I am illergic to methotrexate (chemicals in it make me sick) so they want to try Arava on me.
Anyone hav experience with this drug? I have read that hair loss is big with it, is there something to help with it?
If you are on it, have you been on methotrexate too? If so, can you tell me a bit of the difference you feel on them from nausea to pain etc.
Thanks.
I started on Arava 3 weeks ago. I have not had any side effects except for the first two days; with diarrhea. I started taking folic acid and biotin at the same time. These are supplements that help prevent hair loss. So far so good! I am feeling so much better now too. I could not take MTX because of having RA in my lungs. I am newly DX this year with RA. Keep in mind that just because a side effect is listed, that dose not mean you will experience that side effect. I wish you the best, Rain Read my posts about my gallbladder surgery. I'm convinced Arava made the situation a lot worse. It did take care of the joint pain though!I am in same boat... I am just on Avara for the last two and a half weeks. I haven't started folic acid or biotin but am going to get them... It works way better for me than MXt. I could not tolerate that either. I was super scared of the Avara. I took nothing for two months and I finally decided I had to after watching three of my fingers blow up practically overnight. I like the medicine now except for the hair thing, so I am now going to see if those supplements help. I also eat lots of fresh organic veggies to help the hair. I take lots of vitamins and calcium.... I take vit c, B-6, spuper omega complex and vit E, I take usually 2 advil in the am still though but I don't always need it now, some days I do. it seems to be working much better than the MXt. I hated that. I refused to take it. I could never go out in the sun but the Avara is not like that. I can go out no problem... I just have to give it I'll save two more weeks or so (now adding the other supplements) to see if the hair loss stops. I just got my hair colored today and it is fine. Hairdresser said it looks great and strong. Give it a shot. it could help you. I know how scared you are. I am still scared myself. I am going to drink this week and i can't wait but I am scared still... I only agreed to take Avara if I could have one to two glasses of wine per month. If it doesn't work you will have a feeling of that in a month and then if you need to stop, I guess there is a drug to take to help wash it out of you. But honestly, it has helped alot but I am not going to loose my hair.. If it continues, I will stop it. Hi! I am on Arava 20 mg. daily and Mtx 15 mg. every Friday. I have been on both for over a year. I am also on Folic Acid 2 mg. daily. I am slowly losing some of my hair, but both Arava + Mtx will cause hair lose. I will put up with the hair loss rather than have all the Ra pain... I'm on the same mix as Paul, since July, and with the same results. My hair is coming out a little - not a lot. I am in so much better shape than I was with just the MTX. In a lot of ways. Less joint pain. Less fatigue. Less fuzzy-headedness. I'm a lot closer to who I used to be than I've been since I was diagnosed. Arava is a scary drug, but it's a good drug.Thank you for your replies. It has helped.
I wish you well.