Re: Arava drug and the white flag

[Guest guest]

I have a friend who is on Arava (has been on it for 6 months). She had to

be carefully evaluated for any signs of elevated liver enzymes in the first

6 months. (this drug can have adverse effects on the liver, but not

necessarily in everyone - it is a drug that has not been out for long so

nobody really knows the long term effects, but sometimes you do need to take

that chance) She didn't have any problems and her aches and pains have been

significantly reduced. I think she had to have blood tests monthly to start

with - I think that will not need to be done quite as frequently, now that

she has passed the 6 month mark. She is also on minocycline or doxy , I

can't remember which. That came later though, after she had the relief with

Arava.

Hope that helps!

Mark

http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes

RA 4/98 AP 7/98

Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day; Celebrex 200mg 2x/day;Zone

Diet;Olive Leaf;Slippery Elm;bromelain, milk thistle;fish oils;Zone Diet

RA Chat - http://members.tripod.com/~Mark_Holmes/RA/ra.html

ICQ 18123139

rheumatic " Arava " drug and the white flag

> From: WildeHare@...

>

> I saw my rheumatologist, Dr. A, yesterday, and took some blood tests so I

can

> start on the new drug Arava - made from leflunomide, that is suppose

to

> be better and with less side effects (diarrhea, high liver enzymes, hair

> loss!!!, or rash most common) than Methotrexate. Does anyone have any more

> info on it? I am also changing over to Doxycycline after 1 1/2 years on

> Minocin, because after an initial better period, I plateaued, then went

> downhill. I trust my intuition when it comes to my body, and everything

about

> the AP makes 100% sense to me, so don't think I am abandoning it. Someday

in

> the future (soon I hope) we'll view diseases such as RA, Lupus, Lymes,

> probably even Gulf War syndrome the same way we now look back on the

Plague,

> leprosy, and stomach ulcers. The cure, when isolated, wiped them out.

> Today however, I run a busy printing business and do most of the

graphic

> design myself. This disease is causing me so much grief I must try

something

> fast to ensure that the past 20 years of effort building this business

> doesn't go down the drain. So far I have been very lucky with supportive

> staff and understanding customers. I spent an unusually long winter

waiting

> for the warm California sun to take away some of the misery, but there has

> been no remission, so I am going to appease Dr. A and try some of his

> " bad-ass " medicine, at least for a while. I tried placquinal for the last

2.5

> months and we both agreed it didn't do squat. I also take (besides herbs

and

> vitamins) Celebrex for anti-inflam, Trazadone for sleeping, Prozac for

> mood/pain management, and Dextrostat for focus. I have fought each of

these

> medicines, because my mother became a pharmaceutical drug addict (Dr.s

> thought every bodily function could be enhanced by a pill in those days)

and

> my brother became addicted to heroine brought on by the highs from the

> herion-based painkillers used to manage his FM (if one pill's good, two

must

> be better). However, after so much pain in the last 6 months I am ready

to

> try anything. Dr. won't prescribe pain killers because he thinks I'm a

Type A

> personality and will just pop a pill and keep on going instead of resting.

> Pretty accurate. Plus he knows I don't like taking pills, and am concerned

> about side effects, but as he said...life is full of risks with zero

> guarantees. So I'm going gamblin' but would appreciate any advice or

comments

> you might have on the rules or the stakes!

>

> Thanks, and sorry this was so long.

>

> Deborah

> RA 3 years, AP 1.5 years

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

rheumatic " Arava " drug and the white flag

>From: WildeHare@...

Afternoon Deborah.....where in California are you? (Today it is totally overcast

in my neck of the woods, and rain is forecast for tomorrow! Sunny California!)

Do you find that the weather makes a difference in your condition? I've only

been affected by the cold this past winter - before that, my idea of

" winterizing " was putting on socks and a sweater! Now I'm COLD a lot! I wonder

if it is a side effect of the antibiotics? Hmmmmm, curious. Can't say that warm

weather makes me feel any better - just warmer.

Be well...........

