Leflunomide and mouth blisters?

General Medications
1

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced blisters in their mouth while on Leflunomide? Just looked up the side effects and apparently we are stop using the medication and inform the doctor. I have been having issues with a burning tongue off and on for a few months, even prior to the leflunomide, but now little blisters on the inside top and bottom lip. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks,

Tara

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine: blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin; chills; itching; joint or muscle pain; red skin lesions, often with a purple center; sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips; or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Source: Leflunomide (By mouth) | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/drug-notes/notes/leflunomide-by-mouth#ixzz2tYDCo35o University of Maryland Medical Center Follow us: @UMMC on Twitter | MedCenter on Facebook

2

Hmmmm…doesn’t sound good to me, Tara. I’d be taking that advice and letting your doc know asap.

I’m so sorry this is happening to you. You’ve had such a rough go trying to get this thing under control.

3

Definitely contact your doctor. It may not be directly related, especially since you said that the burning began prior to the medication. But still. Leflunomide has a really long half life, so if it is related, then they may have you do a washout program to rid your system of it quickly. Let us know what happens.

4

Thanks for the feedback, heading to see the doctor this morning. Have a feeling with my current blood work Low RBC, High MCV and Low Lymphocytes...it may be anemia. My RBC has been low for months...possibly even years, the MCV has been high the past two months and the Lymphocytes just a month. Will let you know what happens. Thanks again :-)

5

Wishing you the best for your doctors appointment today, and that you can start to feel better soon

6

So it seems it is related to a lack of folic acid, in fact the blood work changes very much show that is the issue. This is very common on these meds and I will be increasing my daily intake of folic acid.

7

I had never had this problem with leflunomide, been off and on it for about 2 years. Anyway, 2 weeks ago Dr. and I decided to double my dose, and yesterday I developed a mouth sore. My dr. never suggested taking folic acid with it, unlike with MTX, so I wasn't sure I needed it. I think I'll start taking some OTC, and check in at my next appt. unless things get worse.

8

I was kept on folic acid when I was switched from MTX to leflunomide.

9

It's totally helping! Mouth sores and burning tongue are gone! My Rheumy called and confirmed the same as my doctor...keep on the folic acid, currently taking 3 daily and can increase to 5. Other then an increase in fatigue, Lefunomide is tolerable compared to MTX. Crossing my fingers this combo works.

10

Amazing how quickly the folic acid took care of it! Totally impressed with the doc …

But fatigue. :frowning:

11

Thanks Sybil. The folic acid seems to be working, still having the odd day of mouth issues but less then it was. I'm not sure this is helping with the anemia, will find out when I have my next blood tests. I'm finding the Lef a lot more tolerable then the MTX. I have had a few good days now with hardly any back pain, so this is a big positive. Hopefully I continue to notice more positive results, it certainly gives me hope :-) I can totally relate to thinking just bring on the biologics...the journey of finding the right meds certainly can be a long one!

sybil said:

I've had no probs so far with Leflunomide TaraLynn and I reckon fatigue is now negligible and so is stiffness - on occasions I can do stairs without feeling 90 years old so I think the Lef is better for me than Mtx was. However I'm still anaemic and actually have more swelling, holiday photos in a swimsuit weren't exactly uplifting. Sorry to hear you are having problems but great that Folic Acid has helped ... if I get any mouth soreness I'll try Folic Acid too. I dunno .... sometimes I just think bring on the biologics really but it's early days for me with this drug as it is for you.

12

Although the Lef was working brilliantly, it wasn't worth the nausea. Could not eat or drink anything for 48 hours at a time. I am on Remicade as well and not effective on it's own so he prescribed the Lef. I see my Doc on Monday to see what's next. I have been dealing with this 32 years and have been on every drug and combo out there. I even started on Gold Injections, so that is way back in the day. Weird how sometimes Remicade does ok, and other times it might as well be a placebo. I have been doing this for so long it's trial and error with this damn disease.The depression really makes it worse.

13

That's not good Erinsmum :-( I had brutal nausea with the MTX and seem to be tolerating the Leflunomide fairly well. I can't say it's made a huge improvement with my arthritis, however it is way more tolerable. Every ones results seem to really vary. The journey of finding the right meds can be lengthy and in your case....it's been a long time! I hope you find a combo that works for you soon!

Erinsmum said:

Although the Lef was working brilliantly, it wasn't worth the nausea. Could not eat or drink anything for 48 hours at a time. I am on Remicade as well and not effective on it's own so he prescribed the Lef. I see my Doc on Monday to see what's next. I have been dealing with this 32 years and have been on every drug and combo out there. I even started on Gold Injections, so that is way back in the day. Weird how sometimes Remicade does ok, and other times it might as well be a placebo. I have been doing this for so long it's trial and error with this damn disease.The depression really makes it worse.