Leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis
Common Questions and Answers about Leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis
arava
Non smoker, social drinker (white wine) the last 3 months I have been getting pain in my left hand ring finger joint, outer right wrist, outer left knee, not getting any better. No arthritis in my family. I have a rheumatoid factor of 45, my ESR is 9, my CRP was 7.9 (5 weeks ago) but now 4.3, my Anti-CCP test was postive 26.8. My B12 was 416 and rc folate 1545, but i am taking tresos b with selenium every day.
Has anyone else taken this drug for arthritis? I started it several months ago and and seem to be getting a large amount of side affects.I have had upset stomachs with lots of reflux.When I exhale the air from my stomach it tastes horrible...like a decaying tooth.There is a horrible metallic smell consistantly with my stools.I have lost weight.I have constant tingling all over my body.I have had many headaches and low grade fevers.
From what you have described, the symptoms are most likely arthritic in nature and the migratory pattern of these arthritides is really a diagnostic challenge. This is commonly due to rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis due to infections, or connective tissue diseases. Infections that can induce these forms of arthritis would include rheumatic fever and an uncommon form of urinary tract infection.
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?
So I was just doing some research for another post on post viral arthritis. It is a kind of arthritis that can set in after you have a virus or the flu. I read that it takes several weeks to months to resolve. I immediately thought of you. Ask your doctor about this type of arthritis and please let us know what you find out.
I have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis since 2007. First the blood work showed RA factor 83. And last year the number were 95. I went to rheumatologist last year. After examining he said even the numbers are high i don't have any pain or swelling he cant give any medicine. Since i am not taking anything. And i don't have any pain or swelling. But i am worrying about the numbers. If anybody have any suggesstions, would be highly appreciated.
5 years ago, I went to a rheumatologist as a GP found I was positive for Rheumatoid Factor. The specialist did other tests, xrays etc and didnt find anything. But I have an autoimmune profile (Raynauds, scalp psoriasis and eczema prone skin) so she thought a mild immunosuppresant might be warranted. I decided that seemed drastic. I am a PhD student so spend lots of time in front of the computer.
My mother is 45 years old and she is suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis from last 25 years. All joints of her body pains all the times. We have tried all medicins and treatments like Alopothy, Homeopathy, Ayurvadic, Naturotherapy and exercises. Her body can't tolarate Steroid added drug.
//www.assh.org/handcare/condition/rheumatoid-arthritis See your doctor. They will examine your hands. Then take X rays and if they suspect RA, do blood work to confirm. It's treatable.
So either way, you should see your doctor. Do Nsaids help at all?
My father was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis shortly after WWII. He developed it shortly after being shipped back from England in a coma with a very high temperature. He had the usual symptoms of RA but it was not symetrical. It affected different joints on either side of the body. He died in 1965. About a year before he died, he developed unusual symptoms- loss of taste, areas of de-pigmentation etc.
In the absense of a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (the autoimmune kind), what you're seeing is probably osteoarthritis (the wear and tear kind). Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to osteoarthritic changes, but OA does not mean you have RA. RA and OA are two completely different conditions, but many symptoms of both cross over so it's easy to confuse the two.
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