Ponesimod
Generic name: ponesimod [ poe-NES-i-mod ]
Brand names: Ponvory, Ponvory Starter Pack
Dosage form: oral tablet (-; 20 mg)
Drug class:Selective immunosuppressants
What is ponesimod?
Ponesimod is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adults (including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease).
Ponesimod may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Ponesimod can slow your heart rate when you start taking it. Tell your doctor if you have slow heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath, or feel like your heart is skipping beats.
You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have a fever, chills, aches, tiredness, vomiting, neck stiffness, confusion, increased sensitivity to light. Your risk of infection could last for 2 weeks after you stop taking ponesimod.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use ponesimod if you are allergic to it, or if you have certain serious heart conditions, especially:
"AV block" or sick sinus syndrome (unless you have a pacemaker); or
recent (within the past 6 months) heart failure, heart attack, stroke, "mini-stroke" or TIA, chest pain (unstable angina), or other serious heart problem.
Some heart rhythm medications can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with ponesimod. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, ibutilide, procainamide, quinidine, or sotalol.
Before you take ponesimod, tell your doctor if you have never had chickenpox or received a varicella vaccine (Varivax). You may need to receive the vaccine and then wait 1 month before taking ponesimod.
Tell your doctor if you have received any vaccine within the past 30 days, or if you are scheduled to receive a vaccine.
Tell your doctor if you have a fever or infection, or if you have ever had:
a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicine);
a very slow heart rate;
