Leflunomide advice

[sharon6768]

Hi All, I am currently on Meloxicam and Sulfasalazine, but rheumy wants me off meloxicam and I will be starting on Leflunomide in a couple of days. Hoping anyone on this or has been on it could share their experience and any side effects with me. Thanks.

[oldtimer]

If you put leflunomide into the search box you will find loads of previous posts from people on it. But don't forget that most people who post are the ones having problems. The ones happy on it tend not to post!

[notsochunky in reply to oldtimer]

I have been on it for six weeks now. Only side effect I have noticed is when you need to go, you need to go fast!

[sharon6768 in reply to oldtimer]

Hi Oldtimer, that was the first thing I did and the posts were 4 years old. I'm hoping for more current info. This site is my "go to" for all things RA.

[sharon6768 in reply to sharon6768]

I guess that explains the weight loss side effect.

[Hidden]

I've been on Leflunomide for 10 years. The only problem I've had with it, is high blood pressure.

[Pands]

Hi I have been on it for 2 years and have managed MUCH better than I did on MTX. (I am also on Humira.)

Side effects- very little. No dramatic weight loss, maybe a couple of lbs overall. I am very slight so Drs were concerned - but it hasn’t been an issue. The only things are my blood tests: specifically low neutrophils and low white cell count. I have had a few occasions where they have dropped too far and I have to stop the Leflunomide for a week or so, have another blood test, start back on the medication etc.

For me it has been much more successful than than MTX and I don’t feel dreadful all week!

[Pands in reply to Pands]

PS - slight raise in blood pressure but it hasn’t required meds.

[sharon6768 in reply to Pands]

Thank you. I am so worried about trying different drugs. I had such a horrible experience with mtx that new drugs scare the crap out of me.

[Hidden]

I'm also on MTX, Pred and Rituximab.

[nomoreheels]

Do you mean meloxicam or methotrexate? I ask as meloxicam is an NSAID. Anyway your question is about leflumomide. I'm afraid it failed me, it was my fourth DMARD & was supposed to be double therapy alongside MTX. I had bilateral carpal tunnel & peripheral neuropathy on it, confirmed by nerve conduction studies, plus EMG, both whilst still taking in & when I'd stopped taking it. The second testing whilst still having some symptoms the result showed an improvement.

I also had raised BP, it's normally fine. It did settle about 6-8 weeks though.

Obviously this was only my experience & I'm sorry it's a negative one. I believe it is rare though my Rheumy didn't agree.

[Dilly2]

Hi I've been on meloxicam for at least 15 years. Last time I saw my doctor they told me to come of it or try taking one every other day becouse they can affect your heart.