Is leflunomide worse than methotrexate?

Is leflunomide worse than methotrexate?

Improvements seen with methotrexate were significantly greater than those with leflunomide. No further improvement occurred after the second year of treatment and the distinction between the two treatments in terms of tender joint count and patient global assessment was lost.

How good is leflunomide?

Leflunomide has an average rating of 5.2 out of 10 from a total of 100 ratings on Drugs.com. 41% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 44% reported a negative experience.

Is leflunomide a strong drug?

Leflunomide is an effective disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). However, it can cause serious hepatic, haematologic, respiratory, and dermatologic adverse effects. Leflunomide is a potent immunosuppressant, reducing resistance to infection which, when it occurs, can be severe and disseminated.

Which is better leflunomide or sulfasalazine?

Leflunomide was significantly better than sulfasalazine in improving global assessment scores, functional ability, and ACR response rates at 24 months.

Which is better methotrexate or leflunomide?

Compared with methotrexate, leflunomide was not significantly more effective on most outcome measures. There was no difference in the number of tender or swollen joints, pain scores, or work productivity.

Can leflunomide affect your eyes?

Call your doctor right away if you notice any symptoms affecting your eyes while you’re taking leflunomide. Your doctor will likely want to examine your eyes. And they may recommend you stop taking this drug. Symptoms of ocular side effects may be reversible if you stop taking leflunomide.

Is methotrexate safer than leflunomide?

Patients who took leflunomide were more likely than those who took methotrexate to discontinue treatment but not because of adverse events. There was no significant difference between the leflunomide and methotrexate groups in the likelihood of elevated hepatic transaminase levels or weight loss.

Does leflunomide affect sleep?

Leflunomide oral tablet does not cause drowsiness, but it can cause other side effects.

What can I take instead of leflunomide?

Leflunomide (Arava®) Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors— etanercept (Enbrel®, adalimumab (Humira ®), and infliximab (Remicade®), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®), golimumab (Simponi®) T-cell Costimulatory Blocking Agents—abatacept (Orencia®)

What is the best medication for rheumatoid arthritis with the least side effects?

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) are used for mild rheumatoid arthritis. They are not as powerful as other DMARDs, but they usually cause fewer side effects.