leflunomide (arava)

[nosman]

Hi, I am a new poster. I was diagnosed in February of this year, and just this week have been taken off of 100 mg daily cytoxan. My rheumy is putting me on leflunomide to control my arthritis instead of methotrexate, which seems to be the standard. Has anybody taken either of these medications? And if so, what have your experiences been with them?

[Jack]

I have no experience of it myself, but this study suggests that it is a valid alternative.

By the way - Welcome!

[Sangye]

Hi Nosman, nice to meet you. I don't know anything about Arava.

By "arthritis" I assume you mean the joint pain caused by Wegs? If so, it's not true arthritis. The pain is a sign of active Wegs.

Do you have a Wegs specialist at one of the major vasculitis centers?

[Sangye]

That's a great paper, Jack. We Weggies are so fortunate to have more and more drugs available these days. Never thought I'd hear myself say such a thing. Most of my profession would throw pots and pans at me for saying such a thing. Well, they don't know Wegs.

[elephant]

I was first diagnosed with RA but it was Wegeners in disguise. Ditto to what Sangye said.

[nosman]

Thanks for all the information and the warm welcomes. To Sangye, I have a specialist at the Columbia Presbyterian hospital in New York. And yes, I meant joint pain.

[Sangye]

Nosman, you need a Wegs specialist-- a rheumy who sees hundreds of Weggies.

[Jack]

I think that is doubly important considering the unusual drug treatment you are receiving. I would have said that this treatment was still in the area of research rather than mainstream.
Don't underestimate the consequences should it all start to go wrong!

[JanW]

I take mtx, which as you know, is also used for RA. My doc (at Hospital for Special Surgery) uses mtx, ctx, rituximab (rtx), immuran or cellcept only in treatment of WG, and I haven't seen others on here mention other immunosuppressants.

[nosman]

My doctor does see many wegener's patients, although not exclusively those with wegener's. I talked to her about the medicine, and according to her, this medicine is more effective than methotrexate, even though it is newer, and it works in a very similar way to mtx.