>

>I saw my rheumatologist, Dr. A, yesterday, and took some blood tests so I can

>start on the new drug Arava - made from leflunomide, that is suppose to

>be better and with less side effects (diarrhea, high liver enzymes, hair

>loss!!!, or rash most common) than Methotrexate. Does anyone have any more

>info on it? I am also changing over to Doxycycline after 1 1/2 years on

>Minocin, because after an initial better period, I plateaued, then went

>downhill. I trust my intuition when it comes to my body, and everything about

>the AP makes 100% sense to me, so don't think I am abandoning it. Someday in

>the future (soon I hope) we'll view diseases such as RA, Lupus, Lymes,

>probably even Gulf War syndrome the same way we now look back on the Plague,

>leprosy, and stomach ulcers. The cure, when isolated, wiped them out.

> Today however, I run a busy printing business and do most of the graphic

>design myself. This disease is causing me so much grief I must try something

>fast to ensure that the past 20 years of effort building this business

>doesn't go down the drain. So far I have been very lucky with supportive

>staff and understanding customers. I spent an unusually long winter waiting

>for the warm California sun to take away some of the misery, but there has

>been no remission, so I am going to appease Dr. A and try some of his

> " bad-ass " medicine, at least for a while. I tried placquinal for the last 2.5

>months and we both agreed it didn't do squat. I also take (besides herbs and

>vitamins) Celebrex for anti-inflam, Trazadone for sleeping, Prozac for

>mood/pain management, and Dextrostat for focus. I have fought each of these

>medicines, because my mother became a pharmaceutical drug addict (Dr.s

>thought every bodily function could be enhanced by a pill in those days) and

>my brother became addicted to heroine brought on by the highs from the

>herion-based painkillers used to manage his FM (if one pill's good, two must

>be better). However, after so much pain in the last 6 months I am ready to

>try anything. Dr. won't prescribe pain killers because he thinks I'm a Type A

>personality and will just pop a pill and keep on going instead of resting.

>Pretty accurate. Plus he knows I don't like taking pills, and am concerned

>about side effects, but as he said...life is full of risks with zero

>guarantees. So I'm going gamblin' but would appreciate any advice or comments

>you might have on the rules or the stakes!

>

>Thanks, and sorry this was so long.

>

>Deborah

>RA 3 years, AP 1.5 years

>

>---------------------------

[Guest guest]

I'm in Chico,California, where temps should be around 105 this time of year,

but it was almost chilly today with overcast skys too. Yes I am cold all the

time, especially in the fingers in the morning. Like ten little iceicles

until around noon. Is this a common thing? And could it be associated with

Renauds? I use to " run hot " all the time, now dread the over-airconditioning

in malls, Dr. offices, etc.

[Guest guest]

I have the number you listed, and will give it a try as soon as I adjust to

the new meds...need to go slow and space my " Trials " out to judge what is

working and what is not. I've heard alot of good things about it from this

group.

Thanks!

Deborah

[Guest guest]

Hi Deborah,

Would you want to take both Arava and Celebrex?

Chris.

I saw my rheumatologist, Dr. A, yesterday, and took some blood tests so I can

start on the new drug Arava - made from leflunomide, that is suppose to

months and we both agreed it didn't do squat. I also take (besides herbs and

vitamins) Celebrex for anti-inflam, Trazadone for sleeping, Prozac for

Pretty accurate. Plus he knows I don't like taking pills, and am concerned

about side effects, but as he said...life is full of risks with zero

guarantees. So I'm going gamblin' but would appreciate any advice or comments

you might have on the rules or the stakes!

[Guest guest]

Hi:

Know how you feel - how I hate those malls, its always so cold. Today a

friend suggested that I buy those little " slippers " that give you a massage

when walking. Apparently her feet were always cold and after wearing these

slippers (purchased in a drugstore) every evening for 15 to 25 minutes she

saw a real improvement - her feet were warmer and the swelling went down.

Tomorrow I will go to the drugstore and purchase some and try them out as I

am having cold feet and a lot of swelling. I will let you know how I am

doing.

Mado

Re: rheumatic " Arava " drug and the white flag

>From: WildeHare@...

>

>I'm in Chico,California, where temps should be around 105 this time of

year,

>but it was almost chilly today with overcast skys too. Yes I am cold all

the

>time, especially in the fingers in the morning. Like ten little iceicles

>until around noon. Is this a common thing? And could it be associated with

>Renauds? I use to " run hot " all the time, now dread the

over-airconditioning

>in malls, Dr. offices, etc.

>

>---------------------------