Guest guest Posted March 14, 2006 Report Posted March 14, 2006 Tatjana, Arava has been a great addition to my daily meds, and I have been on it for years. The only serious side effect I have had is the immunosuppressive qualities of arava, especially when it is coupled with Enbrel, Remicade, Kineret or Humira (did I miss any?) I did have to sign papers at my rheumatologists office that stated that I was aware of the likelyhood of horrible birth defects in babies born to patients who get pregnant within 2 YEARS after stopping the drug. So I had to basically promise my doc that I was done having kids...I have been way to sick for another little one anyways. I was blessed with one beautiful and healthy little girl and I can be happy with that. Every time I get an infection (all too often) I have to stop my Kineret and Arava immediately and stay off until 7 days after my antibiotics. Without prednisone to cushion the pain level, it can be rocky. But when the days are good...I am pretty happy with this combination. As I said before, using Arava and one of the injectables has kept me off prednisone (for the most part) and off MTX completely since I started it. I wish it helped my fatigue, but it doesn't. I just got blood work back that says I have a 'worsening anemia' and I have to take tons of iron, so maybe that will help. As Far as Arava goes, I think it helps a lot. Always remember that people are so different, you can't expect to have the same results. Just info about the way it works for me and some of the issues it raises in my body. Good Luck and Stay Healthy! tatjana wilson wrote: hi i am also on arava now, along with pred and mtx 2o mg. i take 20 mg daily, just started 2 weeks ago. can you give me some info on this med, side effects, experiences? so far i seem to be doing ok, just very tired all the time tatjana --- Palmer wrote: > Hey Barbara, > > I guess I am an exception yet again. I was able > to stop MTX very soon after starting Kineret...and I > was able to wean off Pred. (well, I'm back on it > but you know what I mean...up and down) The only > other drug I take for stills with my Kineret is > Arava. This is one of the reasons I like it so > much....I hate MTX and being able to stop it was a > godsend. > That is my input....take it for what it's worth > > Stay Healthy > #1 > Barbara Gardner wrote: > Hi ; > > From what other Stills victims have experienced, > it seems Kineret works better with mtx. I'll be > interested to hear the input of others. Good luck, > . It seems what works for each of us is > highly individualized. Good luck and let us know > how you do! > In Peace, > Barbara Gardner > Ventura, CA > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > Visit the Still's Disease Message Board > http://disc.server.com/Indices/148599.html > > The materials and information contained in this > message are not intended to replace the services of > a trained health professional or to be a substitute > for medical advice of physicians and/or other health > care professionals. The International Still's > Disease Foundation is not engaged in rendering > medical or professional medical services. You should > consult your physician on specific medical > questions, particularly in matters requiring > diagnosis or medical attention. The International > Still's Disease Foundation makes no representations > or warranties with respect to any treatment, action, > application, medication or preparation by any person > following the information offered or provided within > this support form. > > ion by any person following the information offered > or provided within this support form. > > > > > > Quote
Guest guest Posted March 15, 2006 Report Posted March 15, 2006 hi , thank you so much for answering. I was blessed with one beautiful and > healthy little girl and I can be happy with that. i feel the same way. i lost my first child at 9 weeks to stills in 2001 when i was first pregnant. i was so lucky to be able to carry a child and give birth. my next flare wasnt until fiona was 6 months old. since then it went downhill with stills but at least i have a child how old is your daughter? fiona just turned 3 last week, she is wonderful. the only problem is that she brings home all viruses and illnesses from kindergarten and that makes me sick. that is why i first refused to take any more meds. but since the mtx didnt do its job alone and i have been on high pred for too long, i had to start either arava or kineret. i wanted arava because it is easier. if it wont work, i will have to take kineret. we will see. again, thanks for the info i also feel very very tired though all the time tatjana in germany --- Palmer wrote: > Tatjana, > Arava has been a great addition to my daily meds, > and I have been on it for years. The only serious > side effect I have had is the immunosuppressive > qualities of arava, especially when it is coupled > with Enbrel, Remicade, Kineret or Humira (did I miss > any?) I did have to sign papers at my > rheumatologists office that stated that I was aware > of the likelyhood of horrible birth defects in > babies born to patients who get pregnant within 2 > YEARS after stopping the drug. So I had to > basically promise my doc that I was done having > kids...I have been way to sick for another little > one anyways. I was blessed with one beautiful and > healthy little girl and I can be happy with that. > Every time I get an infection (all too often) I > have to stop my Kineret and Arava immediately and > stay off until 7 days after my antibiotics. Without > prednisone to cushion the pain level, it can be > rocky. But when the days are good...I am pretty > happy with this combination. As I said before, > using Arava and one of the injectables has kept me > off prednisone (for the most part) and off MTX > completely since I started it. I wish it helped my > fatigue, but it doesn't. I just got blood work back > that says I have a 'worsening anemia' and I have to > take tons of iron, so maybe that will help. As Far > as Arava goes, I think it helps a lot. Always > remember that people are so different, you can't > expect to have the same results. Just info about > the way it works for me and some of the issues it > raises in my body. > > Good Luck and Stay Healthy! > > > tatjana wilson wrote: > hi > > i am also on arava now, along with pred and mtx 2o > mg. > i take 20 mg daily, just started 2 weeks ago. > can you give me some info on this med, side effects, > experiences? so far i seem to be doing ok, just > very > tired all the time > > tatjana > > --- Palmer wrote: > > > Hey Barbara, > > > > I guess I am an exception yet again. I was able > > to stop MTX very soon after starting Kineret...and > I > > was able to wean off Pred. (well, I'm back on it > > but you know what I mean...up and down) The only > > other drug I take for stills with my Kineret is > > Arava. This is one of the reasons I like it so > > much....I hate MTX and being able to stop it was a > > godsend. > > That is my input....take it for what it's worth > > > > Stay Healthy > > #1 > > Barbara Gardner wrote: > > Hi ; > > > > From what other Stills victims have experienced, > > it seems Kineret works better with mtx. I'll be > > interested to hear the input of others. Good > luck, > > . It seems what works for each of us is > > highly individualized. Good luck and let us know > > how you do! > > In Peace, > > Barbara Gardner > > Ventura, CA > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > > > Visit the Still's Disease Message Board > > http://disc.server.com/Indices/148599.html > > > > The materials and information contained in this > > message are not intended to replace the services > of > > a trained health professional or to be a > substitute > > for medical advice of physicians and/or other > health > > care professionals. The International Still's > > Disease Foundation is not engaged in rendering > > medical or professional medical services. You > should > > consult your physician on specific medical > > questions, particularly in matters requiring > > diagnosis or medical attention. The International > > Still's Disease Foundation makes no > representations > > or warranties with respect to any treatment, > action, > > application, medication or preparation by any > person > > following the information offered or provided > within > > this support form. > > > > ion by any person following the information > offered > > or provided within this support form. > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote
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