Blood Monitring Abnormalities

gazza67

Hi just wondering if anyone else has probs after blood monitoring.Have now been on and off meds 10 times this year due to low wbc or liver problems am on 17.5 mtx and 20 mg leflunomide.I know meds are the problem but cant understand why doc keeps persisting with it.Anyone else suffer this problem and what did you do.Thanks in advance. I have r.a.

salamander

I've had this problem. I leave it up to the rheumatology nurse to tell me what to do. Usually I stop the meds for a couple of weeks and go back on them but it depends entirely on what the abnormalities are so couldn't say in your case.

RA2010

Hi - I've never been on both those meds together, but have had really low wbc on each separately! When they went really low when on MTX I was taken off, then started on a lower dose which didn't have the same effect, so discontinued on that. I was then put on leflunomide but they dropped lower and lower, and lymphocytes were always extremely low. I then developed tummy problems on that too and an itchy rash, so off it at the moment and if that gets better then going back on at a lower dose. If that doesn't improve then have been told I will need to come of lef too! I know all the docs seem to do things differently, but if you have really low wbc all the time I don't see how they can leave you on the meds?

frogmorton

:roll:

Seems like there are no SET rules up to their discretion. Gazza if you have had enough and want to try something else do you feel brave enough to tell them so?

Love

Toni xx