My doctor just took me off methtrexate as it was not working for me in any form, the way I felt or from the blood testing. My numbers stayed the same for the 6 weeks. Anyway, the doctor just started me on Arava to see how that would work. Has anyone else tried this drug and if so did is work? and what about the side effects??? I had a really hard time on the meth.
Thanks Lisa
I have been on Arava for two months with no significant side effects. I do believe it has helped to reduce my inflammation response following functional activities. I was on Methotrexate and the side effects were much worse and with less pain reduction.
One of your responders was having terrible side effects from Arava and it sounded as if her physician was just waiting for it to clear out of her system. My physician told me that if you have bad side effects from Arava there is another medicine that you must take to "pull" it out of your system. I believe he said that without taking the second medication that Arava could stay in your system for a long time.
Hope this helps both of you.
Chuck
I am on Enbrel. Methotrexate never worked for me either. The last time I had a flare, my doctor put me on Arava with the Enbrel. To my surprise, it worked great! Within a couple of days I was significantly better. I don't think I had any side effects, maybe a little stomach upset at first, but I'm not sure that was the Arava.
The methotrexate shots never benefited me. I was put on Arava pills, took them for 10 days after the third day..I was in bed and still am, wished i had died. Never was so sick in my life. Called specialist monday morn told her my symptoms, nausea, diareah, every muscle cramped,stabing pain in stomach, body pain, migraines, cant even tell you how bad. Could not get out of bed and had to crawl to washroom when I did. Couldnt sleep. I hope it works for you, I have been off it and all meds for 5 days now, still have symtoms. Doc says quit all meds, drink lots of fluid and flush detox myself from it. I am still extremely sick today.I was gonna tough it out for 3 weeks, but lost 8 lbs in 10 days ans was becomming dehydrated. Couldnt do it. Had horrible reaction to it.Yes I know some people have had wonderful results. Ye ha for them, me I am sure it would have killed me. Anyway in bed sick from it. Hate Arava, have nothing good to say about it. I am glad it works for some people. We are all different, and it def doesnt agree with everyone.Thats my story.She wants me to wait a few weeks and start Humaria. I am so sickof being sick and feeling sick. I want to wait a month or so I just need to feel ok for a bit. Scared of the side effects of it to. Well we will see. Good luck to you..
I was on Arava 20mg for about 5 yrs. Every time I surgery I had to go off of it, two knees and a hip, it just didn't do the trick. I started Embriel one shot a week and I was doing just great so we dropped the Arave to 10mg, I was still doing great . We agreed to stop the Arava. What a mistake everything went sour. Now, I'm back on 10mg of Arava and the Embrel shot, it took four weeks to recover, I like Arava it's been a good drug for me and so has the Embrel.
Good Luck, give it a good chance.
ml
I've been on it since Feb. of this year, started with 20mg, couldn't do it, it made me itch like crazy. I went down to 10mg, in my opinion its not doing a thing for me. I am sick to my stomach some also, I also have a very dry mouth with it. I have also been on methtrexate years ago, I may go back to prednisone soon. Good Luck with the Arava, I know everyone is different.
hi lisa, i was on arava from 2000 until last year. It worked wonderfully. I was upset when it stopped, and now I am trying methotrexate again. It doesnt seem to be doing anything, waiting for the release of the new drug acterma. I also started taking ambien the same year as the arava,as my doc said that sleeping is very important for rheumatoid. I think they worked hand in hand together..I hope you do as well as I did. God bless you.....debbie
I loved Arava and wish I could continue taking it. I can' remember how long I took it, but my blood counts went down, so I had to stop. I had much more energy.
Arava Leflunomide? Ive been taking this medication 10mg for around two yrs now, Ive tried pretty much all the old drugs that are available, and they didnt agree with my system,Methatrexate made me sooo ill, i felt lousey all the time, Im pretty much ok with Arava though, Im having a flare up at the moment, to which im taking prednisalone 7.5 for six weeks to help me through:) Ive had no side effects with Leflunomide, to which im really thrilled, Its so unlike me to have no side effects...Oh apart from when i was on the 20mg, my hair went into shock and fell out!!!! So hence i reduced the mg to 10 mg...
Rachel xxx
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