Who should not take Arava? You must not take Arava if you are pregnant or a woman of childbearing age not using reliable contraception.

Special Warnings with Arava:

• You must not take Arava if you are pregnant or a woman of childbearing age not using reliable contraception, because in animal studies Arava has been shown to cause birth defects to the fetus.
• You must avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with Arava. If you suspect or find out that you are pregnant while taking Arava call you health care provider right away.
• After stopping Arava treatment you must complete the drug elimination procedure before becoming pregnant because Arava stays in the body a long time.
• You should not breast-feed if you are taking Arava.

• If there is any possibility your partner could become pregnant, you should stop Arava treatment and go through the drug elimination procedure prescribed by your doctor.

For All Patients:

Your doctor will conduct liver tests before you start taking Arava and will check your liver's response to Arava every month at first.

General Precautions with Arava:

If you have the following conditions or if you are being treated with medications that can be harmful to your liver Arava may not be right for you:

• Liver disease including hepatitis B or C
• Kidney problems
• Severe immune system disorders, bone marrow disorders or severe uncontrolled infection.

What are some possible side effects of Arava? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Arava. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)  

• Diarrhea
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Hair loss
• Rash

For more detailed information about Arava, ask your health care provider.

Posted: 2/17/99
Revised: 7/25/00