Friday, January 09, 2009 ScrapHappy asks

Q: Have you taken Arava (leflunomide)? What's your experience?

My rheumatologist has just switched me from 25 mg of methotrexate (1x weekly) to 10 mg of leflunomide (Arava) once a day. The methotrexate was working for me (on it for 7 monts - since diagnosis) but I was having increasing problems with both side effects (nausea) but more importantly difficulty in actually taking the 10 pills required. I've done as much reading as possible on leflunomide by I'm interested in "real life" experiences with this medication. It's similar to MTX but the possible side effects seem to be less severe if experienced. I'm a little anxious about the info regarding the medication staying in your system for up to 2 YEARS.

Have you taken leflunomide (Arava)? How has it worked for you? Any side effects? How long have you taken it? When were you diagnosed with RA?

Thank you!

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Answers (3)

bon410

2/19/09 2:34pm

Hi, Yes, I have taken Arava in the past for 4 years but my blood pressure was going up each time I got a check up. Never had a blood pressure problem before. I researched and 2% of the research participents had a rise in BP from Arava. It worked fine for the RA without the side effects I had on Methotrexate. I took that for 3 years before it made me so sick I told the doctor I quit and then went on Minocycline and Relafen. That worked good till it wore itself out in 4 years and I didn't have any noticable side effects execpt that my bones got dark. Found that out during hand surgery and it shocked the surgeon. I guess it is well known now. Good luck in finding something. Not all meds make us sick and if we find the right ones we do well till they stop working.

Bon

Naomi

1/10/09 7:48pm

I was diagnosed with RA 3 yrs ago...started the methotrexate then. I had a LOT of trouble with side effects from mtx and stayed with it as long as I could. Went off it for about a year with no replacement. I've been on Arava now for a year and honestly don't notice a change in my symptoms with it. I'm still trying to find the right combo of meds, though. I'm on Orencia infusions, Arava, prednisone, meloxicam for RA drugs. I do notice some side effects with Arava...hair thins at times, then regrows, then thins,and generally some very mild GI distress--occassional queasiness, can't tolerate some types of foods, and bowels are a little different. NOTHING like methotrexate, tho.

Its so MUCH better than mtx, side effects wise. Don't know if it's working otherwise, tho.

Bas Euser

9/14/09 6:05am

Hi ScrapHappy

I am Bas from the Netherlands and I use Arava 8 years. I want to stop with it because when I started 8 years ago I developed problems with my longues. Now it seems that it is possible caused by Arava. However the side-effects are different for every person.

For my RA it works good.

Sometimes you have to choose between two bad things!

A lot of succes

cherie3

4/ 9/11 1:40pm

What is longues? I have not heard that word before .