about leflunomide

[maywing]

I have just started taking leflunomide 20mg tablets. So far no side effects. does that mean I might get away with the side effects or do they typically start after a few days. Thanks,. Maywing. By side effects I mean the nausea stomach problems that are the commonest. is it worth taking Omneprazole when I take it?

[Hidden]

Hi Maywing, I started Leflunomide 2 months ago and so far so good. I don't appear to have any stomach problems on it although I've noticed my taste in food has changed. The only side effect I could mention is fatigue which is quite bad. I'm not sure if the drug is working for me as I'm in quite a lot of pain but maybe it's still too early to tell. Hope you have good results.

Paula x

[Hidden]

Hi maywing,

I've just come off leflunomide after taking it for about 14 weeks, same dose as you. I really didn't have any problem with it but stopped because it wasn't working well enough. I found it kept me very, ahem, 'regular' but I didn't suffer from diarrhoea as such. Definitely no nausea either. I've never heard anything about taking Omeprazole alongside leflunomide. I hope you remain side effect-free and get a good result.

[knobblyknees]

I'm on leflunamide and I've never had a problem with it, however I also take naproxen and I have had tummy problems with that so I have taken omeprazole. Since Sept 2013 I've also been injecting Humira. Its been so good that I only take naproxen every so often and Ive stopped taking omeprezole. I havent had tummy problems since I stopped taking naproxen regulary. I still take leflunamide.

[Cattledog]

Hello Maywing,

I was on 20mg of Leflunomide in combo with MTX. It was really good. I was on it for 5 to 6 years I think. The only side effect I had was it pushed my blood pressure up despite triple therapy anti hypertensive drugs. It got so bad I had to come off it. Been off it 18 months or so and blood pressure is slowly dropping. Apparently it can take 2 years for the body to get rid of Leflunomide. Have reduced the blood pressure tablets dramatically as well!

I think elevated blood pressure is the main problem with Leflunomide. I also understand recent guidelines suggest that you shouldn't be on more than 10mg of it if you are taking MTX.

[Hidden]

I've been on Leflunomide for about five years now. Only 10mg, but it was originally given as a top up to 25mls Methotrexate injections. Currently taking it alone. Had no problems with it.

[wishbone]

I was put on leflunomide a year ago after stopping MTX. Started with 15mg plus 200mg hydroxy, which worked ok for a few months before becoming less effective. Then raised to 20mg plus 400mg hydroxy, which has helped but still not as good as I when taking MTX. My liver function has been a little unstable recently though not of great concern as yet. Also started getting a little stomach trouble but this eased after rheumy lowered hydroxy to 300mg, so that appears to have been the culprit there. Personally, I would not start taking omeprazole until you start getting stomach problems...the less meds we can get away with taking the better. Hope the lefluomide does the trick for you.

Interestingly, I never had any liver problems or other side effects for the 9 years I was taking MTX, and I was a moderate drinker (bit of a binge drinker truth be known) for 8 of those years and have drank very little alcohol this last 2 years. Perhaps I should start hitting the bottle again!....just kidding.

[maywing]

Thank you for all your replies. At the moment I seem to be getting very thirsty and generally feeling dehydrated, plus very tired. Hope this might improve? I think I will speak to the rheumy nurse next week. Thanks again