User Reviews for Arava oral

so far I have not had many side affects to the drug and over all with my Enbrel injections things seem to be on the up swing for me still have a high SED rate and still need to seek more help.

OVER BADS EXPERIENC HAVE CHRONIC DIARRHEAL SINCE THE START, ONCE STOPPED THE DIADDHEAL HAVE CONTIUNED FOR WEEK. CAUSING ME TO LOOSE 27 LBS.AND TO BECOME VERY TIRED AND UNABLE TO FUNCTIONAL AT A NORMAL LEVEL

This medication almost killed me because a few days after taking this medication, my family had to call 911 due to the severe vomimting and diarrhea which led to dehydration so bad that I was so weak I couldn't even crawl to my crying baby's crib. I passed out and when I woke up, I had severe pain all over my body. To make a long story short, I had to go to the infectious disease doctor for 2 and a half years with severe candida and infections in every oral opening on my body. I would not recommend this medication for anyone at all. I am still living with the effects 10 years later and I have missed out on a lot of my children's lives. Read More Read Less

I have been on Arava for about 4 months and it stopped the swelling and pain almost immediately. However, I experience the itching around my ankles and buttocks, dry cough and throat, shortness of breath, massive hair lose, hot burning sensation on the bottom of feet, numbness of toes, some stomach pain, lose stool, headaches (at first, not s much now), skin bumps looks like rash but feels like acne and when I scratch some come off. In addition, my blood pressure has been high the last couple of times I have been in for the Orencia treatment, normally I have 116/60 but the last couple of times it has read 130/60ish. My initial dosage was 20mg a day but now I am taking it every other day and have gone as much as five days, I have noticed a reduction in hair lose and coughing, and no more itching. I do blood work every six weeks and results are normal. I will see my Dr. in a couple of weeks and hopefully we can discuss and agree to reduce the dosage. Previously I was on Remicade and Methotraxate for about eight/nine years but this stopped working. I feel okay but not a 100% like I use to when I first started the Remicade and MTX regiment eight/nine years ago. I also take Thistle and try to exercise often and hoping to get back into doing yoga two/three times a week like I use to. In my opinion Arava is a very toxic medication and I don’t like it but it has helped me some. My recommendation is to monitor yourself; hence you are the one that knows your body and keep on working with your Dr. to adjust the dosage to a comfortable level to get the most benefit and live life to its fullest. Read More Read Less

I could tell the differences within weeks after starting AVARA. I have been on it over 15 years & my RA is under control. Have had RA 33 yrs. I have more problems with neurpathy (burning nerves) now. It is a side effect of the rheumatoid. Diagnosed after 28 yrs of severe RA.

I have been using arava drug since 2006, I think it is a miracle drug. It helps me to move around and take care of myself.

I have only been on it for 5 weeks and not pleased, have bad acne and a rash, and skin nodules, all just since startting arava. not pleased at all...

no apparent adverse effects

I was wondering...does R.A. drugs cause depression?

All I can say is Arava is a miracle drug for me. I have been on the brand name drug Arava for over 7 years prior to taking numerous other drugs that just made me sick. I am on a low dose of 10mg. My insurance required me to use the generic version of Arava when one was developed a couple of years ago, and I was told it was the same drug so I took it. After being on the generic for a few weeks I developed severe migranes and felt nauseaed and pain. Basically, sick as a dog! I talked with my doctor again and told him and he said it is possible that the generic brand had a different binding ingredient and I went back on the brand name Arava (after a lengthy review with our insurance company) and felt fine after a few weeks. I read that some of the other reviews mentioned migraines and nausea and wonder if they also used the generic version. If so, try the brand name and see if it makes a difference to you too. Read More Read Less

coughing, sores, rashes, flare ups and eye problems.

I have taken Arava for 4months, and stopped a month ago in july 2010. I felt like I was on a chemo treatment. No energy,felt bad all over,2toes both feet numb,itching,no appetitite,sick stomach, and since I've stopped, I still have all the above plus, left fingers started numb, now wrist, no grip, severe neck and head pain,I go to a nerve and spine specialist Monday, CT scan now shows only of my neck, 3bulging discs and pinched nerve. I felt bad from the RA, and was hoping this medicine would help, but I know my body, and I know this medicine is what has started all the other problems in my body now. I will never try it again, and wouldn't recommend it to any RA patient. We have hard enough time as it is, without adding more nerve and muscle problems. I just be glad when this medicine is out of my body. Any advice on getting this out of my system would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, from TennesseeRead More Read Less

I love Arava. It has helped me to the max!!

I started at 10mg for 1 month and then went up to 20mg, within a couple of days of taking it I lost the feeling in my pinky and ring finger along with terrible nerve pain. I went off Arava and nerve pain improved but had ultrasound done and was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Cysts. I have had RA for 34 yrs and never came across this problem until I took Arava. I am also on 5 mg of Prednisone. Has anyone come across this problem and how did you solve it.

I was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago. Started off taking methotrexate, plaquenil and a round of low dose prednisone. Did well until side affects of methtrexate became too much (mostly nausea). My rheumatologist put me on arava and I've been doing well. Pain (mostly hands, wrists, ankles & feet) is mild to moderate but definitely manageable. I feel confident that my doctor is managing my RA as aggressive and as safely as possible.

Started with methotrexate and within a month i could do everythings for myself, but coughing started. MD changed to Arava and I continue to do great, with the exception that i was having constant elevated liver enzymes. So, I would stop the Arava for 2 weeks and cleanse with thistle and my enzymes are back to normal. thats my routine. Most importantly, I changed my complete eating habits using tumeric in salid, ginger & green tea, fish, omega-3 etc. Just hopes it keeps on working. Exercise daily and with moderate force to areas helps. Just got to look out for yourself. You can tell the doctor, but you feel the pain and must act on itRead More Read Less

hi again I am the one two reviews under this one iwas dx with RA when i was 17 well the medicine arava eneded up not working for me after all it gave me so much shortness of breathe and a cough that lasted me like 3 months again so now i know it was the medication and it made my Blood pressure so high like 190/100 and a high pulse ive been off arava now for three months and the cough is gone it was so bad i couldnt breathe and constantly coughing and it was a dry cough I am in so much pain again i am so afraid to take anything new but I know I have too I get really bad migraines at least one every weekend with a lot of nausea and not even vicodin helps or nausea meds I pray that I will have the strength to try a new medication and one that has few side effects I work in the medical field as a Medical assistant and i am around sick people all day so if i take a medication thats lowers my Immune that is scary for me I try to live a normal life but its not that easy when i have so much pain all the time my body feels like i have been hit by a car so those of you with this awfull diease I wish you luck and be careful with this medicine yea it helped my joints but it caused other serious peoblems I have tried this medicine twice already well now my blood pressure is back to a normal 128/70 but OMg the pain is so severe so i am going to see what else my doctor recommends me to try I just know now to be more careful with side effects Im 35 years old now and i plan and want to live a full life but pain free so wish me luck..Read More Read Less

I started taking Arava about 3-4 months ago. I immediately got a severe migraine that put me out of work for a week! I went off of it and my Dr encouraged me to try it one more time. I am itching so bad I feel like I have a million fleas on me and I just can't relieve the itch!! It's driving me nuts! I'm coming off of this stuff. The side affects are too great to keep taking something that I'm not seeing relief for what I'm taking it for!