Generic Name: Leflunomide for Rheumatoid Arthritis (leflunomide)
Arava (leflunomide) "My mom was diagnosed with RA in the spring of 2007 and experienced pulmonary fibrosis as a part of this disease. Arava was prescribed to treat her RA. Rather than minimize the symptoms of her disease, the Arava ignited the lung disease and she experienced what the doctors referred to as BOOP (Bronchial Obliterated Obstructive Pneumonia.) She lived three weeks from the time of diagnosis to her death. Please know that ARAVA can be a seriously dangerous drug for some people."
Arava (leflunomide) "I've been on Arava for over 10 years now. At first (following the loading dose) I was taking 20 mg daily. I went from not being able to dress myself to being completely independent and relatively pain-free. I do have fibromyalgia, so there has been some muscle pain with that. I lost quite a bit of hair at first, but that stopped. After 7 or 8 years I asked my doctor if I could try to taper down. I went from 20 mg daily to 20 mg every other day. I have mild psoriasis, which flared when I cut back, but eventually it cleared up again. After a year, my doctor decreased it to 10 mg every other day. The psoriasis flared again, but is now gone, and I am maintaining at 10 mg every other day and doing well."
Arava (leflunomide) "Was on Arava for a little over a year. The hair loss, pain from the hair loss, gastrointestinal problems, and the infections are just too much. My hair is so thin. I went to my doctor and had it stopped. I lost another 6 lbs in 2 months, and that is with the introduction of Ensure. I hope others have a better experience than what I did. I am 27 years old, and every day I felt life leaving me little by little."
Arava (leflunomide) "I have been on Arava for 6 weeks and I also take 5mg of Prednisone. The medication has been extremely helpful in treating the swelling and soreness of the joints. I am now able to write, type, stir, laugh, and I feel generally so much improvement. It's like getting my life back after several months of severe pain, swelling, and stiffness."
Arava (leflunomide) "No way did this drug help me! What it did do was give me MS symptoms! Yes, I went totally blind off and on during the day and had debilitating headaches to where all I did was lay and cry! Warning, the doctor tells me I had MS. I say no, it's the drug! He says no and proceeds to send me to a neurologist. He examines me and says no, it's probably neuropathy! So here I go again being sent to yet another specialist! I was sent to an ophthalmologist, and he says no, your eyes are fine, it has to be MS! I then go back to the rheumatologist for him to say, yes, it's MS, don't stop the drug! I went out on my own gut and stopped the Arava and WHAT DO YOU KNOW--- MS SYMPTOMS DISAPPEARED ALMOST INSTANTLY! So please be aware these drugs will do more harm than good."
"After two-three years of trying everything under the sun (methotrexate, constant steroids, anti-malaria), I finally tried Leflunomide. What an amazing drug!! I feel better than I have in 3 years. My energy is up, my mind is less foggy, my body hurts way less. I can finally be a mom to my young children again. I can button those shirt buttons and turn pages in their nighttime stories. This drug has changed my life. I often find myself singing and dancing again, just out of utter excitement for my progress. It feels good to be happy and capable after so many years of struggle."
"I have had severe RA for 17 years. I have been treated with methotrexate, prednisone, Humira, and Enbrel. I could not tolerate methotrexate, and Humira did not work for me. I settled for using Enbrel and 5mg of prednisone daily. Then, my Rheumatologist put me on 20 mg leflunomide, and it has been a miracle drug for me! In the past year, I have gotten off prednisone and have reduced my Enbrel from 50mg weekly to 25mg. My liver function is good, and I hope it stays that way because you have to be careful with leflunomide due to liver problems, no drinking on this drug. I have felt like I’m in remission for at least 10 months. I wish everyone with RA could have the results this drug has given me!"
Arava (leflunomide) "I have dealt with severe RA for going on 16 years and just recently within 6 months was put on Arava. For me, this has been a miracle drug. I feel I’m in full remission. So my treatment is Enbrel, Arava, and Prednisone. If you are healthy other than having RA, give Arava a try!! God Bless All of You who deal with this Monster called Rheumatoid Arthritis."
Arava (leflunomide) "I started taking Arava in Sep. 2012. Two months ago I noticed my hair was falling out in the shower, and now in December my hair is so thin you can see my scalp. I also have to blow my nose at least twenty times a day. And now I am getting sores in my mouth. I am not sure if I want to stay on it."
Arava (leflunomide) "I have been on Arava for over 15 years with no problems. Instead, it has been a gift from heaven. For a year, I tried many meds to no avail. Then - Arava! It was a miracle. My joint inflammation went way down, and pain much relieved. I am sorry for those who cannot take it. They talk about trying something different, and I say “no”. I'm sticking with Arava as long as it works."
Arava (leflunomide) "I was unable to move around, very stiff and sore. It was so bad I was considering using a cane to get around. Arava 20mg has put an end to all of my aches and pains, so very grateful. But, my BP is now elevated (I'm addressing this with my PCP)."
Arava (leflunomide) "I took Arava for about one year. It worked fabulously for the rheumatoid arthritis. I was even going to aerobics and kickboxing. However, my hair started to fall out and I ended up with no eyebrows. Needless to say, I stopped taking it and my rheumatoid arthritis has not been good ever since. My hair grew back but in some spots it did not. I still have some bald spots in my eyebrows. I was not very happy about that as I am only 35."
