Leflunomide and high blood pressure

lizzie7ne

Just been to my GP, been having my BP monitored cos its gone high
(and its supposed to be on the low side of normal under the instructions of my neuro surgeon as I have tiny brain aneurysms - had some larger ones operated on a few years ago). My GP has added a third BP tablet, last month he had to double the dose of one of my other BP tablets, but then my Rheum increased the dose of my Leflunomide!. My BP was well controlled on low dose BP meds before I started Leflunomide, so I am pretty sure Leflunomides causing it. Anyone else had a rise in BP due to Leflunomide?


lizzie

Wonkylegs

lizzie7ne wrote:

Just been to my GP, been having my BP monitored cos its gone high
(and its supposed to be on the low side of normal under the instructions of my neuro surgeon as I have tiny brain aneurysms - had some larger ones operated on a few years ago). My GP has added a third BP tablet, last month he had to double the dose of one of my other BP tablets, but then my Rheum increased the dose of my Leflunomide!. My BP was well controlled on low dose BP meds before I started Leflunomide, so I am pretty sure Leflunomides causing it. Anyone else had a rise in BP due to Leflunomide?


lizzie

It's a common side effect but I understand that they can usually moderate it with meds, although they might stop it if it is too much of a problsm.

I have been lucky that it has not badly affected my BP , but I am only on 10mg as the 20mg didn't agree with me.

lizzie7ne

Hi Wonky,

Thanks for your reply, yeh I was on 10mg, they upped it to 20mg and I had upset stomach with it and my BP was up, so they dropped it to 10mg and the stomach probs went, the BP was up a bit so my GP doubled the BP tablets, then they wanted me to try 20mg again so I did, this time no stomach upsets but the BP has soared. What side effects did you have on 20mg.


lizzie

Wonkylegs

I had 5 weeks of recurrent infections (quite badly) and huge mouth ulcers
(not to mention the stomach probs - although they did go after a few weeks) which meant that the 20mg Leflunomide mixed with the 20mg Methotrexate Injections I was on was just too much for my body to take.

After 6 weeks on very little they reduced the MTX to 15mg and the Lef. to 10mg. That is what I was on until 5 weeks ago when they upped the MTX to 17.5mg. I thnk this is the top dose combo that I can tolerate, and although I feel sick a bit, it is not too bad.

Blood results have come right down and my BP is fine (on ramipril for it) - although it tends to go up when I am in pain and down when I'm not - so that could have something to do with your problem as well maybe?

lizzie7ne

Thanks Wonky, I am on 25mg of Methotrexate as well as the Leflunomide, I too find it too strong, I miss out the Leflunomide on MTX day. The high dose of MTX really knocks me out the next day, they have talked about reducing that slightly if I can continue with the Leflunomide. Its all swings and roundabouts


lizzie