Leflunomide

Leflunomide affects the immune system and reduces swelling and inflammation in the body. Leflunomide is used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction #

Generic name: Leflunomide

Brand name: Arava

Dosage form: oral tablet (10 mg; 20 mg)

Drug classes: Antirheumatics, Selective immunosuppressants

Uses #

Rheumatoid arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis

Benefits #

In Rheumatoid arthritis

Lefno 20 Tablet reduces pain, stiffness, and swelling in your joints and slows down the progression of bone and joint damage. This will help you do normal daily activities more easily and thus improve your quality of life. This medicine should be taken at the same time each day to get maximum benefits. Keep taking it even if you feel well because it is preventing future harm as well as improving your symptoms.

In Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects some people who have psoriasis, a condition where the skin cells in the body grow too quickly and form scales and dry patches. Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis. Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and swelling, which may flare and subside. Lefno 20 Tablet helps reduce pain, stiffness and swelling in your spine and joints. It helps improve flexibility and prevents disease progression. This will help you lead a better and active life.

Side effects #

Leflunomide may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• Signs of infection–sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing

• Sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough, feeling short of breath

• Easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin

• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet

• Liver problems–nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

• Severe skin reaction–fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects of leflunomide may include:

• Nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain

• Headache

• Abnormal liver function tests

• Thinning hair

• Back pain

• Weakness

• Rash

• High blood pressure.

Directions for use #

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Lefno 20 Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

How it works? #

Lefno 20 Tablet blocks the action of certain chemical messengers that are responsible for inflammation, swelling and redness associated with certain autoimmune diseases. It suppresses the underlying disease process, rather than simply treating the disease.

Warnings #

• Do not use leflunomide if you are pregnant, and stop taking leflunomide if you think you might be pregnant. Use birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking leflunomide, and until you complete a “drug elimination” procedure.

• Leflunomide can cause severe or fatal liver damage. Tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease or if you also use other medicines such as: pain or arthritis medicine (including aspirin, Tylenol, and Advil/Motrin), medicines to treat tuberculosis or other infections, seizure medication, hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy, chemotherapy, cholesterol-lowering medicine, heart medication, or blood pressure medicine.