Arava, do you take it? | Arthritis Information

 

Who here takes, or has taken, Arava? How was it? Did it work? I tried it a couple of years ago after mtx raised my liver enzymes.  Unfortunately I had bad side effects from it...very realistic nightmares and excessive menstrual bleeding are the two I remember.  I wasn't on it very long as a result, so I don't know whether it would have worked.

I know several people on this forum have tried it, some with bad side effects and for others it's worked just fine.

 

I hope it works well for you, but if not and you're looking for an alternative, I've been taking Imuran (azathioprine) for several years with no side effects at all.

I've been taking Arava for about a year, after Methotrexate started causing mouth ulcers. At first I was taking it all in one dose, weekly, but I was having stomach problems, so switched to once daily and have had no further problems. I can't say it works any better than Methotrexate, as I've had a hard time getting my RA under control. I've climbed the biologic ladder, and am currently on Simponi, but will be switching to Actemra soon, as the Simponi hasn't done that well to control my RA. I have been on Arava for a little over a year. Switched from Methotrexate which made me sick two days a week. I take it every day. I am so lucky in that I haven't had any side effects with it. I also am on Rituxan. I take it every day and my blood work was not good last time i had it done so just had more blood work done last week so we will see when IO go back to ruemy if I have to stop. Cant say if it works but will know when I stop if it was makuing a differanceI took Arava for close to a year.  The only thing it did for me was give me chronic diarrhea, no matter how low or high the dose.I've been on Arava for I suppose just about a year now.  Started off with 10 mg a day for 3 months, then upped to 20 mg.  Because of our healthy eating in this house - plenty of fruit, vegs, wholemeal bread, muesli etc. I had plenty of fibre to 'keep me going', so when I started Arava there were probs with diar. and so gradually cut back on some of the fibre intake.  After a while decided to try taking it in the evening  to sleep thru the worst effects like with mtx.  Seems to have helped a little.  Am also taking 20 mg a week of mtx + Celebrex.  Arava definitely has helped the arthritis, and the side effects lessened as the months went by.  Yeah,  makes me dream lots more but no horrible nightmares! LorraineYep, I have been on it but it had be sitting on the throne all the time.
I took myself off the drug for the above  reasons.

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