Leflunomide and High Blood Pressure: What Users Say

• 38y...
• August 25, 2015

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Started this medicine very slowly (10 mg every other day) for 4 weeks, as I was nervous about a couple specific side effects (stomach and higher blood pressure). The only side effect during that time was headaches. Then I couldn't wait to increase to 10 mg every day due to a great deal of pain, and my stomach and blood pressure were stable. Just by increasing it from 4 tabs a week to 1 tab every day, I've only had a couple small headaches, and pain was greatly decreased in my fingers. So far (at 3 weeks), still leaves a lot to desire. My wrist still hurts a great deal, having moderate upper GI problems (extra 'severe' acid reflux), hair thinning, and concerns about the future and/or long-term side effects. Will stay on it for now."

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on this medicine for only 1 week. Every day I am feeling worse, not better. I have zero energy, I have a general feeling of discomfort, headache, clammy, and more pain than before I started. I kept thinking this would go away, but after reading some other reviews, I don’t think I want to wait for the rash, high BP, and hair loss. Calling my Dr tomorrow!"

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2021

Leflunomide for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I had taken medication for approximately 10 days. A week into it, I experienced severe weakness, high blood pressure, dizziness, and numbness/tingling to the right side of my face. After a few hours, it passed. Then, 5 days later, my BP was stroke-high, I couldn't walk, and my head felt like it was going to pop. I was hospitalized for symptoms. They said it's just a migraine! Not!!! Finally, the doctor listened and gave me medication to get it out of my system."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I took this medication for just under 3 months. It seemed to help a little the first month, but not much. I had some serious side effects and went off the medication: short of breath when going up a flight of stairs to the point I could not talk, high blood pressure (200/100) and needed to go on medications, muscle spasms and weakness to the point I could not stand long enough to load my dishwasher due to back pain/spasms, burning nerve pain in my arms and legs which could paralyze me in pain: especially upon getting up after sitting, easy bruising: had very dark bruises all over, but the worst was spontaneously getting a small hematoma on my buttocks which caused sciatica and I had to get shots... that happened twice. I went off and noticed a significant difference in a couple of days and the pain and other symptoms subsided, but is far from gone."

• TX ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2023

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Be aware of any symptoms that you may have while on this medication. Report them to your doctor as soon as you can, and pay attention to your body. My rheumatologist prescribed leflunomide after no success with MTX, sulfasalazine, Plaquenil, and Humira. While on this drug, I developed terrible side effects including tingling/numbness in my feet and hands, high blood pressure (never experienced before), extreme weakness and fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, ringing in the ears, increased back pain (which led to another surgery), 2 ruptured Achilles tendons (surgeries pending), and a continuous tearing/shredding feeling at joints, loss of sensation and motor function in my lower extremities, including sexual dysfunction and incontinence, severe hair loss, heart palpitations (diagnosed as SVTs), severe muscle cramps, difficulty swallowing, vision changes, and diarrhea/stomach issues among other things. Once it was discovered I had leflunomide toxicity, I did a cholestyramine flush. It's been over 2 years, and I have had minimal improvement."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I started on Leflunomide 10 mg for two months and did not notice any differences or side effects. My rheumatologist increased my dosage to 20 mg, and I have been experiencing debilitating headaches and high blood pressure (156/100), which I never had before. My doctor said to discontinue this drug, and today is the third day of not taking it, and I still feel terrible. Hopefully, I will feel better soon."

• Het...
• July 22, 2011

Leflunomide for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been taking Arava for almost 2 years. I have recently developed very high blood pressure and I'm not sure if Arava is the cause of it. We have picked up that it increased my cholesterol."

• Moh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2020

Leflunomide "I have been taking Arava for one week for psoriatic arthritis, and I have suffered from headache and high blood pressure within a week."