Leflunomide: I have been on Leflunomide 3 months now... - NRAS

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Leflunomide

chrissie53 profile image
12 Replies

I have been on Leflunomide 3 months now, and am coping very well on it,, my only concern is the weight loss side effect,, gone from a size 18 to 12,, costing me a fortune in clothes and i love being slimmer,, but will it settle down eventually,,,

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chrissie53
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12 Replies
Livingston profile image
Livingston

I've been on it 5 weeks & it's making me very, very hungry. OK just now as I could do with gaining a bit, but no good in the long term. Maybe we'll meet in the middle!

Have words with your RA Nurse

BOB

Heathersmum69 profile image
Heathersmum69

Hi, I have been on it for a week now. So far so good , except yesterday I came over all shaky and out of the blue I burst into tears.

I do hope I lose some weight, two stone would do. 😌

sallyeb profile image
sallyeb

I found when I started lefluomide I lost weight too. I just didn't fancy food so didn't eat. Not really a good start. It soon settled down though x

chrissie53 profile image
chrissie53 in reply tosallyeb

I went of food for awhile,, i have to force myself to eat

Ali_H profile image
Ali_H

Hi Chrissie,

That's a lot of weight in just three months so I would get my blood sugar levels checked to be sure that something else isn't going on.

All the best

Ali

chrissie53 profile image
chrissie53 in reply toAli_H

blood is fine,, having them done every 4 wks

Cagsie profile image
Cagsie

They reckon you should only lose 10% of your weight. I've been on it for a few years now and the weight loss settled down. ( still fat ). You weight sounds more, have a word with your Rheum nurse just to be on the safe side. Good luck x

Katheryn13 profile image
Katheryn13

Woah...I'd take the weight loss. 😱 but glad you're feeling better in yourself as well.

I was on Leflunomide for three months after 9 months of trying other DMARDS and I lost 35 lbs. which was ok because I was overweight. My weight has levelled out now that I am off DMARDS and started CIMZIA 4 weeks ago. I am working on building muscle strength and getting in shape.

Kathyfitz12 profile image
Kathyfitz12

The same has happened to me....I have gone from size 14 to size 10 ....as you say expensive on clothes. I asked my rheum you if Leflunomide could be causing it when I had lost 12kg.....he sent me for an endoscopy as I just could n't eat.,all was clear & I feel OK & I,m nit in pain.

I have only been on Leflunomide since April .& it seems to suit me, so I am going to stay on it.

Does Leflunomide cause hair loss? I seem to be moulting!

Has anyone else experienced this weight loss? Does it level out...I don't want to lose anymore.....size 10'is as far as I want to go down to.

Kathy

Hi

A others have posted this does seem to be quite a big weight loss and, as with all side effects, it is important to talk to your nurse about this. Interestingly I found a study (quite a small one and quite old now) which looked at this issue, you may be interested to have a look at it: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/113....

In response to the question about hair loss and leflunomide, the ARUK leaflet on this drug suggests that hair loss is rare and usually minor.

Best wishes

Lorraine

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