"Put on Leflunomide 10 mg 7 weeks ago for Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Increasing symptoms of weakness, diarrhea, nausea, cramps, palpitations, pins and needles, migraines with aura, and the most awful shortness of breath. I came off Leflunomide 3 days ago and expect I shall have to suffer the effects for at least 6 months before the drug leaves my poor body. My rheumatologist says these symptoms are not caused by Leflunomide. I feel so weak and helpless. I wish I had been warned. I feel angry with my rheumatologist, who took two weeks to respond to my cries for help. Be warned."
"I was diagnosed with RA in 1987. Terrible pain and loss of motion. After taking all available meds on the market, including the biologics, which were of no help at all, my doctor prescribed Arava. I take 20 mg per day plus two Azulfidine pills per day. Now, my pain level is virtually 0. I have been on this regimen for 11 years. No side effects, however, I am diligent about regular blood work which would show any significant liver damage or other serious conditions. So far, so good. Arava has been my miracle drug."
Arava (leflunomide) "Had virtually no pain or swelling anymore. Used in combination with Humira. Had to come off, unfortunately, due to gut and intestinal issues getting severe. Did help my RA more than any other medication so far, but too many gut issues."
"I took Leflunomide for just over a year. It helped my symptoms, but in the last month, it severely suppressed my bone marrow, and my hemoglobin and white blood cells have plummeted to the point of being a few points away from needing a blood transfusion. My hemoglobins have not come back yet after stopping it (and doing the washout period with cholestyramine) 9 days ago, in fact, it continues to go down. I am at 7g now and can’t work my corporate job anymore. I’m so exhausted with headaches and just hoping my bone marrow starts making the blood cells again and remembers the natural process and that taking this didn’t cause my body to forget and permanently leave me in this state. Any drug that has the potential to do that, please seriously decide whether to take it or not. I 100% regret it."
Arava (leflunomide) "Arava worked great for me for about 2 1/2 months. My pain and stiffness were much, much improved. Unfortunately, I developed a severe rash and had to stop the medication to remove it from my system as quickly as possible. If it had not been for the rash, I would still be taking it."
"I had bad RA, and I could not move. When I did, the pain was excruciating. My husband would have to help me get dressed. Within 1 month of taking leflunomide, swelling and pain were gone, it really works. I have blood work done every 3 months. So far, I'm doing great! No side effects."
Arava (leflunomide) "I have been on Arava for approximately 2 months, prior to that I had Rituxan Infusion Therapy and was currently on 20 mg of prednisone. I had started to reduce the prednisone when I was down to 5 mg and off, I started to have a burning in my mouth and tongue. I checked with the pharmacy, and it is a known side effect for lesions and issues within the mouth. I am hoping that there is something else that I can take, as this past year my rheumatoid arthritis has been full-blown out of control. I at least can now type and manage to button my clothes and tie my shoes. I can only hope."
Arava (leflunomide) "I took Arava for about 8 months. It gave me a new lease on life to the point I was having no symptoms, pain, or stiffness. I had to stop the medication because of Valley Fever. I want to get the message out to anyone living in a high-risk state for 'Valley Fever' - be very aware and see your provider if you have any symptoms. I only had a persistent cough. Had a chest X-ray done and was found to have a very large lung nodule that ended up being a 'Valley Fever' abscess."
Arava (leflunomide) "I have taken Arava for over 10 years and have had good results. I have RA and I have stopped taking it because of surgery and because of a chronic infection but always go back. I have many allergies and most of the other meds for RA have caused bad reactions."
Arava (leflunomide) "My mother took this drug, Arava, and it completely changed her personality, it damaged her liver while already being in stage 3 kidney failure from 42 plus years of being on medications for RA. She had weakness, shortness of breath, liver failure, and a lot of other issues. Took her to the ER, she was admitted, and 10 days later she died. The medication caused her liver to fail, was bad for her immune system, and made her susceptible to an infection. She got sepsis while at the hospital and died. I honestly blame this medication for her death, she was on it for 18 months, and it made everything worse."
"I was on methotrexate injections for RA, which was working but caused me to have constant nausea. So my doctor switched me to leflunomide, and on the third day, I started having shortness of breath and chest pain, flu-like symptoms. I thought I was coming down with the flu. I stopped taking the medicine until I felt better. I just started it again, and same thing. I'm laying in bed, completely drained of energy, feel flu-like aches and pains, and difficulty breathing...shortness of breath."
Arava (leflunomide) "Arava has been brilliant for my RA. I've been on it for 1 1/2 years. Previously, I was on methotrexate 27 mg a week for severe arthritis for 8.7 years, which I came off as I found it hard to breathe. Only side effects I've had are tiredness, which I can live with, but none of the other side effects."
"From my experience, I found out that Leflunomide works well. I can do a lot of things. In the past years, I was treated with MTX, Plaquenil, and etc., but no other drug had such an effect. In spite of these medicines, my RA was in progress. After trying the Leflunomide, my life changed for the better."
Arava
Arava
