Sanofi

Indication and Important Safety Information Prescribing Information Medication Guide

AUBAGIO^® (teriflunomide) is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults.

Do not take AUBAGIO if you have severe liver problems, are pregnant or of childbearing potential and not using effective birth control, have had an allergic reaction to AUBAGIO or leflunomide, or are taking a medicine called leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis. View IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.

For U.S. residents only.

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Insurance > Financial Planning

Financial Planning

Being diagnosed with MS can be life altering. It changes the way you look at the world and imagine your future. There’s a lot to think about and plan for.

Considerations may revolve around working and career. Will you have to stop working at some point? How will you be able to manage your expenses? Now may be the time to ground yourself, get organized, and create a solid plan that may help you alleviate stresses surrounding your finances.

Financial know-how

Do you have the knowledge to manage your own financial challenges? Or do you need help from family members or a professional? If you need a place to start, consider looking at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Financial Planning Page. Here they house a comprehensive planning guide, Adapting: Financial Planning for a Life with MS, as a PDF download. Maybe financial planning is not in your sweet spot. If not, you may want to hire a professional. As you consider your next steps, take comfort in the fact that there are financial advisors that specialize in helping people who have been diagnosed with a chronic disease. If you cannot afford to hire a professional, there may be help through national or local organizations.¹

Financial organization and planning

If you already had a solid financial plan before your diagnosis, that’s great. You can tweak and adjust your plan to reflect your current situation. If you have not buckled down, now may be just the right time to get your finances in order. Take this opportunity to gather all your financial documentation in one place.¹ Whether you decide to make your own plan or hire a professional, you will be ready with the most accurate and up to date information.

Legal and estate planning

It’s important to think about things like power of attorney and healthcare directives. If you took care of this before your diagnosis, you may need to revise it to address characteristics of your situation. If you haven’t done this yet, it’s never too late. An estate-planning lawyer can help you put these essential legal directives in place.¹

Employee benefits analysis

Whether you keep working or need to retire early, it’s important to carefully review your employee benefits with regard to retirement packages, health plans, disability coverage, and life insurance. All of these factors will play into how you approach your overall financial plan.¹

Insurance analysis

You’ll need to look at what type of health insurance and life insurance you have now and what type you may need going forward living with relapsing MS. Different plans may offer different advantages and disadvantages for someone with a chronic progressive illness. Make sure you have a plan that meets your needs while living with relapsing MS.¹

Regardless of your current situation, gathering information about your current state and planning for your future state can potentially help you feel more in control when it comes to your financial picture.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not take AUBAGIO if you have severe liver problems. AUBAGIO may cause serious liver problems, including liver failure that can be life-threatening and may require a liver transplant. View More

INDICATION

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

DO NOT TAKE AUBAGIO IF YOU:

Have severe liver problems. AUBAGIO may cause serious liver problems, including liver failure that can be life-threatening and may require a liver transplant. Your risk may be higher if you already have liver problems or take other medicines that affect your liver. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your liver within 6 months before you start AUBAGIO and monthly for 6 months after starting AUBAGIO. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of these symptoms of liver problems: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, tiredness, yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, or dark urine.
Are pregnant. AUBAGIO may harm an unborn baby. You should have a pregnancy test before starting AUBAGIO. After stopping AUBAGIO, continue to use effective birth control until you have made sure your blood levels of AUBAGIO are lowered. If you become pregnant while taking AUBAGIO or within 2 years after stopping, tell your healthcare provider right away and enroll in the AUBAGIO Pregnancy Registry at 1-800-745-4447, option 2.
Are of childbearing potential and not using effective birth control.

It is not known if AUBAGIO passes into breast milk. Your healthcare provider can help you decide if you should take AUBAGIO or breastfeed — you should not do both at the same time.

If you are a man whose partner plans to become pregnant, you should stop taking AUBAGIO and talk with your healthcare provider about reducing the levels of AUBAGIO in your blood. If your partner does not plan to become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking AUBAGIO.
Have had an allergic reaction to AUBAGIO or a medicine called leflunomide.
Take a medicine called leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis.

AUBAGIO may stay in your blood for up to 2 years after you stop taking it. Your healthcare provider can prescribe a medicine that can remove AUBAGIO from your blood quickly.

Before taking AUBAGIO, talk with your healthcare provider if you have: liver or kidney problems; a fever or infection, or if you are unable to fight infections; numbness or tingling in your hands or feet that is different from your MS symptoms; diabetes; serious skin problems when taking other medicines; breathing problems; or high blood pressure. Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell count and TB test before you start AUBAGIO. Talk with your healthcare provider if you take or are planning to take other medicines (especially medicines for treating cancer or controlling your immune system), over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements.

AUBAGIO may cause serious side effects. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following:

decreases in white blood cell count — this may cause you to have more infections. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, body aches, chills, nausea, or vomiting. Patients with low white blood cell count should not receive certain vaccinations during AUBAGIO treatment and 6 months after.
allergic reactions such as difficulty breathing, itching, or swelling on any part of your body including lips, eyes, throat, or tongue. Stop taking AUBAGIO and call your doctor right away.
serious skin reactions that may lead to death. Stop taking AUBAGIO if you have rash or redness and peeling, mouth sores or blisters.
other allergic reactions that may affect different parts of the body. If you have a fever or rash in combination with severe muscle pain, swollen lymph glands, swelling of your face, unusual bruising or bleeding, weakness or tiredness, or yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, stop taking AUBAGIO and call your doctor right away.
numbness or tingling in your hands or feet that is different from your MS symptoms
high blood pressure
breathing problems (new or worsening) — these may be serious and lead to death

The most common side effects when taking AUBAGIO include: headache; diarrhea; nausea; hair thinning or loss; and abnormal liver test results. These are not all the side effects of AUBAGIO. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you.

Consult your healthcare provider if you have questions about your health or any medications you may be taking, including AUBAGIO.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information, including boxed WARNING and Medication Guide.

Reference

1. Financial Planning For A Life With Multiple Sclerosis. 1st ed. National Multiple Sclerosis Society website; 2017.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/NationalMSSociety/media/MSNationalFiles/Brochures/brochure-Adapting-Financial-Planning-for-a-Life-with-MS.pdf.
Accessed May 7, 2017.