Tag: Arava

Diarrhea is the most common side effect of leflunomide, affecting approximately 17% to 27% of patients in clinical trials [1.2.1, 1.2.3]. Understanding why this occurs and how to manage it is crucial for patients undergoing treatment for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Leflunomide, commonly known by its brand name Arava, belongs to a class of medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and is used to treat autoimmune conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved leflunomide in 1998 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

While medications that suppress the immune system, including leflunomide, carry a general warning about a potential increased cancer risk, clinical studies specifically on leflunomide have not reported a consistent increase in cancers. In fact, the link between the drug and cancer is far more complex than many assume, with research even exploring leflunomide's use as a potential cancer treatment.

Leflunomide belongs to a class of medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and is used to treat autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. As a potent immunosuppressant, its primary function is to suppress the overactive immune system responsible for inflammation and joint damage. What kind of drug is leflunomide and how does it work to treat these inflammatory conditions?