Alternatives to Enbrel? I now have MS.

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I was just recently diagnosed with MS, after being on Enbrel for 4 years to

treat AS. The Enbrel worked great, but my rheumy and my neurologist now want me

off of it because it may have caused the MS and the chance of it making the MS

worse. Bummer! I've been off Enbrel for three weeks now, and those old chronic

hip and rib pains are coming back quickly, and with a vengeance. I'm taking

Celebrex for now, but it only helps a little (that's what I took before Enbrel,

also).

So, I've been researching alternative drugs to replace the Enbrel, but none of

them look just real good. What experiences do any you have with Azathioprine

(Imuran), Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), Penicillamine (Cuprimine),

Hydroxychloroquine (Azulfidine), or Sulfasalazine (Plaquenil)? I left

Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) out because the latest studies have shown it to have

little benefit for the spine (but it can work well for peripheral joint

diseases). My doctors will be conferring soon to develop a treatment plan for

each disease, and I need to be prepared to have some thoughtful input into the

plan.

Thanks,

Greg