2nd line drugs/methotrexate

[Guest guest]

Hi all

Could someone tell me what it means when drugs are classified as first line

and second line drugs? Methotrexate is 2nd line, right?

Hope everyone has a good day today . I am, i woke up pleased that i got

through the night without re-acting to my first dose of methotrexate, no

side effects at all! (yet!). I was wondering, though, how long the effects

take to kick in and if i might experience side effects later rather than

sooner. ???

Thanks, again, love kate xxx

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[Guest guest]

Hey Kate, I first line drugs are ones that are approved to be the first

drugs used to treat RA diseases ( and anything that falls under the RA

umbrella) MTX would be a first line drug, so would plaquenil. When enbrel,

and remicade came out they were marketed as second line drugs meaning that a

person needed to have tried mtx, plaquenil or other first line drugs and

failed before they could try enbrel or remicade. Now with that being said

that is purly a recomendation by the FDA,. It is completely up to the

doctor, (except when insurance steps in and controls this) whether or not

you can take enbrel even though you never failed mtx. Of course enbrel is

now apporved as a first line drug so it doesnt matter, enbrel can now be the

first drug of choice. not sure on remicade's status yet.