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. Aventis notified health officials in October 2003 that new safety warnings concerning life-threatening liver toxicity and infections have been required on the label for Arava.

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.

Arava side effects run from mild - such as diarrhea and hair loss - to serious, including the risk of liver damage (hepatotoxicity). Arava may also cause high blood pressure. As with other drugs that suppress the immune system, infection may be more common when taking Arava. Taking Arava can also affect the blood count (one of the effects is that fewer blood cells are made) and it can make you more likely to develop infections.

Serious side effects include:

• Yellow Eyes and/or Skin

• Chest Congestion

• Painful Urination

• Difficult or Painful Breathing

• Dizziness

• Fever

• Headache

• Loss of Appetite

• Nausea and/or Vomiting

• Sneezing, Coughing, or Sore Throat

If you or a loved one have taken Arava and experienced any of the above side effects, you may have a right to seek compensation from the drug companies that have caused you pain.

At Brown & Crouppen our experienced team of Arava and defective drug lawyers provide tough, aggressive representation  for Arava victims and their families. When you choose us to handle your Arava lawsuit, our entire team becomes fully committed to your cause. We’ll find answers, hold negligent companies responsible and get you the compensation you deserve.

Brown & Crouppen can help you make informed decisions about your legal rights, so please call Brown & Crouppen at 1-800-536-HELP for your free legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form.

My name is Ron Brown, along with my partner Terry Crouppen we founded Brown and Crouppen almost 20 years ago. Today, we are proud to say that we are one of mid-America’s largest personal injury lawfirms. For some time now we have concentrated a lot of our time and resources in the area of dangerous drug litigation. We have partnered with some of the country’s best drug litigation specialists to create a legal team we feel is second to none. Our team has successfully handled cases involving the prescription drugs Rezulin™, Fen-Phen™ and Lotronex™.    CONTINUE

It’s really terrible to read about a prescription drug being recalled because of dangerous side effects, when you’re one of the people taking it. That’s what happened to me a few years ago. I suffer from a chronic disease and my doctor prescribed a drug to help me manage it better. After being on the drug for a while I began to feel weak and reported it to my doctor. I can’t say enough good things about him, he saved my life. He realized that my problems were being caused not by my disease but by the prescription drug that was supposed to be helping me.   CONTINUE

A lot of people believe that the giant corporations of the world are impossible to beat. Let me assure you this is not true. Everyday, Brown and Crouppen as well as other prominent law firms across America take on these giants and win. The real wonder of the American legal system is that it allows individuals to litigate important matters against giant corporations as equals. If a case has merit our system enables you to win compensation for the harm done. It happens everyday.  CONTINUE

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