Arava and side effects
Hi everyone,
Has anyone been on Arava and had side effects from it!? I was started on it at 10mg and did okay but was still having stiffness and pain so my rheumatologist wanted to increase to 20mg. I tried this and my GI system went haywire. So I backed off to 10mg again and re-started an increase with 15mg. A slow increase seemed to do okay but when I tried to do 20mg again, my GI system again went crazy. My rheumatologist told me to take what I can tolerate. So I allowed some time off to get my GI system to settle down and restarted the 10mg. Now GI is crazy on this dose. I’m frustrated. This is my third DMARD and all have done weird things to my GI system, plus I haven’t been able to relieve stiffness and pain. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Hello. I have used Arava and was successful using it. However, as it got to the point where it no longer worked (about 3 years) I went back to Methotrexate as an injectable. It has worked well for many years for me. ......................... rick Thanks for the comment. I was on Methotrexate oral and then injectable just before I went on the Arava. Initially I seemed to respond well to the low dose oral Methotrexate and then I got COVID. From there the rheumatologist had to keep increasing the dose and eventually went to the injectable. Unfortunately I never totally responded well to it either. I again had GI issues, except the opposite of the Arava.
I was on arava 20mg daily for 10 years and didnt notice any side effects.
Hydrocloroquine was useless, methotrexate caused severe nausea and steroids were slightly effective but only at very high doses. Arava was the only thing that worked. After 10 years i stopped taking it for a bit and when i didnt get a serious flare i abandoned it altogether and have been off it going on 5 years now. The only prescription medication i now take is moxicam when i feel a flare coming on.
Although i do now have chronic digestive issues but not sure whether its related.Hi thanks for the reply. The rheumatologist told me to stop the Arava altogether. I’ve finally been diagnosed with Seronegative RA and will be started on Humira. I had to get labs done first so waiting for results and will hopefully start this week. The rheumatologist is keeping me on the Plaquenil. However, been on the Plaquenil alone for nearly three weeks which does not cut it. Hoping the Humira is helpful….
I hope so as well. Humria is a great first medication and for many, it is the last medication they need. I am hopeful, I wish you the very best of good fortune. Here’s to wishful thinking!!🤞🏻🤞🏻Thanks for the comment. Appreciate it!
