Re: methotrexate and other meds

[Guest guest]

Hi Tam,

Nice to hear from you. I am on the maximum dose of MTX doesn't appear to be

making much difference a few months back they added Ciclosporin to the mix

but apart from an initial improvement to my P, it has not done too much either.

Having said that though, plenty of people in this group are very happy with

what MTX is doing for them so why don't you give it a try. I can also report

no side affects while on the MTX pre Ciclosporin. (I tend to feel nauseous

since starting the latter)

Hope it works for you.

[Guest guest]

Hi Tam,

I am a 43 year old male. I was diagnosed with PA 3years ago after 1-2

years of pain and various other reasons for it(bad knee, lose weight,

not enough excercise). After being diagnosed, I went 6-9 months

trying various NSAIDs that my Rheumatologist prescribed. Most had

little to no effect, none worked. My rheumy & I agreed to try MTX.

I started a 10mg a week and within 2-4 weeks, most pain was GONE,

slowly my sausage fingers and toes returned to normal, and by week 6-

8 was normal. I never had side effects, still don't. It's now, 2.5 -

2.75 years at 10mg and I have had few flares of stiffness or pain,

but they usually are brought on by my overdoing it, or at times of

stress. And they last only a day or two. I may need to up my

dosage at some time, but not likely for now.

There are a few negatives, NO alcohol. bi-monthly blood testing. And

I likely will need to have a liver biopsy in the next 12-18 months.

There is no question that I made the right decision for me. I went

from constant pain, several sausage digits, barely able to walk, to

99% Normal.

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

I have been on MTX since January and have had good results with my

fingers. It took 8 months until I got to the right dose and results

that I needed. I started at 7.5mg and I am at 20 mg now. I noticed

that it was 2-3 months for MTX to get to full effect. I also take

200mg of celebrex once a day. I have no side effects. I get a blood

test every month. My doctor allows one glass of wine a day.

> Hi all,

> I am usually a lurker but after joining some time back i have since

> moved on to several different meds. Its now been suggested I take

> Methotrexate along with my other meds (azulfidine/tolmetin) and I

> had hoped I'd improve before that but haven't. Like most others the

> energy level I lack along with the pain have not improved and I

have

> grown tired of watching my 75 year old mother having more energy

> than me!

> If I could I'd like to hear how methotrexate has improved or

> affected others and if they had side effects that made it not worth

> it or made it worth it. How long most had to take it and does it in

> a sense put the PA in remission.

> My next course of action is enbrel and I don't know if the

insurance

> will cover it.

> Thanks for your replies!

> Tam

[Guest guest]

Hi Tam...

I was told the MTX takes up to a couple of months to really get in your system

and have an impact ~ I have been on it for five months now ~ but combined with

Remicade ~ and I have hardly any issues.

My current goal is to try and stop the remicade (I receive treatment currently

every 6 weeks, rather than the normal 8), but I'd like to either extend the time

period longer or if possible, stop and see if I have the same benefits with just

the MTX (and Celebrex for minor help). If so, of course, I'd like to stop the

MTX, but...

Good Luck,

tlcatl <tachappell@...> wrote:

Hi all,

I am usually a lurker but after joining some time back i have since

moved on to several different meds. Its now been suggested I take

Methotrexate along with my other meds (azulfidine/tolmetin) and I

had hoped I'd improve before that but haven't. Like most others the

energy level I lack along with the pain have not improved and I have

grown tired of watching my 75 year old mother having more energy

than me!

If I could I'd like to hear how methotrexate has improved or

affected others and if they had side effects that made it not worth

it or made it worth it. How long most had to take it and does it in

a sense put the PA in remission.

My next course of action is enbrel and I don't know if the insurance

will cover it.

Thanks for your replies!

Tam

[Guest guest]

For me...

It's been 10 months of increasing dosage if MTX. Presently I'm on

25mg injected - the max dose that my rhumy will perscribe. I'm also

on 200mg Celobrex twice each day. The swelling is better but I'm

afraid without my morphine I'd still be unable to function very

well. I go back to see my rhumy in three weeks to reasess - full

series of x-rays to compare to the ones taken 10 months ago.

If the present dose has removed the swelling and pain - no further

action (not likely)

If the x-rays come back showing no degredation of the joints, but

the swelling and pain are not relieved - add a sulfa drug the mix

and try that for 4 more weeks (likely)

If the x-rays come back showing degredation of the joints - treat

agressively - remicade perhaps. (hope not)

I didn't want to be a downer for you and your question - I just

thought I'd let you know that there is a possibility that the MTX

might not be the magic bullet.

Oh - I'm male 38 years old. I have had no side affects from the MTX

at all, and injecting is no sweat.

Hope you find the Meth enough, good luck

Ron

> Hi all,

> I am usually a lurker but after joining some time back i have

since

> moved on to several different meds. Its now been suggested I take

> Methotrexate along with my other meds (azulfidine/tolmetin) and I

> had hoped I'd improve before that but haven't. Like most others

the

> energy level I lack along with the pain have not improved and I

have

> grown tired of watching my 75 year old mother having more energy

> than me!

> If I could I'd like to hear how methotrexate has improved or

> affected others and if they had side effects that made it not

worth

> it or made it worth it. How long most had to take it and does it

in

> a sense put the PA in remission.

> My next course of action is enbrel and I don't know if the

insurance

> will cover it.

> Thanks for your replies!

> Tam

[Guest guest]

Hi y'all

I haven't posted in quite a while. I am a 45 yo male with pa. Have had it for

quite some

time. For those of you taking MTX... Watch yourself carefully. This drug worked

well for me

for about ten years and then failed on me with a resounding crash. The

overwhelming

outbreak I was left with was a full body - every major joint inflamation (heaad

to toe). I

could hardly walk, my knees were swolen, my elbows were not extending to their

full

extension and I was unable to move my neck. I am now injecting Enbrel 2x a week

and the

results have been nothing short of a miracle. Within 24 hours of the first

injection I could

do a full deep knee bend! I am not running any marathons but I feel like I have

my life

back. The injections are not as hard as I imagined doing. Which I find a little

strange.

Anyway, good luck to all of you out there with your problems. Just be aware of

any

symptoms that come back suddenly and see your doctor immediately. This is one

condition that only gets worse rapidly without a drastic change in therapy if

the medicine

fails.

Tom

[Guest guest]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I have gone ahead and started the mtx

and hope it works with little or no side affects. Guess I'll know in

a few months.

thanks

tam

[Guest guest]

Hi Tom,

Welcome back. Good to hear you are doing so well on Enbrel. I am hoping to

get on it sooner or later (Hopefully sooner) I am currently on MTX but it

doesn't seem to be helping too much.

Keep in touch.