Cough and Sore Throat

muffy

I had a bad fall last week in the bathroom and couldn't get up so had to wait for the emergency service to rescue me, a couple of days later I started a bad chest which I put down to laying on the cold floor. Yesterday I saw my GP who confirmed a chest infection and prescribed anti-biotics however he also said I had a bad throat and ordered an immediate blood test now I'm worried it's something to do with the leflunomide as this is shown as one of the risks. Has anyone else had a sore throat and what does it all mean??

Sylvia

dreamdaisy

Lef is in the same class of drugs that lower the immune system so we are more prone to coughs, colds and sore throats. I was always told by my hospital not to take my meth if my throat was sore and I never have. These are drugs that can mask an infection and I think your GP is doing the right thing in ordering bloods as they will show if anything else is amiss. Don't fret, muffy, you are being taken care of and please check with your GP or rheumatology nurse whether you should miss a dose of the lef - the advice varies on that all over the country!

I was so sorry to read about your fall - how nasty for you, cold and uncomfy too. I hope you are recovering from that and that the anti-bios are helping to shift the infection. DD

stickywicket

I’m so sorry about the fall, muffy. That must have shaken you up a bit as well as being very sore and uncomfy.

It sounds as if you have a good GP. As DD says, these meds can mask infections and he is just being thorough. Having a sore throat isn’t a problem in itself: it just needs to be monitored to ensure it doesn’t become one.

I hope you are soon feeling much better.