Leflunomide

[Sebastian247]

Hi all.I started taking Leflunomide two weeks ago to replace MTX. The first week was fine, but since then I've been getting stomach pains.

I've not had diarrhoea as such, which I understand is a common side effect, but I have had to visit the bathroom more frequently than before. Obviously I'm assuming it's due to the Leflunomide and not just a stomach bug.

But the stomach pains are pretty uncomfortable. It's been on and off and varying severity the last week but today is the worse so far.

I wondered if others on Leflunomide had experienced the same or similar and how long it lasted. Obviously I want to give it enough time to settle down before I raise it with rheumatology.

Thanks

Seb

[MayDaisy]

I had severe stomach pains and a very upset stomach on leflunomide. I had to stop it after 6 six weeks as I lost a lot of weight. I would advise that you consult your rheumatology team if things don’t improve.

[Sebastian247 in reply to MayDaisy]

Thanks. Had you any prior stomach problems? I had dysentry years ago which has left me with a slightly dodgy tummy at times. I wondered if this was partly to blame.

[MayDaisy in reply to Sebastian247]

Hi Sebastian. I do have a condition called Collagenous Colitis, which doesn’t help when taking some of these medications. I found the best one I took was Sulfersalazine as it helped calm my stomach and the inflammatory arthritis, however it did cause insomnia, a rare side effect but a very annoying and exhausting one! I hope you find a solution that suits you.

[Sebastian247]

Thanks. I hope your doing well and found a treatmenr that suits you too. Seb

[Nana-8]

Hello. I stopped MTX and was on Leflunomide. Immediately I felt it was a blessing. It gave me regular bathroom habits, I longer had insomnia. My flares got less frequent. I started having more symptoms and developed nodules. Without flushing my system of it before starting infusions- I had more disturbing side effects than I dreamed while it naturally left my body. I’m in mt fourth month without the Leflunomide and finally the mouth dryness and mucosa rawness has subsided so I can chew and taste. Several months of smoothies is the only thing that saved me.

Infusions are expensive and helping some but. Actually liked the Leflunomide

[Sebastian247 in reply to Nana-8]

Glad to hear you're getting infusions now and improving. I'm doing OK so far, apart from an upset stomach. I start on the full dose next week, fingers crossed. Seb