Leflunomide and headaches: I have been on leflunomide... - NRAS

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Leflunomide and headaches

sharpedge profile image
7 Replies

I have been on leflunomide 10mg for 5 weeks and am now experiencing headaches which last most of the day. I take the leflunomide at about 0800 hrs. Painkillers help but not 100%. My wife suggests that I take the leflunomide in the late evening and hopefully not much in the way of headaches during the day.

Does this make sense?

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sharpedge
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7 Replies
allanah profile image
allanah

Hi. Glad you're on some treatment. I take leflunomide too and have been lucky not to get side effects!

A couple of things spring to mind , as you know you are slightly more prone to infection on leflunomide so fouble check the headache is not due to infection.

Second yes headache is classed as one of the side effects. Anecdotally I always find increasing water when on RA drugs helps. You do take leflonamide with of without food but a large glass of water I was told by pharmacy.

Third I think its a great idea of your wife to have the tablet late evening so you can sleep through any headache. I wouldn't personally take it last thing as another side effect is digestive troubles.

I hope it does work as well for you as it has for me. But if the symptoms worsen or it's just not good for you ,do call your doc of course. Good luck xx

medway-lady profile image
medway-lady

I always took at night no problem loved it ! x

vonniesims profile image
vonniesims

Get your blood pressure checked, Leflunamide can raise it. Mine has come down again now I've stopped taking it.

sharpedge profile image
sharpedge

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. Just been to the chemist and upon discovering leflunomide has a half-life of 3 to 4 weeks, he said it would make no difference.

allanah profile image
allanah in reply to sharpedge

I agree it makes no difference to the efficacy of the drug but I do think having it later won't harm. Do get bp checked as above and talk to your rheumy team x

Vonnie10 profile image
Vonnie10

My blood pressure was very high and I suffered horrible headaches had to stop due to bp been high hope it helps

EngineerMatthew profile image
EngineerMatthew

5 weeks for me too, blood pressure shot up such now I am on twice the BP med dosage but headaches continuous. RA is truly miserable

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