Sorry, Marie, but I don't think there are many people usig Arava. I took it for about a month and a half, but it wasn't long enough to really form a good opinion. No particular side effects, other than a rash, but no noticable benefit in that short time. I stopped it because it was a suspect when I developed some cytopenia issues, but I was also taking Remicade, which orived to be the culprit.

I hope you get some better responses.
bc

I took Arava several years ago and it helped me for a while but then seemed to quit working for me. I don't remember any side effects. Sorry you didn't get any helpful replies. I just don't hear of many people being on Arava. Not sure why that is. Good luck.

Laura

Marie, are you sure it posted? I didnt catch the post. Did Dr. Tan prescribe the ARAVA? She hasnt tried that on me yet, I think bc2 and purplekitty are right. I dont think too many people are on ARAVA, dont fell alone though I did a post asking about CIMZIA and the drug is so new only two people r on it and havent taken it long enought yet, to tell me about it. So hang in there, post again if need be.

I take it, but I am not having any problems with it, which is why I didn't respond (I didn't want to respond to a post about having problems with "i don't have any!" smile) Initially there was some stomach upset but I started taking it at night instead of the morning and that seems to make things better. I do, however, have a strange rash that the dermatologist just biopsied last week - wondering now if it could be a reaction like BC mentioned.

I sometimes go here http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=20905&name=ARAVA to see if what I'm experiencing is similar to what others experience with the meds.

- tort

Marie, I also have been taking Areva for nearly four months now. I had been on methotrexate 6-8 tablets once weekly, but it made me very sick with major nausea, huge mouth ulcers, energy completely wiped out, etc. I know several people that take mtx and it is the answer for them. I think it is just finding the right combination for each person. My doctor switched me to Areva and I am still taking Plaquenil & of course the folic acid. I had a little stomach discomfort in the beginning, but not near the side effects as with the mtx. I am on a fairly low dose to start with. My pain & swelling might be a little worse than when I was on mtx, but overall I have been much happier so far with the Areva. I still have a few mouth ulcers every now and then & noticed a small amount of hair loss.
When I researched Areva several months back the common symptoms were diahrea & numerous people reported substantial hair loss when they were on the higher doses. Also saw reports that it worked well for people, but some later stopped it because it became less effective or because of lab results showing elevated liver numbers. Good Luck, & I hope you find the med that works best for you. Justin

hi there well i have been taking arava for about 7-8 months i havent had any real side effects i was switch because i couldnt tolerant the mtx that was horrible for me this month my rhemy also added plaquinel back to my meds along with the arava. for me arava is a lot better choice than mtx that stuff just made me sickkkkkkkkkkker.

Do a search for ARAVA (Leflunomide) in Discussion or Advice... you will find hundreds of previous discussions.

I've been on it for 1.5 years no issues except slight hair loss. My eyebrows thinned a bit. I've stopped taking now because of mysterious spike in liver tests. I can't 100% blame it on the Arava but my doc is taking no chances becuase it is the most common side effect from the drug.

I was on MTX for 4 months and had horrible side effects, the sick feeling previously described here by others. My Doc swithched me to 10 mg Arava almost 2 months ago. I don't see any side effects from it, but I'm still not sure, what if anything, it is doing. I'm also on Enbrel. I guess I'll know more in a couple more months when the Doc does another MRI of my hand. Good luck to you!

I was on Arava a few years ago as an alternative to MTX oral, which made me have diarrhea. The Arava also caused diarrhea initially, but the worse side effect I got was neuropathy (tingling and numbness) in my feet, so bad that it would wake me at night. After I went off, the symptoms did go away. Good luck to you!!

Hi I posted a reply which I thought had gone through. I would be really interested to know if you got this. It was appeared to be the first on the reply list. I had taken the drug and had to come off. I gave reasons and info and hope they werent censored out...

Marie:

I was on Arava for awhile but had liver issues overall so my doctor took me off all RA drugs then put me on a new one. Don't know if the Arava caused the liver issue, though.

Lynne

Sorry, I've never tried it so had nothing to offer on the topic. Looks like you got some hits this time around.