Hi, does anyone take Leflunomide? if so have you experience any side effects? Was on Methoterxate but it was no good for my liver.

[MrsSMC]

[Hidden]

Hi, I am on Leflunomide, I started it alongside MTX, but like you my liver was affected, I was taken off both for a few weeks, and returned to Leflunomide alone for a couple of months and now take it alongside Embrel. My bloods tests have come back all fine and no side effects for the past year, although Embrel was introduced in December last.

[MrsSMC in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for this i am having bloods done Monday to make sure MTX clear hopefully will get the go ahead for Wednesday, fingers cross as i am now begining to suffer.

[MrsSMC]

Thanks i hope it's the same for me if I get the ok to take

[Josie2]

Hi i'm only new to the forum and only recently diagnosed (early this year) . I started my rheumatoid treatment on methotrexate and had terrible side affects and was taken off it and put on Leflunomide (arava) . So far so good with only side affect being weight loss which i can cope with.

Hope you get sorted out soon x

[Judi]

Hi, I've been on leflunamide plus mtx. for years. Only side effect for the first few days was with my stomach. (Passed excessive amount of wind and wee !) - this did only last for a few days and since then I've been ok thankfully.

Judi xxxxxxxxx

[sallyeb]

Hi

I have been on lefluomide now for a couple of years - for the first year I too lost about 10kg however over the last year that has settled down and I have put it all back on (not a problem but was nice to be a size 8 for a while). I too was on mtx but the side effects got me down - have had no problem since being on the lefluomide.

Hope you get on as well

Sally x

[MrsSMC]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the information, it has given me a more confidence that treatment is out there and fingers cross i get the go ahead Wednesday and it works for me.

Sarah x x

[Dogrose]

I've been taking it since January, first of all 10mg but increased to 20mg. Sometimes on the 20mg I feel poisoned, just rough and grotty. I can feel slightly sick and have diarrhoea and headaches. My appetite had almost totally vanished which can be a problem as it can make it hard to regulate your diet and blood sugar levels. I haven't lost a huge amount of weight as sometimes all I can stomach is ice cream! My main problem is it has caused my blood pressure to rocket up, for that reason I'm being taken off it and put on a biological treatment soon. I bought a home blood pressure tester so I can check whenever I want.

I would estimate the 20mg reduced my symptoms about 50%.

[MrsSMC in reply to Dogrose]

Hi

That doesn't sound good, i hope that they get you sorted soon. I think they are only starting me at 10mg. To be honest any has to be better than MTX, has since i have have the 2 weeks detox i have notice my moods have improved too.

Sarah

[Dogrose in reply to MrsSMC]

My mood has been much better on Leflunomide than it was on MTX, 10mg didn't have much in the way of side effects at all, I could probably plod on with it for a good while longer if it didn't affect my blood pressure, and my RA team seem keep to push an anti-tnf on me.