Arthritis Meds

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Nanny - 24 Aug 2005 03:30 GMT

Specifically for RA: Plaquenil and MTX are not having any obvious results
in my treatment. In fact, I'm probably in more pain now than I'd been in
before taking them. What's the next step up in RA meds? I see my Rheumy
this week so will advise him of how I am feeling and ask him why the 2 meds
I'm on aren't having any visible results. Nanny

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Angela - 24 Aug 2005 04:14 GMT

Hello Nanny

How long have you been on these meds? It takes at least a couple of
months to see results from these meds. Your doc will probably add
another med along with the ones you are on now.

We're all different and its a lot of trial and error to find what will
work for you. There are lots of different meds to try so don't get
discouraged. Just be sure your doc understands exactly what is going
on with your body so that he can give you the best treatment possible.

Hoping you will find the right treatment plan to help you get better.

Angela

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Nanny - 27 Aug 2005 14:59 GMT

Hi Angela. Thanks for responding. I've only been on MTX and Plaquenil for
6-8 months. My Rheumy just informed me this week that the pain flare I'm
experiencing is due to Fibro, rather than RA, and for now, he wants me to
remain on those two. He's keeping a good eye on me, as he sees me every 2
months. Nanny

> Hello Nanny
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Angela

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Nann Bell - 24 Aug 2005 05:55 GMT

It depends on your history, current dosage, other meds you've tried, etc. but
I would think your RD may well add another DMARD and/or change one of the
current ones. You may go off your current ones and try Arava or your RD may
try adding Enbrel, but that's just my theory. See what your RD has to say in
way of an explanation. As someone else said, it also depends on how long
you've been on mtx and at what dose. One thing that sucks about inflammatory
arthritis is that it can take so long just to find out if a DMARD will work
for you!

It's always hard to know which med will work well for which person.

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Charrlygrl1 - 24 Aug 2005 15:29 GMT

Hi Nanny!
Two year ago when my arthritis started I was started on Plaquenil. I
had to wait three months before the RD determined that it wasn't
working. I was then put on methotrexate, and my RD didn't keep me on it
long enough to determine whether or not it worked. I know this because
now two years later, my new RD has put me back on it. My Rd says that
my old one didn't keep me on the MTX long enough, nor did he go up high
enough on the dosage.
Please try to be patient, I know it's hard and I hated when people told
me that, but it definitely is true. You don't want to be trying all of
these meds, while in pain, only to find yourself back on the med years
later when patience may have saved you all that time and pain. I have
been on Plaquenil, Relafen, Ibuprofen, Nabumetone, Clinoril,
Sulindac...just to name a few.
I am now on Enbrel, prednisone, Azulfidine, MTX, Leucovorin (helps
fight side effects of MTX), and Ultram for pain.
I do hope that you can find some relief soon. I do know how it is to be
in pain and tired of fighting it...please hang in there,
Charlene

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Nanny - 27 Aug 2005 15:04 GMT

Thank you, Charlene, for your informative and kind response. I will wait
this out, as others have advised, giving each med time to do its job. I've
only been on Plaquenil and MTX less than a year. And, I did find out when I
saw my rheumy this past week that my pain flare is Fibro related this time,
primarily due to stress overload, which thankfully should be temporary.
Nanny

> Hi Nanny!
> Two year ago when my arthritis started I was started on Plaquenil. I
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> in pain and tired of fighting it...please hang in there,
> Charlene

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Nanny - 27 Aug 2005 15:02 GMT

Thanks Nann. I just wrote Angela that my current pain flare is
Fibro-related and not RA this time when I saw my rheumy on Thursday. He
thinks the 2 meds I'm on now for RA are sufficient, but I know he will
probably add another or "up me" on the scale in the future. Nanny

> It depends on your history, current dosage, other meds you've tried, etc.
> but
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> It's always hard to know which med will work well for which person.

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