about leflunomide: I have just started taking... - NRAS

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about leflunomide

maywing profile image
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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?

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maywing
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7 Replies

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

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 profile image
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 profile image
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.

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 profile image
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 profile image
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

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