# Leflunomide (Arava) anybody **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [October 2, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954 "2012-10-02T17:49:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![razzle51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@razzle51](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/razzle51)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/1 "2012-10-02T17:49:29Z")
has anyone tried this medication. Heard it works pretty good ....my daughter has this and is not hjaving,much luck with the other meds ---
**Author:** ![Seenie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/seenie/32/4466_2.png) [@Seenie](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Seenie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/2 "2012-10-02T20:47:03Z")
Yes, Razzle, I started on Arava in May after failing to get any response from mtx, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine. After four months, I started to notice some improvement. Nothing dramatic, mind you. (I wish!) Nice of you to support your daughter! Welcome. Seenie ---
**Author:** ![Stoney](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/stoney/32/5959_2.png) [@Stoney](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Stoney)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/3 "2012-10-03T01:40:06Z")
I just started with leflunomide. I'm really hoping that I get some improvement. I was on MTX for 6 months, but it did nothing. I've been on plaquenil for almost 5 years. .. . It's still helping, but not enough. Hopefully this offers up enough improvement. ---
**Author:** ![jot1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/jot1/32/620_2.png) [@jot1](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/jot1)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/4 "2012-10-03T02:18:44Z")
I was on it prior to humira. It worked great for 18 months but I needed to switch to a bio. good luck to your daughter. ---
**Author:** ![razzle51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@razzle51](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/razzle51)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 9:09am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/5 "2012-10-03T09:09:13Z")
Humira is not working for my daughter so trying to find something else . thanks for the repplys ---
**Author:** ![Sheena](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/sheena/32/745_2.png) [@Sheena](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Sheena)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/6 "2012-10-04T01:27:18Z")
I won’t know suggest leflunomide to her if she wants to get pregnant. It’s known for its birth defects and if she has any bad side effects there is no medication to revers the effects and it can stay in your system for years. Try other things first. Hope it works out. ---
**Author:** ![Suzh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/suzh/32/582_2.png) [@Suzh](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Suzh)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/7 "2012-10-04T13:14:12Z")
I am grateful to have had success with Arava after trying MTX for a year! It did take 4 months to kick in, but just another opportunity to learn to be patient with PsA (tongue in cheek!). There are intestinal side effects to deal with but it’s worth the trade off to be walking and moving about 80% painlessly. Fatigue and fever don’t appear to be helped much by it, so I am eager to hear what others are finding helpful to combine with Arava. Hope there’s relief in the future for your daughter! ---
**Author:** ![susie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/susie/32/595_2.png) [@susie](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/susie)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/8 "2012-10-04T13:33:04Z")
Hi I am on this drug after trying biologicls with no success and 2 other drugs it seems to be working really well at the present time and I am not so stiff and ablte to walk so much better so for me its great long may it last it doesnt work for tireness or pain does anyone get so tired that they sleep for a whole morning? I am so tired sometimes I sleep fopr awhole morning and nothing wakes me I hate it as I feel terrible when I wake and have a headache too thanks Suzhawkins said: > I am grateful to have had success with Arava after trying MTX for a year! It did take 4 months to kick in, but just another opportunity to learn to be patient with PsA (tongue in cheek!). There are intestinal side effects to deal with but it's worth the trade off to be walking and moving about 80% painlessly. Fatigue and fever don't appear to be helped much by it, so I am eager to hear what others are finding helpful to combine with > Arava. > Hope there's relief in the future for your daughter! ---
**Author:** ![razzle51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@razzle51](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/razzle51)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/9 "2012-10-04T14:13:07Z")
wel so much for that she is trying to get pregnant ---
**Author:** ![Seenie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/seenie/32/4466_2.png) [@Seenie](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Seenie)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/10 "2012-10-04T14:19:27Z")
I believe you cannot take Arava if there is any chance of pregnancy, and as Sheena says, it can stay in your body for years. I think, though, that I read about a “washout” procedure somewhere. Razzle, your daughter needs to discuss possible pregnancy with her doc. On the bright side, many people find that their PsA improves during pregnancy. ---
**Author:** ![Sheena](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/sheena/32/745_2.png) [@Sheena](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Sheena)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/11 "2012-10-10T03:55:10Z")
Humara is one of the safest medications for women trying to have a baby. But it takes about 3 mounts to sart showing improvement for pain and psoriasus. in most pregnat women the only unproven fact about humara is Brest feeding can it transfer in the milk. And not always advised for the first 3M of pregnancy but there has not been any proven side effect to unborn babys when mom is pregnat. So to be safe sick with humara over new drugs when trying the un for sean side effects may not be good for mom and baby when taking new drugs. Also most psoriasis topicals are really bad for pregnant women to. and most arthritis medication like mtx are a no go for women trying for a baby. ---
**Author:** ![razzle51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@razzle51](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/razzle51)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/leflunomide-arava-anybody/954/12 "2014-05-16T17:37:46Z")
sterla finally worked ... yea I posted yesterday but cant find my [post