I took it for a few days and my back broke out in hives but that can be devated because I put something on my back and then used a heating pad but the hives scared me so I stopped taking it. I experienced itching too.

After submitting the post above, my wife reminded me that I had a good deal of itching on my arms and back for 5 or 6 weeks after first taking leflunomide. It was nothing severe, but just something of a nuisance. Over time, as my body got accustomed to the new drug flowing through my system, the itching disappeared. I’ve since had no recurrence.

I've been on Luflonomide since October as the Methotrexate stopped working for me & I've had no issues/side effects.

I’m a 78 year old male diagnosed with RA in 2023.

Methotrexate was the drug my doctor initially prescribed. However, I had a very severe rection to the first dose - hives, swollen tongue, etc. - within hours of administration and my doctor quickly replaced the methotrexate with leflunomide.
(One 10mg tablet daily).
My pain and swelling from RA diminished very quickly over the ensuing 7 or 8 days and within a couple of weeks I felt close to ‘normal’.

I’ve been on leflunomide now for 2 and 1/2 years and have had no recurrence of the debilitating pain and swelling I had prior to taking it. Leflunomide has been almost magical for me. I’ve read of persons who’ve had various side effects - digestive issues, sleep issues, etc. - but I’ve experienced nothing of the sort.

I do find, however, that I fatigue easily and also have difficulty maintaining my weight - steady loss over time - despite a thorough strength and aerobics routine at the gym 4 to 5 days per week. We suspect this has less to do with leflunomide, but more to do with the RA, although some weight loss has been reported by others using leflunomide.

I hope some of this is helpful in some way for you.

A lot of people switch to leflunomide after not tolerating methotrexate, so you’re not alone in that. It can take a few weeks to notice benefits, and regular blood tests are important to monitor how your body responds. Some people experience mild side effects at first, but they often settle with time. Staying in close touch with your doctor and reporting anything unusual early really helps.