Leflunomide User Reviews & Ratings

• Middle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2019

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "My mom was diagnosed with RA in the spring of 2007 and experienced pulmonary fibrosis as a part of this disease. Arava was prescribed to treat her RA. Rather than minimize the symptoms of her disease, the Arava ignited the lung disease and she experienced what the doctors referred to as BOOP (Bronchial Obliterated Obstructive Pneumonia.) She lived three weeks from the time of diagnosis to her death. Please know that ARAVA can be a seriously dangerous drug for some people."

• Tina...
• March 6, 2014

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've been on Arava for over 10 years now. At first (following the loading dose) I was taking 20 mg daily. I went from not being able to dress myself to being completely independent and relatively pain free. I do have fibromyalgia, so there has been some muscle pain with that. I lost quite a bit of hair at first, but that stopped. After 7 or 8 years I asked my doctor if I could try to taper down. I went from 20 mg daily to 20 mg every other day. I have mild psoriasis which flared when I cut back, but eventually it cleared up again. After a year, my doctor decreased it to 10 mg every other day. The psoriasis flared again, but is now gone and I am maintaining at 10 mg every other day and doing well."

• GrannyK
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2013

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Arava for 6 weeks and I also take 5mg of Prednisone. The medication has been extremely helpful in treating the swelling and soreness of the joints. I am now able to write, type, stir, laugh and I feel generally so much improvement, it's like getting my life back after several months of severe pain, swelling and stiffness."

• krismas
• January 24, 2013

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Was on Arava for a little over a year. The hair loss, pain from the hair loss, gastrointestinal problems, and the infections are just too much. My hair is so thin. I went to my doctor and had it stopped. I lost another 6lbs in 2 months and that is with the introduction of Ensure. I hope others have a better experience then what I did. I am 27 years old and everyday I felt life leaving me little by little."

• Trish
• January 14, 2017

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "No way did this drug help me!!!!!! What it Did do was give me MS symptoms! Yes ! I went totally blind off and on during the day and had debilitating headaches to where all I did was lay n cry!!!!!! Warning the dr tells me I had MS I say no it's the drug! He says no and proceeds to send me to a nuerologist! He exams me and says no it's probably neuropathy! So here I go again being sent to yet another specialist! I was sent to a optomolgist and he says no your eyes are fine it has to be MS! I then go back to the rhuemotologist for him to say yes it's MS don't stop the drug! I went out on my own gut and Stopped the Arava and WHAT DO YOU KNOW--- MS SYMPTOMS DISSPPEARED ALMOST INSTANTLY! So please be aware these drugs will do more harm than good"

• Butte...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "After two-three years of trying everything under the sun, (methotrexate, constant steroids, anti malaria) I finally tried Leflunomide. What an amazing drug!! I feel better than I have in 3 years. My energy is up, my mind is less foggy, my body hurts way less. I can finally be a mom to my young children again. I can button those shirt buttons and turn pages in their night time stories. This drug has changed my life. I often find myself singing and dancing again, just out of utter excitement for my progress. It feels good to be happy and capable after so many years of struggle."

• Tanker
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 21, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have had severe RA for 17 years. I have been treated with methotrexate, prednisone, Humira and Enbrel . I could not tolerate methotrexate and Humira did not work for me. I settled for using Enbrel and 5mg of prednisone daily. Then my Rheumatologist put me on 20 mg leflunomide and it has been miracle drug for me! In the past year I have got off of prednisone and have dropped my Enbrel from 50mg weekly to 25mg. My Liver function is good and hope it stays that way because you have to be careful with leflunomide because of liver problems, no drinking on this drug. I have felt like I’m in remission for at least 10 months. I wish everyone with RA could have the results this drug has given me!"

• Tanker
• January 31, 2020

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have dealt with severe RA for going on 16 years and just recently within 6 months was put on Arava. For me this has been a miracle drug, I feel I’m in full remission. So my treatment is Enbrel, Arava and Prednisone. If you are healthy other than having RA, give Arava a try!! God Bless All of You who deal with this Monster called Rheumatoid Arthritis"

• choca...
• December 31, 2012

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started taking Arava in Sep. 2012. Two months ago I noticed my hair was falling out in the shower, and now in December my hair is so thin you can see my scalp. I also have to blow my nose ay least twenty times a day. And now I am getting sores in my mouth. I am not sure if I want to stay on it."

• Gamer...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 13, 2019

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Arava for over 15 years with no problems. Instead, it has been a gift from heaven. For a year I tried many meds to no avail. Then - Arava! It was a miracle. My joint inflammation went way down and pain much relieved. I am sorry for those who cannot take it. They talk about trying something g different and I say “no”. I'm sticking with Arava as long as it works."

• jen
• March 17, 2015

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was unable to move around ...very stiff and sore. It was so bad I was considering using a cane to get around. Arava 20mgs has put an end to all of my aches and pains...so very grateful. But, my BP is now elevated (I'm adressing this with my PCP)."

