Leflunomide Side Effects
Leflunomide, as any other medicine, may provoke certain side effects. Whether you occur to have some of them or not depends on many factors: other medications you are currently taking, your lifestyle, diet, age, other chronic diseases or permanent conditions, etc. It is very important to be extremely attentive to your overall health condition and any minor changes that occur when you start taking leflunomide (this rule refers to any other medication!). Always inform your med prescriber about all leflunomide side effects that you experience, even though leflunomide side effects are generally reversible and not severe.
Leflunomide side effects requiring immediate medical attention:
In about 0.5% of cases leflunomide can affect the patient’s liver.
- severe or continuous diarrhea
- changes in urine color (brown or dark yellow)
- yellowing of skin or eyes
- rise of blood pressure, especially if you are being treated for high blood pressure
- severe vomiting, stomach ache or pain in the abdomen
- breathing difficulty
- pain, numbness, or tingling in limbs
- swelling of the face or tongue
- skin reactions (rash, hives, yellowing)
- sore throat, difficulty or pain on swallowing
- cough, chills or fever
- pain in the chest
- ulcers of the mouth or bleeding gums
- dizziness or abnormal weakness
- muscle pain
- nose bleeds, unusual bruising or bleeding, tiny red spots on the skin
- increased pulse
Other Side Effects of Leflunomide
With leflunomide side effects described below, immediate medical reaction is not usually required, but you should inform your prescriber if they continue or cause serious inconvenience.
- changes in appetite and weight loss
- change in the taste of drinks or food
- changed condition of nails
- diarrhea (not severe or continuous)
- hair loss (reversible)
- headache
- skin itching
- nausea, vomiting or indigestion
I personally experienced temporary loss of appetite when I started on leflunomide. However, in my case that was only good because I lost several unwanted pounds and decreased the pressure on my joints.