Re: Tell me about Arava; what would you do?

[Guest guest]

Since it takes awhile to kick in I would go ahead and start on it..

I have been on it a few years now and besides some elevated liver levels that

came

back down. I have not had problems.

Joy

just call me Sheba <queen_o_sheba@...> wrote:

Life is humorous in a sick way sometimes.

My rheumy has decided to respond finally. I'm sure it's because she

knows that I requested another dr in the office and she's afraid of

looking bad since she was so unresponsive.

Today I got a call from her nurse. She was very solicitous and much

more forthcoming than normal. The rheumy has decided to start me on

Arava. I know a lot less about this dmard than MTX or sulfasalazine.

So, I'd just like feedback on the med from those of you who have used

it (I am, of course, doing my own research as well).

The nurse did volunteer that I might have the very same side effects

from it that I've had from the others. It seems that my stomach and

gastric system just aren't very good at handling these drugs. It's

strange because I've never not tolerated a prescription med before,

and I'm more than willing to put up with side effects if the drug

works on the RA. Unfortunately the side effects have just been too

strong to live with.

Anyhoo...now I have a quandary. Do I start the Arava as this rheumy

wants me to do - or do I wait until I see the new doctor next week?

I'm inclined to start the Arava and then see how I am at the appt next

week. It's certainly not a strange med to try and from what I've read

it works quickly (if it's going to work). That would make me happy!

So....what would YOU do?

Kim

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Kim,

I was on Arava for years. When I relocated from Southern California

to Colorado, my new rheumy here put me on sulfasalazine instead.

From what I remember, it worked really well (I was on remicaide

too). I don't know if you will see a difference between now and next

week. I would wait, if the new rheumy wants to put you on it,

great...if they want to try a more aggressive type of treatment w/

infusions. I miss the remicaide...it was the one medication that I

was able to tell a HUGE differnce with. Best of luck to you.

>

> Life is humorous in a sick way sometimes.

>

> My rheumy has decided to respond finally. I'm sure it's because she

> knows that I requested another dr in the office and she's afraid of

> looking bad since she was so unresponsive.

>

> Today I got a call from her nurse. She was very solicitous and much

> more forthcoming than normal. The rheumy has decided to start me on

> Arava. I know a lot less about this dmard than MTX or sulfasalazine.

> So, I'd just like feedback on the med from those of you who have

used

> it (I am, of course, doing my own research as well).

>

> The nurse did volunteer that I might have the very same side effects

> from it that I've had from the others. It seems that my stomach and

> gastric system just aren't very good at handling these drugs. It's

> strange because I've never not tolerated a prescription med before,

> and I'm more than willing to put up with side effects if the drug

> works on the RA. Unfortunately the side effects have just been too

> strong to live with.

>

> Anyhoo...now I have a quandary. Do I start the Arava as this rheumy

> wants me to do - or do I wait until I see the new doctor next week?

>

> I'm inclined to start the Arava and then see how I am at the appt

next

> week. It's certainly not a strange med to try and from what I've

read

> it works quickly (if it's going to work). That would make me happy!

>

> So....what would YOU do?

>

> Kim

>

[Guest guest]

I would start the Arava. I have taken it and it's likely that another MD

will suggest the same medication to you. It, too, can have a lot of GI side

effects but there are dosing options with Arava to help alleviate these problems

so try to bear with it if you can.

I'd give it a go.

Abby

In a message dated 4/16/2008 2:13:02 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

queen_o_sheba@... writes:

Anyhoo...now I have a quandary. Do I start the Arava as this rheumy

wants me to do - or do I wait until I see the new doctor next week?

I'm inclined to start the Arava and then see how I am at the appt next

week. It's certainly not a strange med to try and from what I've read

it works quickly (if it's going to work). That would make me happy!

So....what would YOU do?

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[Guest guest]

my doc took me off mtx after a couple of years. He's a worry wart. I

had a heart attack before I was diagnosed with RA and he was worried

about the mtx. Any way, I asked about Arava and he was seemed very

supportive. I started at 20 and then reduced to 10 but I kinda miss

he mtx. Ever since I was dx with ra my rhemy has had me on prevacid

to protect my stomach from all the meds I take. I have noticed that

when I don't take it I get queezy so you might ask about something to

protect your tummy.

HUGZ

PeggyH