kathy
I have not yet been diagnosed correctly with my pain ailment, but under pressure from family and doctors I went on Arava 18 days ago. I went on the loading dose of 100mg for three days. days, and by day 3 I was already having diahrea. (20mg) By day 4, I was close to losing conscienceness. My doctor said to go off of it "for now", I'll probably feel better soon, call him back next week, and he'll put me on 10mg. This is now day 16 of having the diarhea and nausea. I called the office today, (of course my doctor being on vacation!), and his partner said it was probably something else upsetting my stomach. I haven't mentioned that my doctor didn't even check my liver function levels or my CBC or my sed rate before the first dose as a baseline. I have just read on an internet drug site that you need a drug to get off of Arava, that it can take up to two years for the drug to get out of your system. I am fully expecting my doctor to say that 6 days on the med is not significant, but I am going to consult a pharmacist friend before I listen to a doctor. I don't want to put you off of the drug, but you asked for info, and I hope I at least helped with some background. You may have great results, but I now think that it is too new a drug, and I don't want to hear on the news in 6 months that it's being recalled for something serious. My doctor doesn't know yet that he is fired, but he will when he gets back from vacation. Hope this helped to inform you. Take care of yourself, Jill - 43 year old female