Leflunomide/Arava

[searcher24]

Hello! Has anyone taken lefunomide and methotrexate simultaneously? What was your experience as far as side effects and effectiveness? I have mixed connective tissue disease, and my rheumatologist just put me on 10mg of lefunomide as I am still showing disease activity despite 25 mg methotrexate, 5mg prednisone daily, a prednisone taper, and hydroxychloroquine. I was on Rituxan but had an allergic reaction at my most recent infusion, so I had to discontinue. I am relatively nervous about starting leflunomide because I know it can be hard on the liver and also I have read it can either induce or worsen interstitial lung disease and methotrexate has the same risks (I have nodules in my lungs). Thank you so much!

[Eiram50]

I have taken both together for over three years, plus biologic. No issues whatsoever until recently. Strangely enough, it is an issue with my lungs and they have taken me off the methotrexate.

However, the lung specialist felt this was due to the methotrexate and suggested I take leflunomide instead- clearly I already was taking it. But honestly, ive had no adverse effects with leflunomide at all.

I wish you the very beat of luck with it all.

[ruth_p]

Everyone is different but I was on both and biologics without any side effects. 🙂

[Pawz4me]

I was on both for seven months. 15 mg. of methotrexate and 20 mg. of leflunomide. Unfortunately they didn't help me. I had the occasional minor stomach upset the morning after I took methotrexate, and for the first couple of months the leflunomide caused some minor neuropathy like pain in my big toes (it eventually stopped). That was it as far as I can remember for side effects. For five months I was taking leflunomide with Enbrel, but I had no noticeable side effects then, either. Good luck!

[Cattledog]

I was on both together. However, when they introduced Leflunomide my blood pressure shot up. They put me on blood pressure pills but they couldn't control it so took me off Leflunomide.

There were no other side effects to myself.

[Hidden]

Have taken both these drugs together for about 10 years. No side effects although Leflunomide can elevate your blood pressure.

[Notknitting]

Hello,

I have not tried leflunomide before. I was supposed to start on methotrexate, along with the hydroxycloroquine I'm taking, but my creatinine was too high. So I have to wait 3 weeks for to redo blood work. Is methotrexate working for you? Any side effects with it?

[searcher24 in reply to Notknitting]

Initially when I started methotrexate , I did have a lot of nausea (some vomiting) and fatigue, but once I switched to the injection, the GI upset subsided. Now after being on it for 6 years, I don’t have any side effects, however, it hasn’t been effective for me on its own. I still have a lot of flare ups, pain and stiffness, and oral ulcers that go down my throat.The Rituxan in combination with methotrexate worked wonders for me and I so wish I could still take it.

[Agoodlife]

Good idea I think to follow the update on meds page.You get the latest info.

[Canadiangeese]

I was on both. Methotrexate at 25 mg and 20 mg of Arava was added as My RA was not 100% controlled. However, my liver enzyme shot up and and my Rheumy tapered Arava back to 10 mg per day which brought down my liver enzymes down. When my RA got medically controlled, the Arava was slowly weaned off. Other than the elevated liver enzymes, I had no other side ffects.

[nomoreheels]

I've been on MTX/LEF, it was my last try at double therapy, 20mg MTX/10mg LEF. It's not an easy question to answer given we have different diagnoses (I have seropositive RD) & you may respond differently. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me. After around 8 months I had to stop it as it caused neuro problems. I had nerve conduction/nerve velocity studies, once whilst still taking it & repeat tests on halting it. Both confirmed bilateral peripheral neuropathy in my legs & RH carpal tunnel (I had CT release of my left in 2013). So that was the end of LEF for me. Your experience may be quite different though, I hope so anyway.