Korlym Side Effects

Serious Side Effects of Korlym

feeling extremely tired or light-headed; passing out
upset stomach or throwing up
swollen hands or feet
fever, feeling cold, and coughing accompanied by yellowish or green-colored mucus
abnormal bleeding of the vagina
feeling confused, irregular heart beat, feeling thirsty and urinating more frequently, restlessness or discomfort of the legs, and loss of strength which could be signs of low potassium levels
symptoms of low blood sugar such as feeling dizzy, agitated or confused, having a headache, increased sweating, rapid heart rate, muscle weakness and feeling restless
symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as hives, redness or itching of the skin, swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, throat and face and trouble breathing

Common Side Effects of Korlym

stomach ache or pain; loss of appetite or throwing up
changes in bowels such as diarrhea or constipation
dryness of the mouth or sore throat
congestion
headache, dizziness, or trouble sleeping
loss of strength, muscle soreness or pain
pain in the joints or back

Warnings & Recalls for Korlym

Korlym and Pregnancy

Patients must fully understand the uses of Korlym before taking it as a treatment. Women who are pregnant and take Korlym will be at great risk for having a miscarriage. Korlym has been listed as an FDA pregnancy Category X medicine. If you are pregnant and have Cushing's syndrome, do not use Korlym. Your pregnancy may be terminated or the fetus could be seriously harmed. Use an effective form of birth control if you are using Korlym as a treatment for Cushing's syndrome and continue using birth control for 1 month after you have stopped using Cushing's syndrome. Do not breastfeed while using Korlym. If you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking Korlym, let your doctor know immediately.

General Warnings

Patients with the following conditions should not take Korlym:

abnormal bleeding of the vagina
particular cancer of the uterus such as endometrial hyperplasia (excessive amounts of estrogen in the inner lining of the uterus)
if you are pregnant (and not undergoing a medical abortion)
if you are using steroid drugs

Ask your doctor if it is safe for you to use Korlym if you have:

any liver or kidney conditions
heart disease or disorders
high blood pressure
endometriosis (disease in women where uterine cells infect other areas of the body)
thyroid or adrenal gland problems
any illnesses or disorders which may affect your immune system
been using any other medicines (especially drugs for preventing transplant rejection)

Korlym can interact with the way several different types of drugs work. Be sure to let your doctor know about any medicines you are using to avoid any interactions. The following may interact with Korlym:

alfentanil
clyclosporine or quinidine (medicines for preventing rejection of transplants)
digoxin (for treating arrythmia)
ergotamine
fentanyl or certain pain relievers
pimozide (anti-psychotic medications)
lovastatin or simvastatin (cholesterol lowering medicines)

Korlym Treatment and Use

Korlym | mifepristone is an antiprogestational steroid marketed by Corcept Therapeutics for reducing high blood sugar. Korlym may be prescribed for:

reducing high blood sugar in patients with Cushing’s syndrome, who suffer from glucose tolerance problems
treating high blood sugar in patients who have type 2 diabetes associated with Cushing’s syndrome
ending an early pregnancy (when combined with misoprostol)

Korlym may also be used for treating symptoms caused by Cushing’s syndrome, such as obesity and skin problems.

How Does Korlym Work

Korlym works by interfering with cortisol hormones in the body. Through this action, Korlym reduces the effects of abnormally high cortisol amounts and lowers blood sugar levels. Korlym also prevents the production of progesterone, which is needed for the fetus during pregnancy. Without progesterone, an early pregnancy (48 days or less since last menstrual period) will be terminated.

How to Take Korlym

Korlym comes in tablet form to be taken orally. Dosage depends on treatment type and use of the medication (for Cushing’s syndrome or for ending pregnancy).

For patients who are undergoing an abortion, 3 Korlym tablets are administered to be taken by mouth in a hospital or clinic setting. Patients must return to the office two days later and may be prescribed misoprostol to ensure that the pregnancy is terminated properly. Two weeks after taking Korlym, patients will need to receive a final ultrasound.

Patients who are taking Korlym to treat Cushing’s syndrome are normally advised to take the tablet once per day by mouth with a full glass of water and a meal. Use Korlym only as prescribed by your doctor. Do not crush or break tablets.

Other Names for Korlym

Brand name:

Korlym

Mifeprex

Generic name:

mifepristone