ARAVA Reviews (LEFLUNOMIDE)Average Rating: 2.8 (217 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ARAVA with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Age oldest to youngest. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on ARAVA: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ARAVA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 2 | RA | loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, nausea and other flu-like symptoms. Off of it now. Made lung disease progress faster | M | 82 | 10 months 20MG 2X day | 3/3/2010 | 2 | RA | Diarreha, frequent urination, extreme rash, headaches. | Although the drug did help the RA symptoms, it has made me very sick. The rash is the worst; extreme itching that keeps me awake and it on my abdomen and legs. The general feeling of weakness and headahes are also very difficult. It's very disappointing since I have had this terrible disease for 50 years. If it's not the RA it's the drugs! | F | 81 | 30 days | 8/18/2005 | 1 | RA | Light headed feeling in morning - Black loose stools | Will not ever take again | F | 79 | 2 years 10 MG 1X day | 10/31/2016 | 1 | Not now | Stopped taking Arava after 2 weeks. I have not been able to control the diarrhea since stopping this drug. Lomotil has only helped a little bit. Wish I had never taken this drug. I've had diarrhea for 3 weeks now My doctor prescribed this because I had swelling on ONE finger joint. It is a very aggressive drug. I would advise not taking it. | M | 76 | 14 days 10mg 1X day | 7/5/2016 | 4 | rheumatoid arthritis | M | 74 | 12 months | 4/24/2007 | 3 | RA & OA | Loss of libido. Very red, itchy rash on sides of thumbs and wrists, where the bone is close to the skin. | As I cut down on my dosage, the rash started to subside. The doctor was not familiar with this side effect, but told me to discontinue for the time being. | F | 72 | 3 years | 12/9/2009 | 1 | RA | diarrhea, after three weeks, afraid to eat out, in the bathroom a short time after eating, after being off it for 4 weeks i still have cramping, diahhrea and weight loss. red spots on chest and waistline. | it's a horrible drug | F | 71 | 4 weeks | 6/12/2006 | 4 | RA | Arava helped for five years, though frequent diarrhea, some hair loss, fatigue and dry skin. Now diarrhea got so violent that social life became intolerable. Off the drug for two months now but no easing up. Still think it's the Arava, but my physician doubts that - i doubt my physician. | F | 69 | 5 years 10 mg 1X day | 10/24/2010 | 1 | rheumatoid arthritis | Took Arava for 6 months. Extreme hair loss. Had a mamogram & discovered early stages breast cancer. Am now off drug. | Did the immune suppresant cause the breast cancer?? | F | 67 | 6 months | 2/8/2007 | 1 | Ankylosing Spondylitis | Horrible drug. Very harsh and irritating to my body. Got over the stomach issues that happened first, but got severe headaches all the time. The pain from inflammation and join pains got worse. I got off the drug after six days because I feared for my life. Felt like I was going to have a stroke. My PCP said that Arava made the inflammation in my sinuses worse and probably made vascular inflammation worse. Got off it asap. | I understand the drug stays in your system for two entire years. One has to take another horrible drug with side effects to 'wash out' the Arava. Never will touch this poison again. It's not worth it. | F | 67 | 6 days 30 MG 1X day | 3/3/2014 | 5 | Rhuematoid Arthritis | On first taking it I did experience some stomach pain so my Dr. lowered dosage to 3x a week.Now I have no side effects and minimal joint pain. | F | 66 | 4 days | 5/2/2007 | 3 | RA | Intermittent fatigue, low B/P when arising in morning, typically 70/40, frequent nightly urination - 4/6 times, appetite loss, short of breath after minor exertion | Diagnosed with RA 30 yrs ago. Naproxyn,plaquenil not effective with increased symptoms in last few months. MTX side effects were similar, but spontaneous infections/pain put me in the E/R 3 times (admitted once for elevated WBC). Opted off MTX as quality of life was poor due to fatigue - sleeping 16 hrs/day & force feeding to keep weight up. Have