Leflunomide

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
• It not only decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis but also reduces the damage and long-term disability

When should one not use Leflunomide

• Liver diseases, Hepatitis B/ C seropositive
• Kidney diseases
• High blood pressure
• Serious infections
• Concomitant live virus vaccines
• Diabetes

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Nausea
• Chest pain
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Alopecia
• Hypertension (increase in blood pressure)
• Breathing difficulty
• High blood pressure
• Liver damage
• Respiratory infections

Other General Warnings

• Inform if you have intolerance to some sugars
• Inform in case of pale skin, tiredness, or bruising, as these may indicate blood disorders caused by an imbalance in the different types of blood cells which make up blood
• Inform in case of tiredness, abdominal pain, or jaundice (yellow discoloration of the eyes or skin), as these may indicate serious conditions such as liver failure
• Inform in case of any symptoms of an infection such as fever, sore throat or cough, as this medicine may increase the chance of a severe infection which may be life-threatening
• Inform in case of cough or breathing problems as these may indicate lung disease (interstitial lung disease or pulmonary hypertension)
• Inform in case of unusual tingling, weakness or pain in your hands or feet as these may report problems with your nerves (peripheral neuropathy)

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• It may interact with live vaccines such as yellow fever vaccine and influenza vaccine
• With medicines such as Methotrexate and Warfarin
• With other immune-suppressing medications such as Azathioprine, Cyclosporine, and Sirolimus

Interactions with food items

Overdose

Missed a Dose