anyone else been on Arava for a while and notice that it raises BP and or HR? I know its listed as a side effect, but most people tolerate it so well.
I think its responsible for my BP and HR going way up last summer, which led me to have to take a beta blocker and see a Cardiologist. I stopped it a few weeks ago and my BP was great like it used to be. I really think its the culprit... but even the Cardiologist didnt want to explore it. I know I am on many meds (we all are) but that is no excuse for dr's not wanting to find out. So frustrating! It helps my RA so I hate to stop it... but dont really have a choice. I was on 10 mg for so long since the 20 was too much. It also messes my GI system up.. bad bloating and skin rash, abdominal pain. This sucks because I have done MTX and it made me so sick after a long while that I went to Arava. I know the other meds that are in the DMARD category and they are even nastier with side effects! doh!! I have yet to tell my beloved Rheumy about it. I may have to call her tho... so flared and fingers not working! Ugh!
Are you on a biologic as well???I'd talk to your RD or another cardiologist. Is there any chance it's from prednisone. My blood pressure is high from that.
You sound like your allergic. Think you should call RD and fess up? Why are you stalling? That's what the doctor is there for.
OMG Pepper! Please tell me more about your GI symptoms. I've been on Arava for about 7 weeks now. Over the last couple of weeks I have noticed some very strange GI symptoms. I wake up in the middle of the night my whole GI system is burning from my chest to my groin. I have several loose Bms a day! I have a burning sensation in my stomach all the time. I'm so gassy, I can't stand it! It doesn't matter what I eat, I feel like hell. I don't remember the Dr. saying anything about this. Please help.OK, why is it, wether on meds or not, most of us have some sort of GI problems? My drs have ruled out ulcers and GERD *lesions* at least. I'm waiting on the results of my Gall Bladder ultrasound still. I haven't been able to eat anything really the past month or so, good thing is I've lost some weight, enough for my dad to ask me if I'm buying bigger pants... *dork that he is* I get real bad gas and indegestion along with bouts of almost uncontrolable diareah... which I'm guessing might be IBS... It's to much for one body to deal with!!!It's because your GI can be inflamed just like any other part. Remember that I told you that I also have vasulities which is inflammation of the blood vessels. The way it presents on me is skin lesions. Early on, they were afraid that the same thing was happening inside me. So, they did a colonscopy. I was really suffering just like a lot of you are describing.
However, it turned out to be something very, very simple. I got a very common bacteria that normally your body would just fight off. They gave me an antibiotic and it was gone.
But what most of you are describing does sound medicine related.
If it is IBS, that's treated with diet and medications. Did they do blood work as well as the ultrasound? That's really important. Sometimes food allergies will cause such reactions in people. But I've never been down that road.
Make the doctors work it out. I've suffered with IBS, which has improved immensely since I've been on prednisone. And, with similar symptoms. Don't give up until you get an answer.
Poor, poor tummies and etc. parts.
I never put the two together!?!DUH!!!
I've always had a little heartburn here and ther but lately (2 in a month) I woke up with such painin my chest and stomach I thought I was having a heart attack. And sometimes when I swallow, even if it is just water, it feels like a big ball is stuck right inthe middle of my chest. But since I was put on prevacid I haven't had anymore problems.
I love it... RD for the joints, Cardiologists for the heart, Pulminologists for the lungs, and gastroenterologists for the GI track. Let's not forget the lab ppl, the xray techs and all the drs behind the scenes. Oh yeah and the OBGYN's... We need to open up our own medical facility since we all seem to know so much more than all these drs. combined!!!
For me, gi problems, and I had them bad were TOTALLY med related. I got off of mtx and placquenil and the diarrhea and stomach cramps I had been having for EIGHT months stop. Now I am normal. Amazing huh. I forgot what it was like. I suspect it is the meds.
Thanks for the input. I skipped my Arava yesterday to see if I would feel better and I do. Not 100%, but A LOT better. I'm going to call my Rheumy today. Actually, I'll speak with his PA-she's the most helpful of all. Maybe he'll cut me to 10mg instead of the 20mg.
Arava is known to cause loose stools and abdominal pain... it says so right in the info sheet. I have GI issues already... very bad gastritis from years of prednisone. My HR/BP is not up from pred... been on it too many years with other combos of meds that I know. I was off the Arava for a month and it was so much better... but then the joints are worse! I cant have that either...no winning here!
I am on Remicade as well. I have been on all of the other injectables. I do thiink I am allergic to Arava... and I even stopped it a few years back thinking that and went back on MTX. Then I had colitis and was in the hospital for a week and almost bleed to death, for real... I dont konw why... they never found any reason for it as far as being infectious. I dont think the MTX did it... but something aint right! I have been scanned and tested and scoped and I dont have h-pylori. I may have some IBS from fibro... but this is wayyyy different and more severe. My galbadder is gone... has been since 98.
I did tell my RD but she wants me back on the damn MTX! I tried the Arava again I but its doing the same stuff. MTX sucks because it makes me really, really sick... I have been on it for years at a time and more than once... so I really am in a bind! MTX makes me sooo moody too!! I had bad thoughts of suicide on it last time and that is so not me! I even thought, what the heck!?!!
So... anyway! It sure seems like you guys can relate! I just am not made for meds. and these ones we are on are so hard to tolerate. I wish the RD or the nurses actually KNEW what it felt like to be on this stuff!