arava for ra

Things are continuing to get get worse and my dr is wanting to start injection therapy for my symptoms. I just want to be sure I have ra before I begin these injections they really scare me! This discussion is related to <a href='http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/227307'>is this rhuematoid arthritis?</a>.

I started it almost 3 weeks ago for the RA and Sjogrens and have started to have nausea, hair loss, skin sensitivity, burning or tingling of skin, and restless legs (already had, but much worse now), vivid dreams, and torso pain like a cramping sensation in back and sides. I have read too much bad stuff about this medicine and I am hoping someone has had a good experience with it. I have tried methotrexate and Diclofenac, but now I am just on the Diclofenac and the Arava.

I have heard that it can cause nodules also. I am now on enbrel,and arava, folic acid for my RA. I have not been able to get my RA under control as of yet. When i have flare up where can't get out of bed, need help dressing i usually take steroids, that is a great drug for giving you your mobility back. I hope you don't end up with them everywhere, they are painful on the bottom of the feet, and palms and fingers, makes it difficult to do anything.

Prior to that she was on Arava for five months and it almost killed her. She lost 60 lbs, had heart issues, urinary tract infections, had no appetite and was incredibly weak. Her RA doctor said it was not the Arava. It was. I took her to the Lahey Cllinic and they confirmed it. I had taken her off the medication before going to the Lahey Clinic but it was a binding med. so it stayed in her system for months afterwards.

Just recently my Dr put me on methotrexate injections and arava after which my symtoms got worse.I went back to the RA DR and now she thinks I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica.Right now I'm in the processs of finding a second opinion. They say the symtoms of Polymyalgia can come on rapidly like the symtoms you discribe.

I have been having pain in the upper right abdominal area for some time now. Under my ribs and almost on the side. I was taking a lot of Rheumatoid medication due to my doctors thing I had RA. My liver levels were elevated and I had this same pain then. I had a sonogram and a Hida scan (sp?) They told me I had Fatty Liver, to lose weight and to stop taking my Arava. I did and levels went back down. This was maybe a year ago.

ve had no energy and felt bad for about 12 hours after the injection. Anyone else have this type of reaction to the injection?

I do get the cramoing sometimes for a day or two after the enjection. With the embrel the cramps do go away. I also take arava so maybe the combination of the drugs. Hope it it gets better.

I am trying to get her to have her lithium levels checked but she thinks she is fine (part of the disease), she is not sleeping well and not resting, physically pushing herself which makes swelling and pain from RA worse (had to stop Enbrel, Arava and Methotrexate to begin chemo). Still using patch and morphine tabs for pain, ambien for sleep and there are more meds.

Hi this is my second year of retuximab my infusion is due next week it has helped me so much i have tried endless drugs for my RA and the retuximab helps the most a few weeks after the infusion my blood result was normal i cant speak for everyone just my own experience i allso take methotrexate.

Can delaying treatment for auto-immune issues, increase the risk of permenent neuro symptoms? Me - 47 female various diagnosis including SLE, Sjogren's, Grave's, GERD larynx, hypothyroidism, 5x5x4 thyroid nodule, dysphasia, angioedema, mouth dryness makes talking and swallowing difficult, long tract spinal issues, insomnia, and most recently some scary issues...

i am 22 years old..i have RA(still desease) from about 10 years, i have tried almost everything..metothrexate(didn't well work),arava(had a baaad effect on me!!),remicade(no improvement),humira(had it about 4 times but had lots of problems with purshasing it and without good effects also),and i had also a both replacement surgeries for my hips ..

I have an Auto Immune Disorder of the connective tissue as labeled by my Rheumatologist. I take Plaquenil 200mg, and Arava 20mg daily. I have been on the Plaquenil for over a year and the Arava for 5-6 months. I am still having flares and experiencing pain on a daily basis. I'm a 28 year old male. My tested positive for ANA but the doctor hasn't labeled me with Lupus. I see my Rheumatologist on the 18th of December and I'm looking for the next step in my treatment.

i take the leflunomide (arava) but also take pills for the reflux, which does help. I take renitidine i believe it is called. I found it worked pretty good for the swelling myself. I am also on the Embrel, but still do not have R.A under control. I just wanted to say that the arava was the best drug i have taken up until i was put on the embrel. I live in B.

