Hi all, I am really new to this board. I have been seeing my rheumy since summer and he is tentatively diagnosed me with PA or possibly RA, since I have no skin rashes. I have been on MXT for 4 full months and am up to 25 mg, which is as high as he wants me to go. He now suggests Enbrel or Humira, which my insurance does not cover very well. (How does everyone afford it, at hundreds of dollars a month???) But he also suggested Arava, since the MXT has not worked. I am switching docs next month because I feel this doc has not been very aggressive in helping me figure out a plan for my pain. I know it takes time. I am still on MXT, flexeril, and tylenol arthritis everyday just to maintain. Has anyone had great results with Arava and are the side effects similiar to MXT. Thanks, I enjoy reading all your posts. I feel I am learning alot about this frusterating disease!!I have been on Enbrel and Arava for about 8 months. I really have not had any bad side effects from either. I don't look like the Enbrel commerical though, I'm not hiking, swimming or running around the block either. It just reassures me that the RA is being slowed down. There are foundation to help with the cost of meds if you don't have insurance. hope this helps, RainTry this look up the Patient Access Network Foundation
I have been on Arava for about 3 months now. I had horrible trouble with mtx and got worse on it. Since I have been on Arava it has been wonderful.
Sure, I can't run, jog or even walk in the store without support, but instead of using a driving buggy in the store, I now just lean on the cart to walk through which is a huge huge huge thing for me.
So far my liver numbers are just fine and I am not sick feeling like mtx, not sleepy like mtx etc.
I personally like it, just hope it stays working well.
Thanks bubba...It sounds like it has helped you alot. We have to count our blessings as they come. I'm hoping for that since the mtx didn't do anything. But at least I didn't experience the side effects you did!!! Although I have felt a huge lack of energy lately, that I don't know if it's because of the arthritis or the meds. It is extremely frusterating to always be tired, especially with young children. Good luck to you.Seems like different meds affect patients differently. As far as I am concerned, the Enbrel was just a lot of money for not much relief. And the side effects made me stop it altogether. I also had to stop my Methotrexate because of high liver enzyme tests. So next we tried ARAVA and I am so glad we did. I had 4 glorious months but then a flare which was disappointing. I talked to the doctor and he said he cannot cure me just hopefully help me. So I may incure a flare once in awhile. So I opted to stay on the ARAVA and the flare ended with the help of a little more prednisone. I am still on the Arava and feeling better again. Yes, you have to watch your liver enzymes and there is some bowel upset which is not a big problem, but other than that it has really helped me! And I feel so lucky to have relief. Hope it does the same for you! Enbrel has a patient assist program that will help you with the costs not covered by your insurance. You can call 1-800-4enbrel and get information or you can ask your rd for info. on this program. It is called Enbrel Enliven. For me it covers all the cost of the Enbrel that my insurance does not cover. They give you a card that you present to the pharmacist each month. It is good for two years and you can get it renewed if you are still taking it. The only catch is that it can only be used by first time Enbrel users. This has saved me somewhere between 100.00 and 200.00 a month. good luck. jamieI am on Enbrel and Arava. I got onto Arava after MXT for several years. It worked great and I have not had any side effects. I had a bad flare about three years ago, so now I am on the combo of Arava (30 mg) and Enbrel (25 2x's). I used to have bad MXT side effects, but now I have none. Also, for me being on a gluten free diet has helped tremedously too. -SuziI was on an Arava/Plaquenil/MTX cocktail for years with no serious side effects. My rheumy did tell me that if I planned on getting pregnant I'd have to go off Arava and then wait a year. I guess it takes a long time to get out of your system. It has a Black Box warning . . .
CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGSPREGNANCY MUST BE EXCLUDED BEFORE THE START OF TREATMENT WITH ARAVA. ARAVA IS CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANT WOMEN, OR WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING POTENTIAL WHO ARE NOT USING RELIABLE CONTRACEPTION. (SEE CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS.) PREGNANCY MUST BE AVOIDED DURING ARAVA TREATMENT OR PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE DRUG ELIMINATION PROCEDURE AFTER ARAVA TREATMENT. |
Hi there I am on Arava and Remicade and at first when i started the Arava I was sick to my stomach and lost some of my hair have been taking it for 4 years know but know I am doing alot better and I can tell when I miss my dosage the effects when I dont take it so it helps me out alot. i was on Metho and doc kept upping the dosage and it never helped so he gave me the Arava. Yeah I would also go see another doc if he isnt doing what is best for you.
GOOD LUCK TAKE CARE
Yes, with arava it does take at least a year to get out of your system. They do however have pills that basicly rip what is left in your system right out for quick recovery, this helps for those who get sick with the liver and have to stop right away.
Most doctors don't try arava due to the cost. We spend in cash about 0 a month for mine. My Celebrex costs me about 0, the pred is and ultram is about .
So doctors try to get you on the cheap stuff first before the rest.
They tried me on naproxen, ibuprofen etc. and didn't want to put me on celebrex but it works wonders with the arava. I couldn't believe how much it did when the others did nothing but hurt my stomach. It doesn't burn, cause odd side effects etc. I like my combo.
With Arava i had good time then flair after flair but those were kind of my fault. I flair with periods, then I flair when i got the flu, then i got a cold, then i had a bad reaction to food etc. So i have been trying to get off the flairs for a while now lol. But they were so much worse before these meds.
The pill is called cholestyramine(brand name Questran); just to clarify you CANNOT become pregnant and then take cholestyramine, damage to the fetus may have already occurred. This is from http://www.arava.com -After discontinuing Arava, your doctor will prescribe a drug elimination procedure consisting of a full 11-day course of cholestyramine, 8 grams, 3 times daily, followed by 2 separate laboratory blood tests at least 14 days apart to assure a very low drug level in your body. If your drug levels are too high, your doctor may recommend additional drug elimination medication.
After the drug elimination procedure, your risk of having a baby with a birth defect is very low and should be no higher than the risk in the general population. If you do not follow the drug elimination procedure, it could take up to 2 years to reach this very low drug level in your blood."
They recommend the same elimination procedure for would-be Dads as well.