lefluonoimide

[Luludean]

Have any of you trusted AF etc friends been put on this drug .. Lefluonimide for osteo arthritis?

I don’t want to take it 😱😱

Help please.

[Mrsvemb]

I have no experience with this drug but just looked it up because I have osteoarthritis and all I take is paracetamol which only dulls the pain doesn’t get rid of it.

Looking at lefluonoimide it suppresses the immune system and is used for rheumatoid arthritis, which is an auto immune disease. Very different to osteoarthritis.

Were you prescribed this by a consultant? If it were me, I would double check with them to confirm that you have osteoarthritis not rheumatoid.

[Bagrat]

No experience with this but pretty sure if you search Health Unlocked there will be similar groups for osteo and rheumatoid arthritis who will have experience. Or if you type the name of drug in box at the top, loads of posts come up

[Luludean in reply to Bagrat]

Thanks Bagrat, not found any with AF and arthritis ( of some sort) to answer my question . I am sure there are many.

[Bagrat]

maybe go on Drugs.com, there is a UK version and you can put in all the drugs you take and search for interactions

[Belle11]

I see that leflunomide is described as "an immunosuppressive disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, used in active moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis." So unless you have an inflammatory form of arthritis not controlled by other treatment, as well as osteoarthritis, it sounds not an appropriate treatment for you

I have osteoarthritis and manage it with paracetamol and diet - avoiding foods like refined flour and sugar, which increase pain for me.

[Luludean in reply to Belle11]

Thank you Belle. I do not inow exactly whzt arthritis I have. 5 years ago I was told I had maube Polimyalgia,, psoriatic arthritis , ankylosing dpondilitis, facet joint disease , plantar fasciitis etc . I was then told it was a blanket term for RA. New consultant came and said I ‘d been wrongly diagnosed. But, put me on Humira then Etecept, both made me ill. No drugs since then , exceot for prescribed Sulphasalizine( not tzken because pharmacist phoned and said «  it interacts with Digoxin »). Lockdown intervened.

Then new consultant said «  osteo not RA. But nurse practitioners ( tel app) insist I take Methotrexate, I refused , I am by now anxious. Went privately ( goes against the grain ) told camly after long examination , this is Osteo. Nurse pracitioners adamant that I start Lefiuonimide. Listed side effects raised AF and BP. I know one has to ignore listed side effects but after open heart surgery I am a teeny bit WARY. L

[Belle11 in reply to Luludean]

It's not surprising you feel anxious when you're being given so many different diagnoses. Is the nurse practitioner at your GP practice? It certainly sounds as if there needs to be communication between the health professionals involved. Is it possible for your private consultant write to politely ask your surgery if they can prescribe whatever he/she recommends for your osteoarthritis for someone with AF?

[Gfern]

You really need to speak to whoever prescribed it for you, only they can answer your questions. They also know the detail of your condition and what it needs, google is not a substitute. Please go back to them and explain why you don’t want to take the meds, maybe there is an alternative, Best of luck in resolving this issue.

[Luludean in reply to Gfern]

Thank you Gfern , I have tried all the things you suggest. Problem 1) little communication between nurse and consultant

2) inability to see patient outside of their box , ie multiple co mornidities.

I do not have this problem in Cardiology. L

[Gfern]

I am so sorry to hear of your predicament, it is a tough one when you can’t get the help you need. As your concerns involve your cardiac issues maybe you could talk through your concerns of the new meds and any possible effects with your cardio team. Can your GP help you through this maybe I find mine most useful in navigating these things. I see you had private consultation already maybe revisit this consultant, or try another for a second opinion. You will have to keep going with this it needs resolution.

Hope you resolve things best of luck.

[Auriculaire]

You do not have to take any medication if you don't want to. It is your body and you are in control of what you put into it. Especially with a condition like osteoarthtitis which is not life threatening . You can choose to put up with pain and reduced mobility rather than take drugs that might exacerbate other more serious conditions or give you side effects that will reduce your QOL. It is YOUR choice .

[Luludean in reply to Auriculaire]

Thank you Auriclaire !! ( where does that name tzg come from? )

What you say is right!!! But sometimes my joints really hurt!!!! Like today !!

I am easily intimidated by all medics . Pathetic ! ! L

[Auriculaire in reply to Luludean]

Do you take Apixaban? I find it makes my joint pain worse. Auriculaire comes from our condition . It is the French word for atrial meaning literally earlike I think. I understand your frustration. It is hard to live your life in pain. But it is not the same as feeling ill. Many drugs make me feel ill. I prefer to tolerate the musculo skeletal pain than feel ill. I am not so easily intimidated by medics anymore. I have been harmed too much in the past with wrong diagnoses and missed diagnoses to say nothing of being poisoned by fluoroquinolone antibiotics. On the whole I do not trust medics and I certainly don't trust pharmaceuticals.

[DiyChas]

It is for rheumatoid arthritis and not osteo arthritis. Consult whoever prescribed it.

[Luludean in reply to DiyChas]

I have tried to discuss xith nurse practitioner , believe me! To no avail . Face to face with her on 27th. Purely to learn how to take the drug . Thank you diychas.

[DiyChas in reply to Luludean]

You do need to determine which arthritis you have, before taking the drug.I suspect it may be rheumatoid, from the info you provided.