been taking Arava every other day for 16 days. Was to start one/day yesterday, but due to side effects, will continue every other day & notify doc. | M | 66 | 16 days | 7/30/2008 | 2 | Lupus/RA | Bad diarrhea for a day yesterday, but it hasn't helped feet pain so far | Was taking MTX for 5-6 years, but liver played up, so rheumatologist has switched me to Arava. Feet very painful still - I wonder if that will subside... | F | 66 | 3 weeks 10mg 1X day | 10/26/2012 | 1 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Diarrhea!! Also blisters and my lip swelled. I also became very short of breath. The diarrhea continues to this day. Horrible drug! I would never recommend it to anyone!! | F | 66 | 4 months 20mg | 11/21/2017 | 1 | RA | 6 hours after taking the very first 10mg tablet, I was trembling to the point my teeth were chattering and I was feeling very unwell. Ambulance was called and all vitals were out of wack so off to emergency. Released when stabilizedafter 6 hours in emergency. 5 hours later I was shaking worse, was uncoordinated and unresponsive to next ambo team. This time I was hospitalized 2 days till everything stabilized. Extensive tests determined no infection but a side effect stated as "flue like symptons!" | Cannot beleive they suggest 3 days on 100mg then 10mg after that. Specialist started me on 10mg thank goodness, else I'd probably be dead now!! I certainly will NOT be taking Arava anymore! | M | 66 | 1 days 10mg 1X day | 12/17/2015 | 5 | R/A | No side effects. Take with MTX. Tried MTX w/o Arava and it doesn't work. Blood labs are fine. Guess I'm lucky. | F | 65 | 12 years 20 mg 1X day | 7/23/2010 | 4 | RA | Initially, I experienced reduction in the severity and length of flair-ups with the help of steroids. After 6 months, hair started falling out in handfuls, numbness in balls of feet and toes, rash under the arms. Also, weight gain from intermittent steroid use. Dermatologist cured rash, Rheumatologist recommended folic acid for hair loss (taking 2400 MCG per day to stop hair loss). Still have numbness in feet that is tolerable. Blood sugar has slowly creeped up along with cholesterol and am borderline diabetic. I moderate diet by almost eliminating red meat and sugar. Eating more salmon and chicken and eliminating wheat helps. I also take ibuprofen and Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg when i sense the occasional flair-up coming to reduce symptoms. If the flair is severe, I have to add a dose of steroids, too. | Early on, my rheumatologist recommended a dose of MTX with Arava. I could not tolerate it, so have managed to moderate my RA for years with Arava only. I go through spurts of fair ups and then nothing for months. I guess you could call me lucky that I don't experience some of the more drastic counter interactions of this drug. I wish i could be off of Arava indefinitely but am glad that it has brought my symptoms somewhat under control. I am investigating taking an Indian homeopathic called Zyflamend recommended by a doctor to reduce inflammation. Have not tried this yet. | F | 65 | 8 years 20 1X day | 10/14/2012 | 5 | RA | Do have few s/e itching skin, and tingling occasionally. I am concerned about liver damage, but almost died with pneumonia while taking MTX, before I went to Arava. Don't know what else to take in its place. I do have alot more mobility, do have some fatigue and very few flare ups. So far blood tests have been OK. | F | 64 | 2 years 20 mg. 1X day | 11/7/2010 | 5 | For RA | I have thinning hair, bouts of diarrhea, and weight loss. | F | 64 | 2 years 10 mg | 7/9/2014 | 3 | Lupus | Constipation, gas | F | 64 | 2 months 20 1X day | 2/5/2021 |
ARAVA (LEFLUNOMIDE): This medication is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a condition in which the body's defense system (immune system) fails to recognize the body as itself and attacks the healthy tissues around the joints. Leflunomide helps to reduce the joint damage/pain/swelling and helps you to move better. It works by weakening your immune system and decreasing swelling (inflammation). FDA Approval Date: 1998-09-10 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)