Guest guest Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Hi Sophie, my daughter was switched to Arava in place of mtx as her system could no longer tolerate mtx. She has only been on it a few of weeks, but so no side effects. My understanding is that is a main benefit of Arava - the lack of side effects. My daughter's rheumy did emphasize continuing with the folic acid and has her adding magnesium, and 800 mg vit D. Of course, you would need to only add supplements 's dr recommends, but my understanding is the folic acid is very impt, like it is with mtx. I know this probably doesn't help much, but I hope adjusts well to the change and all goes smoothly. mom to , poly, pidd From: slevindoski <slevindoski@...> Subject: Arava-leflunomide Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 6:53 AM 's doctor wants to switch her from Methotrexate to Arava. She has been on MTX for 5 years, and he is hoping Arava is more effective. Anyone have kids on Arava, and have they had any side effects? Thanks! Sophie 's mom, systemic jra, age 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 My son also switched from MTX injections to arava. He had horrible side effects on the MTX, but no side effects on the arava. He's been on arava for 2 or 3 years. While the side effects from the mtx was worse, I think it worked a little better than the arava for my son. For us, the trade-off was worth it, and we've promised Andy that he will never take mtx again. (Perhaps a bold claim, but he was so bad with the side effects.) Good luck, and I hope this works for you. On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 9:53 AM, slevindoski <slevindoski@...> wrote: > 's doctor wants to switch her from Methotrexate to Arava. She > has been on MTX for 5 years, and he is hoping Arava is more effective. > Anyone have kids on Arava, and have they had any side effects? > > Thanks! > Sophie > 's mom, systemic jra, age 8 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Hi , Thanks so much for your reply. It always helps to know that my daughter is not the only child on a medication. I am hoping this is a good switch for her. She has started to gag or sometimes vomit before we even give her the injection of MTX. I think it may be causing her stomach troubles, bc she associates nausea with the MTX injection. I am glad to hear your son is not experiencing any side effects. Does he take folic acid with Arava? I didn't think to ask the doctor. Thanks. Sophie > > 's doctor wants to switch her from Methotrexate to Arava. She > > has been on MTX for 5 years, and he is hoping Arava is more effective. > > Anyone have kids on Arava, and have they had any side effects? > > > > Thanks! > > Sophie > > 's mom, systemic jra, age 8 > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Hi , Thanks so much for the reply. I was wondering about the folic acid. That is very encouraging that your daughter hasn't experienced any side effects! Sophie > From: slevindoski <slevindoski@...> > Subject: Arava-leflunomide > > Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 6:53 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > 's doctor wants to switch her from Methotrexate to Arava. She > > has been on MTX for 5 years, and he is hoping Arava is more effective. > > Anyone have kids on Arava, and have they had any side effects? > > > > Thanks! > > Sophie > > 's mom, systemic jra, age 8 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Nope. No folic acid for Andy. He took it with mtx, but none with arava. On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 1:05 PM, slevindoski <slevindoski@...> wrote: > Hi , > Thanks so much for your reply. It always helps to know that my > daughter is not the only child on a medication. > > I am hoping this is a good switch for her. She has started to gag or > sometimes vomit before we even give her the injection of MTX. I > think it may be causing her stomach troubles, bc she associates > nausea with the MTX injection. > > I am glad to hear your son is not experiencing any side effects. > Does he take folic acid with Arava? I didn't think to ask the doctor. > > Thanks. > Sophie > > >> > 's doctor wants to switch her from Methotrexate to Arava. > She >> > has been on MTX for 5 years, and he is hoping Arava is more > effective. >> > Anyone have kids on Arava, and have they had any side effects? >> > >> > Thanks! >> > Sophie >> > 's mom, systemic jra, age 8 >> > >> > >> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 My son has also been on the arava for a couple of years because the mtx did not seem to do anything for him. We have not had as much anemia on the arava as with the mtx and no noticeable side effects either. Jan On Dec 11, 2008, at 10:19 AM, slevindoski wrote: > Hi , > Thanks so much for the reply. I was wondering about the folic acid. > That is very encouraging that your daughter hasn't experienced any > side effects! > Sophie > > > > From: slevindoski <slevindoski@...> > > Subject: Arava-leflunomide > > > > Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 6:53 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 's doctor wants to switch her from Methotrexate > to Arava. She > > > > has been on MTX for 5 years, and he is hoping Arava is more > effective. > > > > Anyone have kids on Arava, and have they had any side effects? > > > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > Sophie > > > > 's mom, systemic jra, age 8 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 I was on Arava and it caused me to have weight loss and diarrhea. I dealt with that, but then I started having tingling in my feet and numbness. It was the Arava. Once I went off, a few weeks later all symptoms disappeared. But I am the one who always has bad side effects. Hope your child does well. and Rob 19 JAS Arava-leflunomide > > > > Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 6:53 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 's doctor wants to switch her from Methotrexate > to Arava. She > > > > has been on MTX for 5 years, and he is hoping Arava is more > effective. > > > > Anyone have kids on Arava, and have they had any side effects? > > > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > Sophie > > > > 's mom, systemic jra, age 8 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Hi , Thanks for your reply. I decided that we should wait a week and a half until Christmas break to start Arava. That way I can keep a close eye on her. Thanks again and take care. Sophie > > > From: slevindoski <slevindoski@> > > > Subject: Arava-leflunomide > > > > > > Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 6:53 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 's doctor wants to switch her from Methotrexate > > to Arava. She > > > > > > has been on MTX for 5 years, and he is hoping Arava is more > > effective. > > > > > > Anyone have kids on Arava, and have they had any side effects? > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > > > Sophie > > > > > > 's mom, systemic jra, age 8 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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