Sorry for the delay! I was in flare. I have RA and a few other conditions. I started on plaquenil and then went to methotrexate. After awhile, I stopped the methotrexate and discovered the plaquenil was managing my symptoms fine (unless I do not get regular sleep, get stressed out and/or it rains - then I go into flare.) Prednisone was not something they used for me, but I did have several steroid injections to deal with my most troublesome spots. How is your daughter doing now?

I was diagnosed with RA last June and was put on methotrexate. Recently, the RA flared up and my doctor added Enbrel. I have severe headches and feel like my heart is beating so fast that i get dizzy. The doctor thinks that this is because I am on yet another medication and my body has to adjust. Is anyone familiar with this drug? Has anyone gone as far as to have a second opinion for their RA? I just find it scary to give you one drug to have to counteract side effects with another.

t click with and someone who is right for me might not be so great for you. You need to take a more proactive role in fighting this disease and realize that you can and will feel better and remember that you DESERVE to feel better. Please Pm me if you want to talk more of just post here and let me know how you are doing, You are not alone, don't give up.

There are products that can be used like Biotine toothpaste and mouth wash. Restasis for your eyes. I use Refreash Gel. I get this over the counter for about $8.00 a bottle. Look for a Sjogrens support group in your area and attend the meetings. I found one near my city through that website I told you about. We really all share alot of information when we meet every 3 months. I go to a pain management doctor monthly so he manages my pain meds.

I, too, have been on Arava for a month with nothing but worsening pain and symptoms. I have been told, as drbob992 said, that it can take quite some time to begin to help, if it is going to help. Usually, when it fails to help much or takes longer than "expected" a biologic will be added. You may want to discuss this with your rheumatologist. Aggressive treatment is needed to slow down progression of disease activity and erosion. I'll be starting one in January 2013.

I recently started taking Arava for my rheumatoid arthritis. My dr. added this to the Methotrexate and Prednisone I am already taking because I really wasn't getting much relief. Now I am getting a read rash behind my knees, ankles and calfs. has this happened to anyone else? Also, occasional bruises to my stomach area.

We appear to have a lot in common, many issues for me (IBS, Diverticulitis, Sjogrens, sero-neg RA, breast CA, whatever...). I have been using fentanyl patch for 5 years (50mc). Just started Lyrica. For me, the sleep is a godsend, and I'm looking forward to discontinuing the Trazadone I was taking to help me sleep. My rheumy just increased the dose to 100 mg after first month. It does give me some balance and goofines problems, but he suggests I will eventually adjust.

I have had Hep c and was treated and in remission now for 10 years. I was dagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was put on Plaquinil 200 mgs bid. My pain hasnt been relieved totally with this med and the rheumatologist wants me to start on Arava in combination. Im scared of the hep c coming back with both of these meds. Opinions needed.

My father has severe rheumatiod arthritis. He has been on a combination of Arava 20 mg ( Hydroxychloroquine) and Plaquenil (Leflunomide) . He has been going severly downhill since January and has lost 40 pounds, has constant mucous drainage that he chokes on especially after meals, and has severe shortness of breath. Can these symptoms be a result of the medications he is taking? Is it safe for him to take two synthetic DMARDS at the same time?

Thanks. I HATE drug side effects stories. My elderly mom's hgb dropped to 8.5 on Arava (for rheumatoid arthritis), I had a personality change on Ambien (so bubbly I couldn't even stand myself). We have to really be on the watch every time we add a new medication. I worry the most about people who require multiple meds. Think I will start taking B-12. Thanks again.

I have a Friend in Canada who has been on Minocycline for her RA for years and says she could not function without it,I asked my Doctor to prescribe this for me but he says it's not proven to be effective so wouldn't give me it !!! I have read that it IS effective not as a cure but by killing the bacteria that may be causing the RA symptoms. I am totally convinced it was the MRSA infection that caused my RA in the first place as I was absolutely fine before that happened ....

can anyone advise us on which one would work best for such severe motor and vocal tics. I would really like to hear from anyone who is suffering the same as a parent or sufferer.

I went back to the Rhemy last week and he put me on Sulfasalazine for the RA. My hands are beginning to twist and knot up. my elbows are knotted up also. You'll find the right combo of meds, just call your doc.

I have had RA for 15 years, started after Golden Staph and heaps of antibiotics.'Have used all the usual drugs all of which caused all sorts of health problems without helping the RA. Have recently started to us Low Dose Naltrexone, 4.5mg each night. Pain has increased, fuzzy head, need to sleep more. Can anyoine tell me how long LDN takes tro kick in and are these symptoms normal. LND is OFF LABEL aqnd prepared for me by a compouding chemist.

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