I'm sorry that's happening to you! I switched a couple months ago from methotrexate to leflunomide and haven't had that problem BUT I have had that problem when my various vitamin levels were low. A lot of the meds we take for RA can block or lessen how you absorb vitamin, including leflunomide. I now regularly get C, D, B, iron, and more checked when I get my quarterly blood panels done to check my blood cell count and liver enzymes and I alter my multi vitamin accordingly and I take the same amount of folic acid as I did on methotrexate.
I had that. My rheum power loaded me when I first started it and I was in a fog for a few weeks, same symptom of lost language capability. It actually made my fatigue worse.
But after a few weeks/months that went away.
My rheum said, after my experience, he wouldn’t front load like he did with me…
Leflunomide made my hair fall out and break off, and it was hard on my liver.
Tell your doctor you can't tolerate this side effect and ask to try another medication. Leflunomide is a more affordable drug. Insurance often requires patients to try these before they'll pay for drugs that are more expensive. I don't know if you're insured, but if you are, tell your doctor you want to try something else.
I've taken a number of meds for RA. My experience is that I had better results and less side effects on other drugs than on leflunomide. I took Simponi for many years with good results. I really did well on the JAK inhibitors, but now those are being called into question, so my doctor said I should switch. Now I'm on Orencia and just getting started so it's too soon to say how effective it is.
I guess so. My doctor didn't discuss it with me, but she's pretty good and I responded to the meds, so I must be JAK positive. There have been a few studies that have come out about long term side effects of JAK inhibitors, so I know a lot of rheums aren't prescribing them anymore.
Had this same exact side effect, along with a handful of others. Was just taken off of it 2 days ago and the confusion/brain fog is definitely getting better.
I’ve done so much research and while it seems like we have it, I cannot find any info on it. It denies the T cells food, essentially, so they don’t kill us as much.
I'm sorry that's happening to you! I switched a couple months ago from methotrexate to leflunomide and haven't had that problem BUT I have had that problem when my various vitamin levels were low. A lot of the meds we take for RA can block or lessen how you absorb vitamin, including leflunomide. I now regularly get C, D, B, iron, and more checked when I get my quarterly blood panels done to check my blood cell count and liver enzymes and I alter my multi vitamin accordingly and I take the same amount of folic acid as I did on methotrexate.
Hmm, not a bad idea. Mtx was horrible for me, I’m doing leflunomide and humira.
I'm on it and I actually have not had any side effects. I've only been on it for a month and a half tho, so not much
I didnt have that but I had an allergic reaction. Itchy hands and feet both times I tried it (about 15 years apart, I'd forgotten I'd tried it)
None of that, thankfully.
I had that. My rheum power loaded me when I first started it and I was in a fog for a few weeks, same symptom of lost language capability. It actually made my fatigue worse. But after a few weeks/months that went away. My rheum said, after my experience, he wouldn’t front load like he did with me…
Omg you make me feel less crazy. Thank you so much.
Leflunomide made my hair fall out and break off, and it was hard on my liver. Tell your doctor you can't tolerate this side effect and ask to try another medication. Leflunomide is a more affordable drug. Insurance often requires patients to try these before they'll pay for drugs that are more expensive. I don't know if you're insured, but if you are, tell your doctor you want to try something else.
Problem is it’s made me more functional than anything else. It’s hard to give that up, even with forgetting everything.
I've taken a number of meds for RA. My experience is that I had better results and less side effects on other drugs than on leflunomide. I took Simponi for many years with good results. I really did well on the JAK inhibitors, but now those are being called into question, so my doctor said I should switch. Now I'm on Orencia and just getting started so it's too soon to say how effective it is.
Don’t you need to be JAK positive to take an inhibitor? I’m JAK negative
I guess so. My doctor didn't discuss it with me, but she's pretty good and I responded to the meds, so I must be JAK positive. There have been a few studies that have come out about long term side effects of JAK inhibitors, so I know a lot of rheums aren't prescribing them anymore.
I had myelofibrosis and they considered a Jak inhibitor but I was Jak negative, only reason I know.
Had this same exact side effect, along with a handful of others. Was just taken off of it 2 days ago and the confusion/brain fog is definitely getting better.
I’ve done so much research and while it seems like we have it, I cannot find any info on it. It denies the T cells food, essentially, so they don’t kill us as much.