As with other drugs, Aubagio (teriflunomide) can cause side effects, such as headache and diarrhea. If side effects of Aubagio become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Aubagio (teriflunomide) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for certain forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults, including:

If you have problems with side effects from Aubagio, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss ways to manage side effects or other available treatment options. Do not stop taking Aubagio without consulting your doctor first.

Aubagio has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Boxed warnings for Aubagio” section.

Aubagio can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Aubagio in clinical trials:

Mild side effects can occur with Aubagio use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Aubagio’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that people taking Aubagio have reported include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Aubagio and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

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Aubagio may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Aubagio’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Aubagio, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

Allergic reaction

For some people, Aubagio can cause an allergic reaction.

Allergic reaction was a side effect that people taking Aubagio in the drug’s studies reported.

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

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Aubagio, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Aubagio has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of fetal harm

Studies have shown that Aubagio may cause fetal harm if taken during pregnancy. You should not take Aubagio during pregnancy.

What you can do

Do not take Aubagio if you’re pregnant. If you could become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Aubagio. If you stop taking Aubagio, you’ll need to continue taking birth control until blood tests show that your blood levels of Aubagio have lowered.

If you become pregnant while taking Aubagio or soon after stopping the drug, contact your doctor immediately. The drug can stay in your body for up to 2 years. But there are treatments for getting the drug out of your body quickly. If you become pregnant while taking Aubagio, contact your doctor to organize this treatment as soon as possible.

Severe liver damage

Aubagio has a boxed warning about risk of severe liver damage. This was rarely reported by people taking Aubagio in clinical studies. In extreme cases, liver damage can be life threatening or fatal.

You may be at higher risk for severe liver damage caused by Aubagio if you:

Symptoms of liver damage can include:

  • jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
  • dark urine
  • nausea and vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • loss of appetite
  • tiredness

What you can do

Before prescribing Aubagio, your doctor will order blood tests to check your liver function. For your first 6 months of treatment, you’ll need to have these tests once per month.

If any of your test results show potential problems with your liver or you have symptoms of liver damage, your doctor may have you stop taking Aubagio. If they determine the side effects were due to Aubagio, they’ll have you permanently stop the medication and recommend other treatments for your MS.

While taking Aubagio, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.

If you have problems with side effects that do not go away or worsen, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss options for managing side effects or other available treatment options.

Hair loss

Hair loss was one of the most common side effects reported by people taking Aubagio in clinical studies. Mostly, this side effect was temporary. Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include:

  • talking with your doctor about treatment recommendations
  • incorporating treatments for hair loss into your treatment plan
  • considering stopping Aubagio or taking a different medication

Severe skin reactions

Severe skin reactions were reported by people taking Aubagio in clinical studies, although this was rare. These skin reactions included:

Symptoms of severe skin reactions can include:

  • mouth blisters or sores
  • skin rash
  • redness or darkening of the skin
  • peeling skin
  • fever

What you can do

Contact your doctor or get medical help immediately if you have symptoms of a severe skin reaction. Although rare, these can be life threatening.

If you have a severe skin reaction while taking Aubagio, you’ll need to stop taking the medication. Your doctor will likely give you treatment to get Aubagio out of your body quickly. They’ll also recommend a different treatment for your MS.

Aubagio may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Is stopping Aubagio associated with side effects?

There was no association between stopping Aubagio treatment and side effects in the drug’s clinical trials. If you stop Aubagio and begin to notice side effects, these are likely symptoms from your MS returning.

Because Aubagio helps to slow the progression of your MS, stopping the drug may cause those symptoms to worsen.

If you have questions about stopping Aubagio, talk with your doctor.

Are Aubagio’s side effects long term?

As with other medications, Aubagio can cause certain side effects. These are usually temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But Aubagio can also cause some long-term side effects, including:

  • liver damage
  • increases in blood pressure, which may need treatment with medication
  • rarely, interstitial lung disease (scarring in your lungs), which usually is not reversible

If you have additional questions about how long Aubagio’s side effects last, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Take note of the following important information to consider before taking Aubagio.

Aubagio has boxed warnings about risk of fetal harm if taken during pregnancy and severe liver damage. These are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Boxed warnings” section.

Other precautions

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Aubagio. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

  • diabetes
  • breathing problems
  • high blood pressure
  • previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • alcohol consumption

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.