Would appreciate some helpful feedback.
I have just been diagnosed "for sure" with a MRI. I have been having joint pain/swelling since a severe allergic reaction last summer. I have been on prednisone, hydroxychloroquine and celebrex. Rheumy wants to put me on Arava. But, there are some scary things out there on Arava...class action lawsuits etc... He decided against MTX because I am already losing my hair....possibly from the prednisone? But the side effects listed on Arava show hair loss too. Good and bad would like to hear others experiences....thank you.
Hi Trixie...welcome!
I can only tell you my experience with methotrexate. I have never been on arava.
I've been on mtx for about 14 years. I haven't lost any hair other than normal hair loss. No mouth sores...no nausea.
The only problem I've had is that it's lowered my white blood cell count, but with regular bloodwork, the doctor keeps an eye on things. I've been off the mtx twice for maybe about 2 weeks until the white blood cell count go back up...then back on the mtx. Other than that, it's been a great drug for me.
Good luck!
Kelly
I'm on MTX, never been on Arava. I've been on MTX since the first week of March. Very nominal side effects - three mouth sores. A tiny bit of nausea. No hair loss, and my hair is long, so I would notice. It doesn't work very fast, but it also doesn't seem to do a huge amount of damage. People who take it, and for whom it works, swear by it. Hi! Trixie, I am on both Mtx and Arava. They both have similer side affects. Since I am on both, if I have any side affects I wouldn't know which drug was causing it. My blood preasure is alittle elevated, but I think Arava is causeing that. Anyway good luck in your chioce...I only have exp with MTX, minimal side effects but I did have some hair loss and had to decrease my dose a bit. That did the trick. There are a few people here who are on Arava and seem to be doing well.
I had the choice of the two and I went with MTX because it has been around for a long time. I just felt more comfortable with it, but if I wasnt able to take it then I would have been willing to try the Arava.