Has anyone had the experience of weight loss on this drug?

I have lost 9.5kgs in two months although in every other way I am very happy with it.
I'm certainly reluctant to stop it thinking there might be some other cause, like fatigue which I have +++
or just the response of my body to a horrible and difficult year both emotionally and physically.

Of course as a women I'm highly delighted
What was it Wallis Simpson once said - ' a woman can never be too rich or too thin'!! I'll go
with that philosophy

Seriously though, views would be appreciated.

Gogs

Hi Kathleen,

I do go back to the clinic in January and I guess they will weigh me again.

Weight loss can be a problem with it, and it states that if you lose >10% of your body weight, stopping it
has to be a consideration. I've lost more than 10%, I'm still awaiting the results of the Latent TB testing because if I have been exposed to this disease
in the past then I will need TB treatment before considering biologics, even with Leflunomide there can be a problem - but I've not got it

I'm really reluctant to have to stop this drug, I'm very satisfied with it. I've only been on it a month but except for some minor niggles
have had very little to complain about. All my bloods are behaving themselves - so all in all...............

Thanks Kathleen

Gogs x

Thanks Kathleen and Paul,

Yes, Leflunomide does cause weight loss but as it's my only side effect, bar a few niggles, I'm very reluctant to have it stopped.
Fortunately it's the nurse I see next and she doesn't seem too sharp and doesn't really know me from when I was 11kg heavier a couple of months ago.

What a shame Paul, your answer to weight loss and sadly you reacted to the drug. Steroids seems to have had no effect on my weight, even on high doses
which I am at the present time. I'll just count it as my run of good fortune

Gogs

That sounds good to me Jane..

I do feel a bit run down now, and don't have as much energy - but there are many factors that could be causing that so don't want to blame RA or drugs.
When I was on Sulphasalazine I lost a lot of weight, and like you was 'caught short' too often so it was stopped.Then I was tied on Azathioprine with the same results!!

I am unable to take Methotrexate (lungs), and have to take regular steroids as the RA have affected my lungs. Leflunomide has been my best up to now, I just don't want
them to start making an issue about my weight. Personally I like the late Wallace Simpson's view - 'A woman can never be too rich or too thin!' I'll go with that.

Just one question - you mention missing chocolate and food - are you not supposed to eat chocolate with Leflunomide?

Gogs