosages of Revlimid, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. They’ll determine the dosage that’s right for you.

Form and strengths

Revlimid comes as an oral capsule. It’s available in the following strengths:

  • 2.5 milligrams (mg)
  • 5 mg
  • 10 mg
  • 15 mg
  • 20 mg
  • 25 mg

Recommended dosages

Your Revlimid dosage will depend on certain factors. Among others, these include the condition being treated and any side effects you may have.

To learn more, you can also see this Revlimid dosage article.

Dosage for MDS

The typical dosage of Revlimid for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is 10 mg once daily.

Dosage for multiple myeloma

Your starting dosage of Revlimid for multiple myeloma depends on whether you’ve had a stem cell transplant.

If you have not had a stem cell transplant: The typical starting dosage is 25 mg once daily. You’ll take the drug for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week off. Your doctor will decide how long you should continue treatment.

If you have had a stem cell transplant: The typical starting dosage is 10 mg once daily. You’ll take the drug for at least 4 weeks. Your doctor will decide how long you should continue treatment.

Dosage for MZL or FL

Your starting dosage of Revlimid for marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) is 20 mg once daily. You’ll take the drug for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week off. Your doctor will decide how long you should continue treatment.

Dosage for MCL

Your starting dosage of Revlimid for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is 25 mg once daily. You’ll take the drug daily for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week off. Your doctor will decide how long you should continue treatment.

Questions about taking Revlimid

Below are some common questions about taking Revlimid.

  • Can Revlimid be chewed, crushed, or split? You should swallow Revlimid capsules whole. Do not chew, crush, or split them. If you have difficulty swallowing capsules, check out these tips on how to swallow pills, or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
  • Should I take Revlimid with food? You can take Revlimid with or without food.
  • Is there a best time of day to take Revlimid? Revlimid can be taken at any time of day, but it’s best to take it around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps Revlimid work effectively.
  • What if I miss a dose of Revlimid? If you miss a dose of Revlimid, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s been more than 12 hours since your missed dose, skip it. Then take the next dose at its usual time. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
  • Will I need to take Revlimid long term? It depends on the condition you’re taking Revlimid to treat and how it responds to the drug. Your doctor will determine how long you’ll take this medication.
  • How long does Revlimid take to work? Revlimid begins to work after you take your first dose. But you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. Your doctor will order tests throughout your treatment to check whether Revlimid is working for your condition.

Overdose

Do not take more Revlimid than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you take too much Revlimid

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Revlimid. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Below is important information you should consider before taking Revlimid.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions. Revlimid can interact with several other medications, but it isn’t known to interact with any supplements or foods.

Before starting Revlimid, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

For more information, see this Revlimid interactions article.

Drug interactions

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Revlimid. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Revlimid. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug group or drug nameDrug examples
estrogens• estradiol (Climara, others)
• ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel (Cyclessa, others)
erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs)• epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit)
• darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp)
digoxin (Lanoxin)—
warfarin (Jantoven)—

Revlimid and alcohol

Alcohol is not known to interact with Revlimid. Talk with your doctor to determine whether it’s safe for you to consume alcohol during Revlimid treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Below are details about the safety of Revlimid during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Revlimid and pregnancy

Revlimid has a boxed warning about the risk of harm to a fetus. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If taken during pregnancy, Revlimid may cause pregnancy loss or congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects). If you’re able to conceive, your doctor will likely give you a pregnancy test before prescribing Revlimid for you.

Because of this risk, the drug is available only through the Lenalidomide risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program. The FDA requires this program to help ensure Revlimid is used safely.

If you’re pregnant and your doctor prescribes Revlimid for you, they may recommend that you join the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects information on the effects of Revlimid when taken during pregnancy. To learn more, call 888-423-5436 or talk with your doctor.

Revlimid and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Revlimid while breastfeeding. To be safe, your doctor may recommend that you do not breastfeed during Revlimid treatment.

Birth control

Doctors may advise females* who can become pregnant to use at least two forms of birth control during Revlimid treatment. They’ll likely recommend using it for at least 4 weeks before taking Revlimid, throughout treatment, and for at least 4 weeks after your final dose.

Doctors may also advise males* with partners who can become pregnant to use birth control during treatment and for at least 4 weeks after their final dose. Males may be advised not to donate sperm during this time.

* In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. To learn more about this topic, see this article comparing sex and gender.

Boxed warnings

Revlimid has boxed warnings about the risk of fetal harm, severely low blood cell levels, and blood clots. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Revlimid’s boxed warnings include:

Risk of fetal harm: Revlimid is not safe to take during pregnancy. For details, see the “Pregnancy and breastfeeding” section.

Risk of severely low blood cell levels: Treatment with Revlimid may lead to a severely low level of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and a low level of platelets.

Low neutrophil levels may not cause symptoms but can raise your risk of infection. Low platelet levels may cause you to bruise or bleed more easily than usual.

Your doctor will check your blood cell levels during your treatment with Revlimid. If they fall below the typical range, your doctor may temporarily stop your treatment. In some cases, you may need a blood transfusion.

Your doctor will tell you when it’s safe to restart treatment and whether your dosage needs to be adjusted.

Risk of blood clots: Taking Revlimid may increase your risk of blood clots in deep veins, lungs, or arteries. Having a blood clot may also raise your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Some symptoms of these risks include:

  • Blood clot symptoms include:
  • Heart attack symptoms include:
    • nausea
    • sweating
    • pain in your neck, shoulder, chest, or arm
  • Stroke symptoms include:

If you have symptoms of a blood clot while taking Revlimid, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely advise you to stop taking the drug and seek treatment. If your symptoms are severe or related to a heart attack or stroke, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Other warnings

Revlimid can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you. Talk with your doctor about your health history before taking Revlimid. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Revlimid. What you’ll pay for Revlimid may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Generic form: Revlimid is available as the generic drug lenalidomide. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know whether generic lenalidomide could be an option for you.
  • Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called BMS Access Support from Revlimid’s manufacturer may also be available.

Learn more about saving on your prescriptions.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Revlimid, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

Examples of alternatives to Revlimid include:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.