Re: query about Arava - side effects

[Guest guest]

Happy Thanksgiving, Max.

I have been taking Arava for about five years and it has been a wonderful drug.

Takes away the swelling which used to be terrible.

The only real side effect has been the tiredness that you describe. However,

being retired, I can take a nap when I want to and I gave up my drivers license.

It helps a great deal with the pain also. I also take Hydrocodone 10 mg and

between the two I have been able to control the disease up to this point. I wish

you well and hope it will work as well for you as it does for me

Walt

[Guest guest]

I've only been on it for two weeks and had to take last week off from

work because I was so tired and sore all over, all my PA affected

joints hurt. I'm still tired now but not as much.

" ozrumluva " <adamg@...>

[Guest guest]

dear ozrumluva

I had a similar experience with Arava, I've just been on it for a month now,

after about a week I had a few days when I was quite exhausted, nothing like I'd

ever had before, e.g. as I was driving home I just felt I could hardly move my

foot up and down on the accelerator. BUT, I only had this 2-3 days (and not

consecutively), unusual tiredness is listed as a side effect, but I'm not 100%

sure whether it was due to the flare or the Arava (this recent flare was my

first, before joints had gradually become stiffer and more painful, this time it

seemed like every joint had flared and were stiff. After this no more tiredness

like that, phew, if you are concerned I suppose you could contact your rheumy.

I am also on MTX, I am really pleased at the combination, pain is much much

diminished, interestingly even my so-called frozen shoulder has responded,

although the rheumy said it would take about 4 weeks or more to have effect, I

improved after about 2 1/2 weeks, maybe as the MTX was " nearly " working, and

this extra has made all the difference.

ozrumluva: let us know how you progress with the Arava, I wish you well

Thanks to Walt, who has given me many positive thoughts and said (may I quote):

Arava was a god-send to me. Great to have you here Walt

regards

max

PS Re the generic form, I asked my pharmacist, who showed me the two, the

generic is also made by Aventis, interesting isn't it, bottle and box looks very

similar. Wonder why they bother. The non-generic tablet comes with a pamphlet

called " Joint Effort " you can join for nothing and they send you information and

updates. Can't get this with the generic.