Experiences with

Leflunomide

Thanks everyone who responded to my post Much appreciated, - I’ve messaged the RA team and I’ll await a response. It’s the heat and pains in the hands I’m really struggling with but fingers crossed 🤞 Have a good day everyone 😊

Morning all , I have been using the Leflunomide for 3weeks now 10mg but also on 30 mg prednisone every day first week 25 now 20.

Consultant has suggested trying leflunomide. I understand this is a once a day tablet, taken at the same time each day. Is there a good time to take it to minimise the side effects?

Hello all, I have RA and am taking 40 mg amjevita biweekly and 20mg leflunomide every day with 2mg folic acid. I’ve been on leflunomide for about 3 months after stopping methotrexate due to chronic nausea.

Has anyone here been on Leflunomide but stopped? I'm particularly interested to know for those of you who it caused hair thinning, did it grow back again after stopping

I've been taking Leflunomide for nearly 8 weeks, so far yet to feel any benefit at all. However I wake up most mornings with a headache. Perhaps 5 times of seven, sometimes the headache wakes me around 4 or 5 am. Also my skin, which tends to be dry has been extremely dry and itchy too.

I’ve had no issues with methotrexate but couldn’t cope with sulfasalazine or leflunomide.

It was decided a couple of weeks ago that due to ongoing stomach and bowel problems and weight loss I should pause taking Leflunomide. Because I'm still having GI issues I'm now to have a 'wash out' (Colestramine). It's a powder you mix with water or similar.

I am about to start taking leflunomide. If I decide 7.30 is generally a good time for me to take it, is it ok if occasionally I take at 8.30 or 6.30 if circumstances prevent me from taking at 7.30?

well, if they put me on a GPA treatment like MXA or biological eg Ritaximub would I have to stop taking the Leflunomide ?

(Crawl back to bed after an hour of very minor activity) He wants me to start leflunomide to help with reducing the prednisolone. After reading up about leflunomide, I'm not sure about it, so would welcome advice.

I suppose it depends on the individual whether leflunomide or prednisone causes more hair loss. I'm only on prednisone and have not tried anything else. For a number of weeks, I noticed much hair fall. In the last couple weeks, nothing comes out when I comb.

I am back to 10mg Pred and 10mg Leflunomide and can't see the end of the tunnel! Awaiting electrocardiogram and Ct scan. Can others provide helpful information regarding their experiences.

I started 20mg Leflunomide and upped Pred back to 10mg just over a month ago having been diagnosed with LVV after 18 months on Pred for PMR. I am having GI problems particularly at night with abdominal discomfort feeling nauseous bit of a cough dry throat. Feeling quite unwell this am.

I saw my rheumatology specialist 2 days ago and after 6 years he's decided I need to start on a half dose of Leflunomide (not Methotrexate, due to having Liver Cirrhosis)Anyone else on this drug with L4 cirrhosis? Any advice you can give me? Thanks Lemon x

I have refused to take any more methatrexate and am being prescribed Leflunomide has anyone else been prescribed it, I am down to 12.5 pred after 12 months

This more of an update than a question.I had an appointment with a rheumatology consultant on Friday after having to stop taking Leflunomide due to stomach problems and weight loss. I was expecting to be switched to a biologic after trying three different DMARDS.

I contacted the hospital helpline and was advised to stop taking the Leflunomide. I'm now into my 5th week of not taking the leflunomide and all side effects have calmed down and even the eczema looks to be clearing up! I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience to me?

Has anyone taken ciclosporin 200mg daily with leflunomide 10mg daily. If so, how are you feeling?

It was probably a stupid idea to not start taking the Leflunomide as soon as it was prescribed, in the vain hope the disease may have 'gone away'. But given how strangely it started (immediately following the first covid vaccine) I was prepared to try.