INFO - HealthTalk: Stopping RA medications when you're sick

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Stopping RA medications when you're sick

August 27, 2007

Tina Chadha Bunch, M.D.

Question:

I take oral methotrexate and Enbrel (etanercept) injections for my

rheumatoid arthritis. Does it hurt to discontinue my meds when I feel I'm

coming down with an infection or virus? I am a school bus driver, and I

really get ill during the winter months because of the exposure to little

kids and their illnesses.

Answer:

My rule of thumb with the anti-TNF (anti-tumor necrosis factor) drugs is if

a patient has a high fever (temperature greater than 100.5) or gets

antibiotics from their primary physician for any reason (bronchitis,

sinusitis, skin infection, etc.), I tell them to stay off the anti-TNF drug

for that week, until the antibiotics are done and until the infection has

cleared. I generally do not have patients hold the methotrexate because the

drug has a long half-life, meaning that it takes a long time to clear from

your system.

http://www2.healthtalk.com/go/rheumatoid-arthritis/ask-the-doctor/content/stoppi\

ng-ra-medications-when-you-re-sick

Not an MD