Leflunomide

TeaBag
TeaBag Member Posts: 101
edited 3. Jan 2014, 14:53 in Living with Arthritis archive
I switched from mtx to leflunomide about 3 weeks ago and i feel so tired i could easily nod off in the afternoon and i am in bed before 9 every night when i awaken in the morning i have no energy to get up and i am so sluggish do any of you have these problems? :?

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello, how much of a break did you have between the meds? I used to have at least three months with nothing before starting a new med so that the old one would clear my system. Lef didn't help me, it just gave me blinding headaches, but to my way of thinking it could be that the lef is not yet at a level to help - the tiredness could be either your body adjusting or your arthritis having a snap at you because it can. I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • trepolpen
    trepolpen Member Posts: 504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi teabag , dont think its to do with your drugs , sort of goes with RA

    alot of people take a low dose of amitriptyline at night for this very reason & would talk to a doctor about feeling so tired & see if they have anything to offer
  • mike26
    mike26 Member Posts: 416
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Teabag
    yes im also on Leflunomide and Methotrexate and it makes me very tyred thro the day and often fall asleep in chair, it also gives me very bad diorrea.
    not very nice.
    im waiting to start TNFs in new year hope these work better.
    good luck with youres and hope they work foryou.
    mike26.
  • TeaBag
    TeaBag Member Posts: 101
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I had about a week as you don't need to wait they do seem to work better than the Mtx my hair seems to have stopped falling out the nausea has gone ..its just this sluggish slow feeling .
  • mike26
    mike26 Member Posts: 416
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Teabag
    yes ive had this no energy thing for a long while,very weak and lost a
    lot of my strength ,ive been on MET for 13 months and LEF for 9 months.
    have to have regular blood tests to keep eye on it.
    Im hopping that the TNFs work better ,ill be on three meds when i start
    and hope it takes the swelling down atleast.
    good luck mike26..
  • ritwren
    ritwren Member Posts: 928
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Teabag of course everyone is different.
    I had to stop methotrexate and start leflunamide. I had about a week in between stopping one and starting the other. Leflunamide did'nt agree with me at all and I had a massive flare before starting TNF's. I was so tired I could have dozed all day and yet had a very poor sleep at night.

    I hope the Leflunamide works for you but it will take time for your body to adjust. In the meantime, don't be hard on yourself and try to pace your activities so you only do what you must on days you feel really rotten. At least the nausea has eased off for you.

    big hugs.
  • Boomer13
    Boomer13 Member Posts: 1,931
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Teabag;

    I don't take Leflunomide, but mtx, hydroxy, sulfasalazine. I have excessive fatigue that really intensified when I added Sulfa. to the mix. It's really hard to cope with. I seem to get more sensitive to the effects of every new med we add. Take care.

    xxAnna
  • Starburst
    Starburst Member Posts: 2,546
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Tea,

    I take leflunomide and find I often have a foggy head that I can't seem to clear. I don't know if that's specifically related though. Do you have fatigue normally as part of your arthritis?

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