Re: Arava---good or bad?

[Guest guest]

Keep a  check on your blood pressure.  It slowly raised mine to a level that

was unacceptable.  Also I had a lot of hair loss while on it.  On the positive

side I could really tell that it was helping the joint stiffness and pain. 

linda

From: momjudi <djrsyaeger@...>

Subject: [ ] Arava---good or bad?

Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010, 11:31 PM

 

My rheumy gave me a choice between MTX and Arava and I chose the Arava.

Anyone have any VIP comments? I start the Arava this weekend.

Judi

[Guest guest]

I was on Arava for a while, and it worked very well for me. The

trouble was, it caused my white blood cell count to continue on the

decline that MTX had started. I've often wondered how it would have

been if I hadn't already taken MTX. We certainly don't all have the

same side effects.

Sue

On Jul 2, 2010, at 12:31 AM, momjudi wrote:

> My rheumy gave me a choice between MTX and Arava and I chose the

> Arava. Anyone have any VIP comments? I start the Arava this weekend.

> Judi

[Guest guest]

Hi Judi

After taking MTX for many years wo any problems it stopped working and I had a

terrible flare. I took Arava for about 3 weeks but it made me very sick. I had

terrible diarreah, felt nauseous and very, very tired. It took over 6 weeks to

get rid of the diarreah and I had to use the medicine to " wash " it out of my

system. One other strange side effect that I had was that my hair did not grow.

I usually have to have my roots touched up every 3 weeks but my grays didn't

grow in as usual. I hope you have better luck - just watch out for your symptoms

and call your doctor if you have any problems. Many people have had success with

Arava. I am on Imuran now.

Maggie

>

> My rheumy gave me a choice between MTX and Arava and I chose the Arava.

Anyone have any VIP comments? I start the Arava this weekend.

> Judi

>