Pomalyst (pomalidomide) is a prescription brand-name medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat cancer in certain situations:
- AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma (KS)
- KS in people who don’t have HIV
- multiple myeloma (MM) when taken with dexamethasone
Pomalyst was granted
Pomalyst comes as a capsule that you swallow.
Pomalyst contains the active ingredient pomalidomide. Pomalidomide is a thalidomide analogue, also known as an immunomodulatory drug. Pomalyst helps your immune system fight MM and KS and kills cancer cells. Pomalyst is not currently available as a generic drug.
Dosage summary
The following chart summarizes Pomalyst’s dosage. Milligrams is abbreviated as mg. Your doctor will determine the dosage that’s best for you.
| Indication | Dose | Dosing schedule |
| Multiple myeloma | 4 mg once per day | days 1 through 21 of a 28-day treatment cycle |
| Kaposi sarcoma | 5 mg once per day | days 1 through 21 of a 28-day treatment cycle |
For information about the dosage of Pomalyst, including its strengths and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Pomalyst, see this article.
This article describes typical dosages for Pomalyst provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Pomalyst, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
This section describes the typical Pomalyst dosage.
Pomalyst form
Pomalyst comes as an oral capsule.
Pomalyst strengths
Pomalyst comes in four strengths: 1 milligram (mg), 2 mg, 3 mg, and 4 mg.
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for multiple myeloma
The recommended dosage of Pomalyst to treat multiple myeloma is 4 mg once per day. This is also the maintenance dosage. The dosing schedule for Pomalyst is days 1 through 21 of a 28-day treatment cycle. You will not take Pomalyst on days 22 through 28.
If your cancer worsens or you can no longer tolerate the drug, your doctor will likely stop treatment with Pomalyst. You’ll also take dexamethasone in combination with Pomalyst. Talk with your doctor about what dosage of dexamethasone is right for you.
Dosage for Kaposi sarcoma
The recommended dosage of Pomalyst to treat AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma (KS) or KS in people who don’t have HIV is 5 mg once per day. This is also the maintenance dosage. The dosing schedule for Pomalyst is days 1 through 21 of a 28-day treatment cycle. You will not take Pomalyst on days 22 through 28.
If your KS gets worse or you can no longer tolerate the drug, your doctor will likely stop treatment with Pomalyst.
Children’s dosage
Pomalyst is not FDA approved to treat children.
Long-term treatment
Pomalyst is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Pomalyst is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
The Pomalyst dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re using Pomalyst to treat
- how well you tolerate Pomalyst
- other medications you’re taking
- how well your kidneys function
- how well your liver functions
- other medical conditions you may have
Dosage adjustments
Your doctor may decrease your dose or discontinue your Pomalyst treatment if you experience certain side effects. These side effects may include nausea, constipation, or infection. Talk with your doctor if you experience any side effects while taking Pomalyst.
Your doctor may decrease your dose of Pomalyst if your kidneys or liver do not function as well as they should.
Your doctor may decrease your dose of Pomalyst if you take certain other medications. Do not start or stop taking any medications without talking with your doctor.
Pomalyst comes as a capsule that you swallow. You should swallow the Pomalyst capsule whole with water. Do not open, break, or chew the capsule.
You can take Pomalyst with or without food.
If you have trouble swallowing capsules, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Accessible drug labels and containersIf you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Pomalyst in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss a dose of Pomalyst, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s been more than 12 hours since your missed dose, skip that dose and take your next dose at your usual time. Do not take more than one dose of Pomalyst per day.
If you’re unsure if you should take your missed dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It’s important that you don’t use more Pomalyst than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Pomalyst
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Pomalyst. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Pomalyst for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Pomalyst without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Pomalyst that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Pomalyst. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Pomalyst. For information about other aspects of Pomalyst, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn about side effects of Pomalyst, see this article. You can also look at the Pomalyst prescribing information.
- Drug comparison. Find out how Pomalyst compares with Revlimid and Doxil.
- Details about your condition. For details about cancer, see our cancer hub and list of cancer and oncology articles. To learn more about HIV and AIDS, refer to our HIV and AIDS hub as well as our list of related articles.
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.
