Methotrexate and St s Wort

[Guest guest]

I have had RA for 4 years and have been in remission on Methotrexate

for more than three years. I started taking St s Wort 6 months

ago, and my joints began to swell, I had bad morning stiffness, sudden

flares, etc. My rheumatologist did MRIs and found new joint erosion.

He scheduled me for Remicade infusions.

In the meantime, about a month ago, I stopped taking the St s

Wort. Within a week, the swelling was gone, the stiffness was greatly

reduced, and I haven't had a flare in three weeks. Now he is

rethinking the Remicade.

There is a known problem with St s Wort and cyclosporin, (an

immunosupressant used in transplant surgery). Apparently it causes a

problem with methotrexate, too.

Sharon