Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Hi Carol: Sometimes it helps to add a medication onto one you are already taking. When I first was diagnosed, I was put on Plaquenil, when that stopped working as well, my doctor added Methotrexate. When that combo was not helping, she stopped the Plaquenil and added Arava. That combo worked well until the Arava side effects (stomach problems, and then peripheral neuropathy) made me discontinue it. I was then put on Mtx and Enbrel but could only take it for a few months before my insurance changed and Enbrel became too expensive. Our insurance changed again and I am back on that combination now for about 6 months, and it is working well, so well, in fact, that I was in " remission " for quite a long time, but am now starting to have more joint pain since my doctor reduced my Mtx. That may have to be adjusted again. During this time I have also been on several different anti-inflammatory meds (now on Mobic) and also pain pills (now on Tramadol). I have also been on Prednisone on and off with really bad flares, but try to avoid that one as much as possible as it makes me kinda wacky lol. So, in telling you this, I hope it helps you to understand why meds are sometimes added to meds you are already on. Just trying to find the right combo of meds that will help - it's sometimes very hit and miss - but hopefully the Mtx will help you all on it's own. Time will tell. Kathe in CA --- Carol Zwald <zwaldski@...> wrote: > : > I was officially dx'ed in June 05 and feel pretty > much like you do. I > don't understand why we have to keep taking the meds > that didn't work > well enough in the first place which is why the > Rheumy had to prescribe > stronger meds... why aren't the " old " meds > discontinued??????? Is that > a stupid question? All of these toxic meds are not > good. Right? > I've always traveled to my own beat... I respect our > medical people but > respect is earned and questions need to be > addressed. > Carol > > On Oct 18, 2005, at 4:55 PM, jhawkot87 wrote: > > > Hello all, > >    I had my 3rd Rheumy visit last week. > (diagnosed in July, started > > on > > Mtx, pred. and plaquenil). I have had to play > around with my > > prednisone dosage and can't get it under 15 a day > if I want to be able > > to walk. Still popping Ibu quite a bit also. > Dr. said I'm not > > responding as well to the Mtx so he has now added > Enbrel. In reading > > the info about Enbrel, I noticed it said it has > been known to work up > > to 5 years. So, if I should be fortunate enough > to have good results > > with Enbrel, I'm assuming it would only work for > a limited time. Is > > this the case with all the meds? I'm 41 now, > what's going to happen > > by > > the time i hit 50? It worries me. For those > of you have been > > battling > > this for years, my heart goes out to you. I've > only had RA since July > > and already am quite frustrated and concerned > about my outlook in the > > long run. I feel like I shouldn't complain at > all because I know so > > many of you have suffered much worse for a long > time. But I'm already > > tired of it!!! lol. Consider this my first > whining session. Any > > input you have about the meds would be > appreciated. I know it varies > > from person to person and I'm trying to stay > positive here. Take > > care, > > all. > > >                                  > - NC > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Hi Carol: Sometimes it helps to add a medication onto one you are already taking. When I first was diagnosed, I was put on Plaquenil, when that stopped working as well, my doctor added Methotrexate. When that combo was not helping, she stopped the Plaquenil and added Arava. That combo worked well until the Arava side effects (stomach problems, and then peripheral neuropathy) made me discontinue it. I was then put on Mtx and Enbrel but could only take it for a few months before my insurance changed and Enbrel became too expensive. Our insurance changed again and I am back on that combination now for about 6 months, and it is working well, so well, in fact, that I was in " remission " for quite a long time, but am now starting to have more joint pain since my doctor reduced my Mtx. That may have to be adjusted again. During this time I have also been on several different anti-inflammatory meds (now on Mobic) and also pain pills (now on Tramadol). I have also been on Prednisone on and off with really bad flares, but try to avoid that one as much as possible as it makes me kinda wacky lol. So, in telling you this, I hope it helps you to understand why meds are sometimes added to meds you are already on. Just trying to find the right combo of meds that will help - it's sometimes very hit and miss - but hopefully the Mtx will help you all on it's own. Time will tell. Kathe in CA --- Carol Zwald <zwaldski@...> wrote: > : > I was officially dx'ed in June 05 and feel pretty > much like you do. I > don't understand why we have to keep taking the meds > that didn't work > well enough in the first place which is why the > Rheumy had to prescribe > stronger meds... why aren't the " old " meds > discontinued??????? Is that > a stupid question? All of these toxic meds are not > good. Right? > I've always traveled to my own beat... I respect our > medical people but > respect is earned and questions need to be > addressed. > Carol > > On Oct 18, 2005, at 4:55 PM, jhawkot87 wrote: > > > Hello all, > >    I had my 3rd Rheumy visit last week. > (diagnosed in July, started > > on > > Mtx, pred. and plaquenil). I have had to play > around with my > > prednisone dosage and can't get it under 15 a day > if I want to be able > > to walk. Still popping Ibu quite a bit also. > Dr. said I'm not > > responding as well to the Mtx so he has now added > Enbrel. In reading > > the info about Enbrel, I noticed it said it has > been known to work up > > to 5 years. So, if I should be fortunate enough > to have good results > > with Enbrel, I'm assuming it would only work for > a limited time. Is > > this the case with all the meds? I'm 41 now, > what's going to happen > > by > > the time i hit 50? It worries me. For those > of you have been > > battling > > this for years, my heart goes out to you. I've > only had RA since July > > and already am quite frustrated and concerned > about my outlook in the > > long run. I feel like I shouldn't complain at > all because I know so > > many of you have suffered much worse for a long > time. But I'm already > > tired of it!!! lol. Consider this my first > whining session. Any > > input you have about the meds would be > appreciated. I know it varies > > from person to person and I'm trying to stay > positive here. Take > > care, > > all. > > >                                  > - NC > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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