
Suggest An Alternate Medicine For Leflunomide Taken For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Question: I am a 58 years old female having morning stiffness of small joints of hand feet. at times have shooting pain also from these joints. I was diagnosed as having Rheumatoid arthritis. Ra factor was negative. Anticcp antibodies titre was borderline. ESR was 25mm in Ist Hour(Westergren). I was put on 20 mg dose Leflunomide for nearly 4 months. This resulted in weight loss of nearly 10 Kg (from 64 Kg to 54Kg) in four months. Hb values also showed fall from 11.5 G/dl to 9.8 G/dl with leukopenia. Kence drug has to be stopped abruptly. I am keen to know what next should I do as disease seems to be getting more aggressive after stopping the drug.
Brief Answer:
You will be started on another drug.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for posting your query on HCM.
Leflunomide causes weight loss and that is very common . Also the blood count issue that you are talking does happen and generally we just decrease the dose and see but in case your treating doctor wants to stop it , next best option will be using methotrexate which is drug of choice for this disease and it will control the disease well . You can talk to the doctor regarding this option. Any other doubts please ask.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
You will be started on another drug.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for posting your query on HCM.
Leflunomide causes weight loss and that is very common . Also the blood count issue that you are talking does happen and generally we just decrease the dose and see but in case your treating doctor wants to stop it , next best option will be using methotrexate which is drug of choice for this disease and it will control the disease well . You can talk to the doctor regarding this option. Any other doubts please ask.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad

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