Arava
Arava is designed to help slow joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that makes joints inflamed and stiff, and it can attack other organs in the body as well. Because it is a chronic disease, it is a disease that has no cure and plagues the patient for long periods of time.
However, taking Arava can cause a number of serious side effects, including birth defects in babies whose mothers used Arava while pregnant. The birth defects can even be caused by fathers who use Arava at the time of conception. Pregnancy should be avoided for two years after taking the drug.
Arava helps reduce pain and stiffness in joints so that people who live with rheumatoid arthritis can lead more pain free lives. Rheumatoid arthritis can make daily tasks like sleeping, bathing and traveling very difficult and painful, and Arava may help relieve some of the symptoms. Arava can also slow down damage to joints.
However, besides birth defects, Arava can cause liver injury and interstitial lung disease, which is an inflammation of the lung tissue. If any of these complications develop, patients must undergo a drug elimination process to rid the body of the drug. The process can take anywhere from 11 days to three months, depending upon the type of drug used to eliminate Arava. Patients who take Arava can also die from liver, lung disease or other complications caused by the medication.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
- diarrhea
- rash
- flu-like symptoms
- difficulty breathing
- pregnancy
- chest pain
- back pain
- mouth sores
- cramping
- unusual lumps
- extreme fatigue
- irregular or discolored urine or stools
Contact a personal injury attorney if you develop injuries or complications because of Arava.
Tags: arava, arthritis, inflammation, joint damage, joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis