medications

June 25, 1999

<<3. Put on Rocephin IV for 6 weeks. Felt miserable!! [and it sludged my

gall bladder].

4. Purged my system of antibiotics for 1 month. Did neuro/psych testing

and was told by s Hopkins that I had attention deficit and they

wanted to put me on Ritalin [i refused].

5. I took Biaxin for 5 days at the end of January to do my Igenex LUAT

test and I FELT LIKE A NEW WOMAN!!

6. Found an LLMD: I did the Biaxin/Amantadine combo for a month while

waiting for test results.

7. Have been on IV Zithromax 500mg M-Th, 1g F since March and have just

added Amantadine [after gall bladder surgery] which seems to be

working.

>>

Lovette,

LOL I think I've found my opposite! (As far as what meds work.)

)

Cheryl

January 15, 2008

, an NSAID can control the symptoms (swelling and inflammation)

of PA and in some cases make you feel more comfortable, but it CANNOT

slow the progression of PA and prevent joint and bone damage from

occurring. Only DMARDs (disease modifying antirheumatic drugs)can do

that. These include MTX and the biologicals and perhaps others I'm not

familiar with. It's just like taking aspirin when you have strep

throat can make you feel better by lowering your fever and helping with

pain, but only an antibiotic can cure the strep. Not that PA

is " curable " but the DMARDs do actually modify the nature of the

disease so that it is less destructive.

I'm not sure " stronger " is the right word to describe these meds. They

are not necessarily stronger, just a different kind of drug than the

NSAIDs. NSAIDs themselves can be very potent and sometimes dangerous.

Remember Vioxx??? Even the common over-the-counter NSAIDs like Aleve

have side effects that must be taken very seriously. For example, you

must stop taking any NSAID, even Aleve or Tylenol, 5 days before having

a colonoscopy because they increase your risk of bleeding complications

from the procedure. They make you sign a paper swearing you didn't take

any!

I understand your concerns. Less than 2 years ago I had the same

concerns, the same hesitation, the same questions. I'm just sharing

with you the result of almost 2 years of experience and learning about

PA.

best regards,

sherry z

>

> I was wondering how many out there have been able to control their PA

> without having to go to stronger meds than NSAIDS. I am hearing a lot

> about Methotrexate but I really don't want to take something like

> that. Wanting to know what the chances are that I might be able to

> find a NSAID that will control it! Would appreciate any info.

>

January 16, 2008

You might find an NSAID that will mask the pain of your disease but it will not

stop the progression of the disease. Your joints are being damaged everyday.

You are just not aware of it. I have been taking MTX for 18 years and have been

fine. You really should consider taking a med that is going to stop the

progression of the disease and not just mask the pain.

skm91248 <skm91248@...> wrote:

I was wondering how many out there have been able to control their PA

without having to go to stronger meds than NSAIDS. I am hearing a lot

about Methotrexate but I really don't want to take something like

that. Wanting to know what the chances are that I might be able to

find a NSAID that will control it! Would appreciate any info.

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

January 16, 2008

Hi - My son took Naproxen which worked for his PA. After 12

weeks on that at 500 mg/day his inflammation was gone. He is actually

now taking Methtrexate but that is to clear up the inflammation in his

eyes which the NSAID's didn't help with. It has worked great for his

eyes!! And no side effects! To be honest, I'm not really sure why

some people are so skeptical of that drug. Yes it is used for cancer

patients but in much higher doses.

& Grant/10/

>

> I was wondering how many out there have been able to control their PA

> without having to go to stronger meds than NSAIDS. I am hearing a

lot

> about Methotrexate but I really don't want to take something like

> that. Wanting to know what the chances are that I might be able to

> find a NSAID that will control it! Would appreciate any info.

>

January 16, 2008

Hi ,

NSAIDS do not control your PA, all they do is treat your symptoms.

Yes, they are sometimes necessary, but if you want to treat your

disease you need to be on a DMARD(like Methotrexate) or on a Biologic

drug like Enbrel or Humira (I think there are others too).

But ask your rheumatologist, ask lots of questions, read as much as you

can and make an informed choice.

These drugs can be potent and not compatible with everyone. But they

can also give back a life to someone suffering with multiple affected

joints.

Stay Well,

January 19, 2008

I was on nsaids exclusively for 10 yrs before reluctantly going on Remicade.

My case was pretty mild initially and then went into overdrive with a vengeance

which is what motivated me to overcome my fear of using a biologic. I wish I

hadn't waited. I could have prevented the loss of three toe joints. Nsaids

don't prevent the progression of the destruction like some of the other

treatments that are now available. also, Remicade made all of my psoriasis

disappear. all of it.

Just something to think about. Good luck with your decision.

January 19, 2008

Sorry to say this but if you have PA then a nsaid won't do it. It might relieve

some inflammation but the immune system is still compromised. It will rear its

ugly head. So you might as well control it earlier than later. The earlier you

start with proper treatment the less damage later....casey

December 29, 2008

Hello;

A few months ago I sent an email about my son who is 35 and has renal

cell carcinoma. He decided he wanted to not take their chemotherapy

because it wasn't good enough odds for him to risk what life he has

left being sick. So he came home from the hospital and decided he

wanted to fight his cancer with natural stuff. They sent him home with

medications for the pain. It was about 3 weeks ago. He is taking

Hodromorphone 4 mg every 4 hours and Methodone HCL 10 mg tabs every 8

hours. He cant eat or even think. He went from a young man playing

games on his XBox to not being able to even concentrate on anything. I

feel like they sent him home to die because they wouldn't do their

drugs. Be their experimental genie pig. When he left the hospital he

wanted to fight and now he doesn't care. Help me please, what can I do.

Kathy

December 29, 2008

Kathy:

Have your son call me at 503 839 1913. Let him know that I was given six

months to live 14 years ago. Let me know that even though I have a tumor next to

my heart sac and that in his eyes, I am an old lady (56 years old), I am

fighting like hell for my life and have EVERYTHING TO LIVE FOR. AND SO DOES

HE!!!

Dorr