Is leflunomide causing my chest/heart 'flutters' or might it be a build up of inflammation?

[123-go]

I was diagnosed with PMR in February 2018 and until now my posts have been confined to the PMRGCA forum. I now need advice from Vasculitis UK.

I was diagnosed with asymptomatic large vessel vasculitis in September 2020. An ultrasound scan of axillary arteries showed right axillary 1MT 1.8mm and left IMT 1.2mm. I was told I wasn't aneurysmal and haven't had any checks since my diagnosis apart from blood tests. When I asked the name of my particular form of vasculitis I was told 'aortitis'.

I began taking Leflunomide on October 2020, reluctantly because of side effects, but I understood the consequences of a possible increase in inflammation.

The symptom I mention in the above question is the only side effect I've had so far apart from slight tingling in toes.

I will be interested to hear from other people in a similar situation to mine although I believe we are few and far between.

[AdoptMeow]

Tingling in the toes could be the beginning of neuropathy, which can become quite painful. A B-complex with at least 200% of each of the eight essentials can help protect from nerve damage. Also magnesium is essential for heart function, so that supplement may bring improvement.

[123-go in reply to AdoptMeow]

Thank you for replying. I had thought about peripheral neuropathy: symptoms are mild and haven't worsened over the several weeks of experiencing but certainly need to be mentioned at my next consultation expected next month- or sooner if need be.Thank you for the helpful supplement suggestions. I do take a zinc+magnesium tablet daily: 10mg zinc-266mg magnesium.

[AdoptMeow in reply to 123-go]

You may consider taking the magnesium twice a day since the recommendation is 500-600 mg of a better utilized form such as citrate or gluconate.

[123-go in reply to AdoptMeow]

Thank you- I’m learning all the time.