Leflumidinide Works great for me but side effect for me is hair loss

I am starting IV Orencia in 10 days. I am 69 and on traditional Medicare. It's billed through part B. I also have AARP supplemental so I am told there will be no copay. For Orencia subcutaneous injections at home my part D copay would be $350 a month. I believe part B also pays for home Embrel. From what I have read Part B pays for IV Remicade, Rituximab and Cimzia. Tofacitinab may be covered too, not sure.

When I called my part D both Humera and Embrel would have $500 a month copays.

Thankfully my rheumatologist knew how to get me treatment without the big copays.

Up to now I have only been on methotrexate and LDN. I got RA diagnosis a year ago (I suspect I had longer but it was so mild the rheumatologist couldn't diagnose). I have had Sjogren's for several years. My labs are positive for RF and anti-CCP but none of the other autoantibodies. I've had many checked.

For the person who mentioned leflunomide long persistence in the body. It can be "flushed out" with a drug called cholestyramine in about 2 weeks. From what I have read in other people's reviews, some get great results with leflunomide (better than methotrexate) but others say the opposite.

I didn't know until recently that methotrexate and leflunomide can be combined and in some people is more effective than methotrexate alone. But I preferred to start a biologic and will be on the combo of methotrexate and Orencia --hoping for the best.

I read Orencia reviews. Like all of the treatments, the reviews range from worst drug ever to the best after multiple failures.

Anyone else on Orencia? If so, is it monotherapy or combined with other DMARD?

Thanks. Sorry to hear you are having issues finding something that works for you. I hope the Enbrel turns out to be the thing. Thanks for the link, I'm excited to find out more info on this pain in the butt disease. I wish I could just stay on the prednisone. At least it works for pain and inflammation and it doesn't make me fall asleep everytime I'm in active.

I was on Leflumidinide for over six months. It never helped. I would continuously take a 10 day course of prednisone to get the flare down.
The side effects I had on this drug we’re weight loss yay! I still had swelling and pain and also a leaky gut which is real. fun at work. I think I read somewhere that it will take two years to get out of your system from my understanding. It’s no worse than methotrexate, or some of these other drugs that are prescribed for RA.

Free online medical book https://www.rheumaknowledgy.com/

My doctor gave me this book to read. It’s for physicians and nurses, so maybe it’ll help answer some questions.

My doctor has never combined methotrexate, which was my first prescption. Interestingly, as I read through all of these posts, or I see your doctors have prescribed multiple pills at the same time my Rhumy has never done that. I’m currently taking Enbrel and a 30 day course of prednisone hands are still swollen. Although the pain has gone down along with the fatigue, I’ll see him next week. Just wondering what he’s gonna try now. I’ve only been on this prescription for three weeks.

I was on methotrexate and couldn’t tolerate it. Now I’m on Leflunomide and haven’t had any issues. Also taking Simponi Aria infusions. If you start Leflunomide and have to go off of it there is a pill you can take to get it out of your system. It doesn’t take that long to get it out of your system. I goggled it multiple times just so I would know if I had any issues.