Leflunomide question

[Haz58]

I'm starting Leflunomide this month, sooner rather than later but am unsure when it would be best for me to take it daily. At the mo I'm on the following meds schedule:

Prednisolone 30mg after breakfast ( got a week left on this)

Zomorph 30mg after breakfast and before bed. (Start trying to taper off this next week over 3 weeks)

Oromorph as and when needed for breakthrough pain.

Omeprazole 20mg am and pm.

I really don't want to add the Leflunomide at breakfast time too at the mo. I'm totally expecting to have tummy probs on it and my Rheumatologist thinks it's likely too 🙄 but I have to try 2 DMARDS before they can try biologics.

When do you all take it? I really don't want sleep interrupted as I've just managed to go from 2 hours sleep at a time to 4 hours.

If you get diarrhea on it how long after taking it do/did it come on and how many hours after your tablet did it start.

I've had 3 months of not being able to do anything for various reasons other than the RA and dread going back to anywhere near that.

Sorry for long post. I want damage limitation to my life as much as possible after this 3 months of hell.

Ive been told I have to take it after food because of my ultra sensitive tummy. So wondered what you all do to help me decide when to take it in the day. Xx

[sylvi]

I take my in the morning and evenings and i don't have any side effects from it. I love it as it is starting to help me. I can't take biologicals as i get too many infections.xxxx

[Haz58 in reply to sylvi]

Thanks Sylvi. I really hope I'm ok on them. I'm always wary as my body just doesn't like quite a few meds I've on in years gone by. My meds not to have list gets longer every year lol. Xxxx

[K3-2]

HiI take mine in the morning after breakfast with the rest of my medication: Hydroxychloroquine and Aprimilast. I get stomach cramps if I take them without food.

All the best x

[Haz58 in reply to K3-2]

Thanks K3. X

[Mmrr]

Hello, I asked a similar question a while back and got a variety of responses. Like you I have many meds to take , so I decided to split them, morning and evening.

I take my prednisilone and Filgotinib in the morning along with Diclofenic Acid, pantoprazole and my calcium and Vit D.

In the evening I take leflunomide, nortryptaline and losarten , with pantoprazole and diclofenic acid..

Whether there is any real effect of splitting the RA meds into morning and evening is debatable, as the blood levels of the meds will still be high after prolonged taking of them, but splitting them works for me, and I therefore have approximately the same number of tablets to swallow each time.

I've had no side effects from leflunomide at all.

I hope it works out for you too.

[Haz58 in reply to Mmrr]

Thanks Mmrr! I have others in the morning too not for RA so lunch or evening would probably be better for me then. hope you're doing ok since out of hospital. X

[ruth_p]

I always took mine with breakfast and never had any side effects from it at all. But if you’re worried could you take it at lunchtime?

[Haz58 in reply to ruth_p]

Thanks Ruth 😊 I think lunch or after evening meal will be it. Give the morning omeprazole time to kick in.

[Lematt]

Before starting Biologics I was on Leflunamide for about 3 years and then it stopped working. I found this drug very effective and had no side effects apart from slightly looser stools, but not a problem. Hope it works for you.🙏

[Haz58 in reply to Lematt]

Thanks Lematt. 😊

[Garnacha]

Hi I take mine around 7.30pm after my evening meal.

I take 600mg gabapentin in the morning along with 1500mg of sulfasalazine, 50mg cyclizine & 2 calcium & vit D tablets, lunchtime 300mg gabapentin, 15mg lansoprazole & 50mg cyclizine, evening 600mg gabapentin, 15mg lefluminode, 200mg hydroxychloroquine, 1000mg sulfasalazine, 90mg etoricoxib & 50mg cyclizine, no real problems except occasionally feeling sick.

Jeez reading this i must rattle 🤣😂 good luck x

[Haz58 in reply to Garnacha]

Bless you Garnacha! Thank you! mum always used to say 'turn me upside down and shake me and id rattle' lol. X

[priss58]

Hi. I started this a few weeks ago and put a post up. Had quite a few answers, very useful, including from some people who've answered you. I'm not enjoying being on it. It's the only drug I take at the moment. I don't think I'll take it for much longer but will have to speak to someone in the department first.I take it after tea(dinner) in the evening and generally the runs take place first thing in the morning! Sometimes I have to go a couple of times, and if I'm going out I've taken immodium as I'm terrified of not being near a loo. But this doesn't happen to everyone. I've suffered from irritable bowel on and off in the past which is why I think I'll ask for a different drug. I was willing to give it a go though. Good luck.

[smilelines in reply to priss58]

Maybe ask for 10mg tablets and take one in the morning and one at night. That is what I had to do.

[smilelines]

I took the 10mg twice a day spread out instead of the full 20mg at once. This made a big difference in calming the trips to the bathroom.