Arava - also known as Leflunomide - is a prescription drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Arava is used for people with active rheumatoid arthritis, where aggressive treatment is needed. It is used to reduce signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and to slow down damage to joints.

Arava was approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis by the Food and Drug Administration in September 1998. When the FDA approved Arava, the agency noted that Arava worked no better than methotrexate (the older drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis), but said patients needed some different options. It is estimated that over 1.5 million prescriptions were written in the United States alone since Arava was introduced.

Arava stops the development of immune cells that cause joint pain, inflammation, stiffness, and swelling. It decreases inflammation and may reduce the likelihood of joint damage. Arava is not approved for persons under the age of 18 years. It is available in 10 milligram (mg), 20 mg and 100 mg sized tablets. Arava is made by Hoechst Marion Roussel (now Aventis Pharmaceuticals)

In its first three years on the market, Arava was associated with at least 130 cases of severe liver damage, including 56 hospitalizations and 12 deaths, according to FDA data. There are also reports of lymphoma and drug-induced hypertension in people treated with Arava as well as serious skin, blood and gastrointestinal reactions.

Side Effects of Arava

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