Lenalidomide vs Thalidomide

I’ve done a bit of digging about and it seems that there is very little difference in effectiveness between the two but the lenalidomide  seems to be a little bit easier on the system. I take Lenalidomide but it is a third line treatment for me. I believe it is being used in trials for sct patients as a maintenance drug in the uk. I also believe thalidomide is cheaper. I hope this helps

Thanks for the info Jane, I think I am going to stick with my current regimen.

Lenalidomide is 8% more effective than thalidomide and is less toxic, so patients are less likely to suffer peripheral neuropathy. However NHS will not yet pay for it as induction therapy. It is possible to copay so that you can buy lenalidomide but have all other drugs and treatment within NHS.  Lenalidomide can damage stem cell growth so make it difficult to harvest cells if more than 4 induction cycles are needed, whereas thalidomide is less damaging.  In the long term lenalidomide is associated with secondary cancers (but some are easily treated ones) 

I went for lenalidomide as induction therapy and have not regretted it.

Lenalidomide is 8% more effective than thalidomide and is less toxic, so patients are less likely to suffer peripheral neuropathy. However NHS will not yet pay for it as induction therapy. It is possible to copay so that you can buy lenalidomide but have all other drugs and treatment within NHS.  Lenalidomide can damage stem cell growth so make it difficult to harvest cells if more than 4 induction cycles are needed, whereas thalidomide is less damaging.  In the long term lenalidomide is associated with secondary cancers (but some are easily treated ones) 

I went for lenalidomide as induction therapy and have not regretted it.

Thanks Jane, I think less toxic and more effective is enough info for me to keep going on Lenallidomide for now. I start Cycle 2 tomorrow, I developed an infection during week 2 of cycle 1 which was really difficult but has now cleared thankfully. All the best, ddaw73.