• Notha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Put on Leflunomide 10mg 7 weeks ago for Polymyalgia Rheumatica . Increasing symptoms of weakness, diarrhoea, nausea, cramps, palpitations, pins and needles , migraines with aura and the most awful shortness of breath. I came off leflunomide 3 days ago and expect I shall have to suffer the effects for at least 6 months before the drug leaves my poor body. Rheumatologist says these symptoms are not caused by Leflunomide. ??! I feel so weak and helpless. I wish I had been warned. I feel angry with my rheumatologist who took two weeks to respond to my cries for help. Be warned."

• Nikki
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 9, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA in 1987. Terrible pain and loss of motion. After taking all available meds on the market including the biologics, which were of no help at all, my Dr prescribed Arava. I take 20 mg per day plus two Azulfidine pills per day. Now my pain level is virtually 0. I have been on this regimen for 11 years. No side effects, however, I am diligent about regular blood work which would show any significant liver damage or other serious conditions. So far, so good. Arava has been my miracle drug."

• Rudyt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2016

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Had virtually no pain or swelling anymore. Used with combination of Humira. Had to come off, unfortunately due to gut and intestinal issues getting severe. Did help my RA more than any other medication so far, but too many gut issues."

• Anonymous
• June 3, 2009

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I took Arava for about one year. It worked fabulously for the rheumatoid arthritis. I was even going to aerobics and kick boxing. However, my hair started to fall out and I ended up with no eyebrows. Needless to stay I stopped taking it and my rheumatoid arthritis has not been good ever since. My hair grew back but in some spots it did not. I still have some bald spots in my eyebrows. I was not very happy about that as I am only 35."

• Pat
• July 30, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I had bad RA and I could not move, when I did, the pain was excruciating. My husband would have to help me get dressed. Within 1 month of taking leflunomide, swelling & pain was gone it really works. I have blood work done every 3 months. So far I'm doing great!!!! No side effects."

• janika
• January 16, 2011

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Arava worked great for me for about 2 1/2 months. My pain and stiffness was much, much improved. Unfortunately I developed a severe rash and had to take the medication to remove it from my system as quickly as possible. Had it not been for the rash I would still be on it."

• Regrets
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 1, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I took Leflunomide for just over a year. Helped my symptoms but in the last month severely suppressed my bone marrow and my hemoglobin and white blood cells have plummeted to the point of being a few points away from needing a blood transfusion. My hemoglobins have not come back yet after stopping it (and doing the washout period with cholestrymine) 9 days ago, in fact it continues to go down. I am at 7g now and can’t work my corporate job anymore I’m so exhausted with headaches and just hoping my bone marrow starts making the blood cells again and remembers the natural process and that taking this didn’t cause my body to forget and permanently leave me in this state. Any drug that has the potential to do that please seriously decide whether to take it or not, I 100% regret it."

• Aprill
• January 15, 2014

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on Arava for approximetely 2 months, prior to that I had Rituxin Infusion Therapy and was currently on 20 mg of prednisone. I had started to reduce the prednisone when I was down to 5mg and off, I started to have a burning in my mouth and tongue. I checked with the pharmacy and it is a know side effect for leisons and issue within the mouth. I am hoping that there is something else that I can take, as this past year my rheumatoid arthritis has been full blown out of control. I at least can now type and manage to button my clothes and tie my shoes. I can only hope."

• grann...
• January 29, 2010

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have taken Arava for over 10 years and have had good results. I have RA and I have stopped taking it because of surgery and because of a chronic infection but always go back. I have many allergies and most of the other meds for RA have caused bad reactions."

• Srs
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 13, 2020

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "Arava has been brilliant for my RA. I've been on it for 1 1/2 years.. previously I was on methotrexate 27 mg a week for severe arthritis for 8.7 years which I came off as I found it hard to breathe. Only side effects I've had are tiredness which I can live with but none of the other side effects"

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2010

Arava (leflunomide) for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I took Arava for about 8 months. It gave me a new lease on life to the point I was having no symptoms, pain or stiffness. I had to stop the medication because of Valley Fever. I want to get the message out to anyone living in a high risk state for "Valley Fever" be very aware and see your provider if you have any symptoms. I only had a persistent cough. Had chest X-ray done and was found to have a very large lung nodule that ended up being "valley fever" abscess."

• Medea...
• February 17, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "From my experience I found out that Leflunomide works well. I can do a lot of things. In the past years I was treated with MTX, Plaqueline, and etc, but no other drug had such an effect . In spite of these medicines my RA was in progress. After trying the Leflunomide my life changed for the better."

• April
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was on methotrexate injections for RA which was working but caused me to have constant nausea. So my doctor switched me to Leflunomide and on third day started having shortness of breathe and chest pain, flu like symptoms. I thought I was coming down with the flu. I stopped taking the medicine until I felt better. I just started it again and same thing. I'm laying in bed completely drained of energy, feel flu like aches and pains and difficultly breathing...shortness of breathe."

• Katie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Leflunomide has brought me back to life in just 2 months on it. (And my thick hair is no different than prior!) I see hair loss can be a side affect. Not for me. Grateful to my MD for starting this medication."