Q: How many RA sufferers end up having to quit treatment due to liver failure?
Hi Mo,
Last time I tt you, I think you were doing well. I'm sorry, but I don't know what you are talking about when you say you were sick with C. Diff. What is that? I have heard that Arava is very hard on a person's liver. My doc says it is harder on the liver than MTX. I don't know. I suspect all of us react differently to different meds. Did you stop the Arava? I'm hoping that you can just stop that med, or maybe the Mobic and/or prednisone and your liver function test will return to normal. I know a woman who had super high liver enzymes, and had to see a liver doc. She stopped the MTX and her liver enzymes eventually returned to normal. She takes Humira now, but no MTX or Arava, and she is just fine. I'm SO sorry you are having to deal with this. Having RA is hard enough without having any extra worries. Please le us know how you are doing.
Blessings,
V
Hi, MO,
I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this and not take any meds. Ai Yi Yi. You must be hurting. I hope your liver settles down soon and you can get back to your meds and get some relief. I know Arava helps a lot of people, but I have read a lot of posts by people w/liver issues while taking Arava. Of course, the same can be said of MTX. I had to decrease my MTX from five to three pills a week because one of my liver enzymes was elevated. I know a woman you had liver readings over 1,000. She stopped the MTX, and it went back to normal, so she takes Humira w/o any other Dmard.
Please let us know how you are doing, MO. Keeping you in my prayers.
Blessings,
V
Hi Mo
So sorry to hear about all of this, it must be very frustrating for you.
I was on Arava (and Prednisolone and others) for a year, and came off it last October because it was wrecking my liver in a spectacular fashion too. The good news is that the liver slowly recovered although it took a while to turn round, and by March it was back to normal. It's behaving well now, even though my new DMARD (Ciclosporin) is now having a real good go at my kidneys! At the time, my Rheumy said that it would return to normal, because these chemically induced problems are mostly resolved when you remove the medication that's causing it. I hope that's the case for you too.
Keep your spirits up!
Sal
Thanks Sal...yeah these drugs are cure and a curse! My liver enzymes DESPITE being off of everything are still rising. Saw the liver specialist yesterday--lots of blood work and and ultrasound and possibly a liver biopsy. He feels it definitely is drug related or something called auto immune hepatitis, so we'll see what comes up. In the mean time, surprisingly I can take a little tylenol for pain. (which does nothing for inflammation) SO We'll just keep on truckin'! I think I am going to look for alternative therapy...not herbals but diet, acupuncture, etc. Obviously the meds are not good for me even if they do make me feel better. Thanks! Mo
All the best with this, and let's hope that now you are well and truly off the Arava, things will start to turn round. Take care, and keep us posted!
Sal
I also think that different meds affect people differently. I used to take Mtx and Remicade. My liver enzymes eventually spiked and they sent me to a gastrointerologist who insisted I needed a liver biopsy to "figure out what was wrong". Uhhh I'm on a bunch of meds, duh. So I went off my meds for awhile, did a liver cleanse and once my enzymes were normal I started gradually adding back different meds. Fast forward about 7 years ... I currently take Plaquenil, Azulfadine, and a monthly infusion of Orencia. I've been on this combo for 2+ years and not once had an abnormal liver function test result.
Thanks, Ambra! That's exactly what I'm going through right now! Biopsy scheduled for Wed. So far everything else is good. Thanks for the input. Much appreciated! i'm sure this is not an unusual occurance with these meds. How long did it take to normalize? Just curious. Thx again! Mo 
It took me a couple of months I think. I am fortunate to have a friend who is an herbalist. I fully believe in both conventional medicine and herbal medicine as long as you are cautious in mixing the two. I was about 22 at the time and after I googled what is involved in a liver biopsy I called and cancelled my appt and said I wanted to try a natural approach until my next appt. I think it was either 2 months or 3 months, been awhile so I don't remember EXACTLY. I took a concoction that included dandelion and licorice (and other bad tasting things) to cleanse my liver, avoided meds as much as possible (granted this meant a lot more pain but I was determined to avoid the procedure, just my personal choice) and when I went back they re-did my blood work... everything was fine. I actually stayed off meds for a little while because I didn't have insurance to cover anything.
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C diff is a bacterial infection due to taking antibiotics. The medication to treat it can also cause liver problems. I haven't been able to take anything for my RA and am stiff, but not a flare yet...getting close! Yes I stopped the arava. I want to take my mobic-it seemed to help with with the swelling and pain and stiffness...but I can't. I am seeing a liver doc day after tomorrow. Hopefully this will pass. I WAS doing well...better than in years, then this. I don't feel bad except for the RA pain, so I don't think it should be too serious. But I will have to be very careful of any medications now. I had a remicade tx about 3 weeks ago--but it isn't enough for me. This is very frustrating! But we'll make it through---always do! Thanks V!