LEFLUNOMIDE | Arthritis Information

Hello everyone.I have just started this drug (leflunomide) 3 months ago along with my weekly mtx injections.I have been getting upset stomach's and my stools have a terrible smell now.I know that it takes time for one's body to adjust to certain meds,and once this happens the side effects ease up.I am curious if anyone else here is or has,taken this drug,and how long did your side effects last? Thank you...SteveHello sickguy , and welcome here. I have been taking Leflunomide ( Arava )

for many years now and have not had any side effects.

May be this is a question for your Rd or take a look at the mayo clinic

website and type in your medication to get any info that you need.

Good luck to you. Maimi

Hello Miami and thank you for your reply.I am glad to hear you had no side effects.Thank you as well for that great mayo clinic web site.I just learned that it is not recommended that this drug be taken along with mtx...and I fall into that category.Are you also taking mtx? I was on mtx and prednasone for about 7 months...then I was taken gradually off the prednazone.But my blood tests still showed high inflamation levels (over 10) so I started this new drug (10 mg) and my rumy is very pleased to see my levels have dropped to under 3...and I feel so much better now...other than the stomach upset...but i'm still not sure the stomach upset is being caused by this new drug as I have always had a weak stomach that can easily get upset with certain foods.But my rumy did say that nausea was a common side effect.If it is being caused by the drug,I just hope my body eventually gets used to it and it goes away because I really like the benefits of this drug.I am not stiff at all now.I can run and be much more active now.Steve

I sure am glad that you are feeling better , I so love to jog and will get back there again.

I do not take mtx , I tried it about a year ago but did not like it and went back to Arava.

I was told one or the other, not both at the same time. I also take Enbrel injections

with predizone during flares. Did your Rd say that the smomach issues will go away

in time?

Actually i had so many other questions that i forgot to ask that one.But i'm just going by what it said on the paper i got with the drugs when it said side effects generally go away once your body adjusts to the medication,But 3 months seems like a long enough time to adjust.So i am hoping i adjust soon.I'm just surprised to see on the mayo clinic site it says not to take this drug with mtx,and that is exactly what my rumy is having me do.
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