Leflunomide and high blood pressure

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.

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?