You should not use ozanimod if you have a serious heart condition such as "AV block" or sick sinus syndrome and no pacemaker, or if you've recently had heart failure, a heart rhythm disorder, chest pain, heart attack, or stroke. You also should not use ozanimod if you have severe untreated sleep apnea.
Do not use ozanimod if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine. Wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you take this medicine.
Ozanimod can slow your heart rate when you start taking it. Tell your doctor if you have slow heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling 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, cough, rash, painful and frequent urination, confusion, neck stiffness, or increased sensitivity to light. Your risk of infection could last for 3 months after you stop taking this medicine.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use ozanimod if you are allergic to it, or if you have certain serious heart conditions, especially:
recent (within the past 6 months) heart failure, heart attack, stroke, "mini-stroke" or TIA, chest pain (unstable angina), or other serious heart problem;
"AV block" or sick sinus syndrome (unless you have a pacemaker); or
severe untreated sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep).
Do not use ozanimod if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others. Wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you take ozanimod.
Some heart rhythm medications can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with ozanimod. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use: amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, flecainide, ibutilide, procainamide, propafenone, quinidine, or sotalol.
Before you take ozanimod, tell your doctor if you have never had chickenpox or if you have never received a varicella vaccine (Varivax). You may need to receive the vaccine and then wait 1 month before taking ozanimod.
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;
heart rhythm problems, long QT syndrome;
a heart attack, stroke, or chest pain;
high blood pressure;
sleep apnea or other breathing problems;
diabetes;
liver disease; or
an eye condition called uveitis.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or you plan to become pregnant. Ozanimod may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine, and for at least 3 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during this time.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
How should I take ozanimod?
Take ozanimod exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Ozanimod can slow your heart rate when you start taking it. Before your first dose, your heart function will be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).
Ozanimod comes in a 7-day Starter pack containing capsules of different strengths. Taking these capsules as directed will increase your dose gradually during the first week.
You may take ozanimod with or without food. Avoid foods high in tyramine (aged, fermented, cured, smoked and pickled foods). Eating these foods while taking this medicine can raise your blood pressure.
You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have symptoms such as fever, tiredness, cough, painful and frequent urination, neck stiffness, or increased sensitivity to light. Your risk of infection could last for 3 months after you stop taking ozanimod.
If you have get an infection, further doses may be delayed until your infection clears up.
If you stop taking ozanimod or miss a dose during the first 2 weeks, ask your doctor before you start taking the medicine again. You may need to use a 7-day Starter pack again, to gradually increase your dose.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Always ask your doctor before you stop taking ozanimod for any reason. When you stop taking this medicine, your MS symptoms may return. In rare cases, some people who stopped taking ozanimod had MS symptoms that were worse than before or during treatment with this medicine. Watch for signs of worsening MS, and tell your doctor if you have any new or worsening symptoms.
