Leflunomide (Arava) anyone?

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Barbara4

Posted Saturday, February 17, 2007 4:19 PM

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I went to my rhumatologist this week for a check-up. I'd been progressively getting worse since going off prednisone about 3 weeks back. I also was taking methotrexate and sulfalazine. After discussing the situation, he added Leflunomide, 20MG and removed the sulfalazine. I am also taking 10MG of predinisone a day for awhile until the Leflunomide starts working (or so we hope).

Anyone have experience with the Leflunomide?

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sylvia5

Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2007 1:07 AM

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I was having a lot of stomach problems with MTX so my rheumy moved me to Arava 20mg/day. My system seems to tolerate it much more than MTX but I was still having slight stomach irritation. The rheumy says it doesn't cause stomach trouble, but, just to be safe, he reduced me to 20mg/every other day. I seem to be doing very well on it. I only have tiny flare ups now, but I'm also on Pred and Humira so I can't attribute all of the success to Arava. I have noticed something weird- now that I'm taking Arava I become extremely nauseous if I take any pain medication. Has anyone else experienced this?

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Christina78

Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2007 8:09 AM

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I used to take Arava and overall I think it worked really well. I stopped it when I was trying to conceive and I slowly started having problems without it.(I can attribute it to the arava because it was the only drug i had stopped taking at the time) I remember having a lot of stomach issues when I first started it- I had lost a lot of weight because I had no appetite at all. That problem went away after a couple of months. However, I did notice the same problem that when I took some pain meds I was nauseous.

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Shannon14

Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2007 4:29 PM

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I stoped taking Arava for the same reason I stopped taking Methotrexate; my hair is falling out. I don't have many options left in the DMARD family. I was also on 5mg of prednisone a day too. I went off it to have elective surgery, I fell apart after I went off it, so I just started taking it again. The only thing for me to try is sulfasalizine or the injectables, which I'm not keen on. I couldn't tell if the Arava or the Prednisone made me feel better.

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ginnste53

Posted Tuesday, March 13, 2007 7:19 AM

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I was on Arava and it did me so much good. I didn't have the hair falling out but. I wqs put on that from the get go til the company I worked for switched insurance companys. That is all I was on. They did try me on humira but that got all messed up too because of the insurance company.Prednisone scares me. Ihave had to take that when my flares decide to reappear.I know I felt much better back then then I do now. i am taking folic acid prednisone,methotrexate,lovastain,depression pills and something for swelling. It gets a little sickening after a while. I hope you find something that works for you. Wishing you well and good luck

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Lissa10

Posted Thursday, April 05, 2007 11:27 AM

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Hi Barbara,
I took methotrexate for a year and my hair fell out by the clumps and had a lot of stomach trouble. Was also on folic acid and prednisone with this. But the RA went into remission for about a year. Now having lots of pain again and back to actice serous RA, I am 52 now was diagnosed at 47. I have been on arava now for about 2 weeks 20 mg. per day. At first my stomach really bothered me, doc put me on aciphex for stomach which really helps. Haven't noticed any hair falling out and can move hands and fingers so much better now. I wanted to try thr biologicals such as humira and enbrel but not advised to do so because history of TB in the family. Now my doc wants me to try rotuxin IV but I do not have insurance. I hope you get to feeling better I know it is so exhausting, and so depressing when you are always so tired and cannot do the things you used to be able to do. God Bless
Lissa

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Barbara4

Posted Monday, April 16, 2007 12:54 PM

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I am just coming up on 8 weeks with the Arava - I go to my doc for a check-up on Wednesday.

I think it is helping. Hurray!

I still take 10 mg's (5 mg's twice a day) of prednisone so I'll be weaning off that in the coming weeks and we'll see how much improvement I still notice.

I also still take the methtrexate once a week and folic acid every day. I would like to stop the methotrexate and see if the Arava will work by itself. I picture my liver and don't like what I see!

I have noticed a decrase in appetite and some stomach upset. I take a Rx for reflux and thought maybe it wasn't working as well but maybe it is the medicine.

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

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