Question
I have Pulmonary Fibrosis and have recently been diagnosed as also having Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was put on Arava by the Rheumatologist, but on looking at the information on the web re Arava and the complications (even death)which could be exacerbated by the use of Arava, I am having misgivings about the use of Arava in my case. In a warning it states that Arava should not be used in patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis. This was in 2004 and would like to know if there is any more recent findings regarding this.
Answer
To my knowledge, Arava has not been associated with pulmonary fibrosis and thus it is frequently used instead of methotrexate in patients with RA and lung disease. The main complication of Arava therapy is liver disease and thus if you have liver problems or alcohol history then you need to discuss this with your doctor. Overall, Arava has been an effective and well tolerated drug.
