Hi,

Yes, Arava did it for me. I was already on BP med's for genetic condition but had to start another med for high BP while on Arava. I was only on Arava about 3 months in mid 2009 but I am still on second BP med which I will hopefully drop this year as my Prednisone tapers.

I also experienced a lot of hair loss once I added Arava to MTX. And I lost my sense of taste & smell on Arava & after ringing Drug co., they tracked down that this is a very rare side-effect of the drug. There is a medical name for it but I forget.

Happy Aust-traya Day, maaaaaate! Howza pet kangaroo? Are your koalas looking great!!!

p.s. Did u hear tonight that new Australian of the Year was dx with MS 10 years ago? I wish some big time person would be dx with RA to increase awareness & understanding but how could I wish this on anyone???

Cheers mate, Anna

Hi mate,
Have a great Australia day, tomorrow. It's going to be so hot!!

Yes, I did see that on TV tonight. You wouldn't wish RA on anyone but it sure would increase awareness.

Thanks for your quick answer. My GP has been keeping an eye on my BP since before Christmas but the nurses at the Haemotologist's today freaked out about it. I know it's only spiked up post Arava.

Thanks, mate

Hi, Angel,

I do believe that Arava can cause a rise in blood pressure. (not on it myself) Also know that BP rise is not a known side effect of MTX (although I suppose anything's possible).

Hope this helps!
Lora

The only time I have had an elevated blood pressure( and it was very bad) was when I going thru an extremely hard time with my other. As soon as I cut her out of my life my blood pressure went from over the top candidate for having a stroke to perfectly normal no bp meds involved. I am sure some meds can spike up the bp, but I wonder if that spike can be attributed to stress especially About your illness or meds? I certainly would call my doctor if my normal bp suddenly spiked and ask that question.

Been on Methotraxate (and Plaquenil) and also on Prednisone for three and a half years now with no effect on blood pressure. In fact, my blood pressure is usually "too" low (hovering between 110 and 70). So, at least my experience is that Methotraxate does not have any impact on Blood pressure. Not sleeping enough (which could be a side effect of high levels of Prednisone), being overweight (also a side effect of a high level of Prednisone) are associated with high blood pressure, so maybe this is what's going on? I hope you feel better soon!

I am new on the RA part of DS. Just was Dx, my RA factor is 64; forget what the Sed rate is but it's abnormal. Problem is I have to wait to see the specialist for another month and I am having the worst pain of all my years of me knowing I probably had RA and in pain....I guess you'd call this a flare, IDK. I tested positive for it about ten years ago at 19 RF but of course that doc said that doesn't mean you have it.
Since I also have osteoarthritis he assumed all my pain is from that.
So the specialist's nurse told me to see if my PCP will prescribe me something while I wait for appt. I want to ask for prednisone, since I was on it for something else a coulple years ago, briefly and my pain was almost gone! I am not going to survive this pain another month. I do have HBP so don't want something that will worsen that. Any kind of advice ? thanks

5 years on meds, no rise in bp.
sue

The first 8 years on mthx I had no blood pressure problems, just like the rest of my life. I have always been on the low side, like the rest of my family. We tend to faint from low blood pressure. Mine never even went up during 4 pregnancies, or when I was 100 lbs over weight.

Fast forward to Spring 2009. I went to get a pre op for my surgery and my blood pressure was over the top and my heart was erratic. While the heart stabilized, I had to go on meds for high blood pressure. I am still on them, despite no genetic factors, eating vegetarian, exercising vigorously and losing all that weight (well, I did gain some back on prednisone, but it is going where the rest of it went very soon.)

So I have talked to many docs about this, and the only reasonable answer is that the RA has caused this problem. It will inflame the heart and circulatory system. In fact, my sister and I were looking up life expectancy for people with RA and MS, which she has, and it is 5 years shorter than the normal. With RA, heart disease is the biggest risk. So, I just hope the longevity genes and healthy living can duke it out with RA.

I'm just saying, it may not be the drugs, but the disease. Or not! We are all different.

Hey, really hate to hear about Arava because I just started it a little over a week ago....HPB can also be do to pain....I did a test awhile back at Dr. office....had nurse take my BP when I got there and was in a lot of pain, then I went back out & sat in the office & took a pain pill....about 25 min. later the Dr. came in and took my BP and it kept continually falling as we were speaking....I told him what I had done & he said, "well, your BP must be tied into the pain"......Needless to say I have been on BP med ever since I started getting killer pain.

treslouise,
Don't let me put you off Arava. I tend to have some of the rarer reactions to meds in general. Strangely, I 've had no problem with MTX whereas a lot of people do.
Hope it works for you
Hugs

Thanks, everyone, for your answers. I rang my Rheumatologist today but he won't be in until Monday. There's always something happening that is unexpected in this RA battle.

I have fibromyalgia, secondary to my RA. I have been prescribed Savella for it and it certainly raised my bp. I have weaned down to 1/2 dose and it is back where it should be. I do not believe it is hinged to my MTX. The savella has a common side effect of raised blood pressure. I hate this as Savella had good affect on my muscle pain and also seemed to lower my appetite.

I have a family history on both sides of heart disease and this is the first time that my bp has been elevated. I cannot risk it.

Good luck Angelpuss.

+Thanks, Daizy for your answer, too.

Just to update, I spoke to my Rheumatologist on Maonday. He agreed that the rise in BP and also a skin irritation I had developed could well be side effects of Arava. He halved the dosage and BP is now back into normal range and irritated and itchy skin has improved - in only three days, thank goodness. It's not a usual side-effect but obviously that was for me.

Many thanks again for all your answers. I really appreciate it.

Cheers