Welcome, Barbara!

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Barbara!

I'm so sorry that your RA symptoms are surfacing again. That's got to be

a letdown.

I don't have any experience with any of the drugs you mentioned except

for minocycline. I was on it for about 18 months and I do believe that

it helped me. It could have been just a coincidence, but who knows?

Methotrexate has been around for years and is one of the most reliable,

successful DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). It was

designed to be taken by injection, but some people prefer the oral form.

If you have any sort of pre-existing digestive problems, however, the

injections are probably the way to go. So far, methotrexate has the best

track record as the DMARD that most people can stay on for a long period

of time before having to switch to another.

Which leads into the answer to your last question. Unfortunately,

rheumatology is more of an art than a science. There are no hard and

fast rules about when to stop the current med and try a new med, add a

med, or change the dose. It is up to you and your doctor. The American

College of Rheumatology (ACR) does have a set of standards by which to

measure improvement, but several of these criteria are fairly

subjective.

Your doctor's knowledge and experience and how you believe you are

responding to your current meds are important factors. And my opinion

is that you shouldn't have to " put up with " any serious symptoms. Of

course, that, too, is up to your doctor, and, ultimately, you. No drug

is without risk, so the risk vs. symptoms tolerance issue is a very

individual one. Very importantly, in addition to the symptoms that are

obvious to you, your doctor has to be looking out for signs, either

subtle or overt, of joint destruction or organ involvement. The idea is

that a DMARD will prevent or delay irreversible damage.

If you do choose to begin methotrexate, please make sure you have had

recent blood work and a chest x-ray. That way, you will have baseline

measurements and can be more easily and safely monitored for toxicity.

Also, ask your physician about his/her recommendation about whether you

should take folic acid along with the methotrexate.

I will send a few links on DMARDs to you and the group in a separate

email.

Good luck to you and I hope you can get your symptoms under control

soon. Let us know what's happening.

[ ] Intro and questions

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> My name is Barbara and I am new to the list and am glad it is here. I

was diagnosed with RA about 2 years ago after having Palandromic

Arthritis for about 1 year. I had RA symptoms for a few months and was

put on Planquinal and Mynocyline and it made a big difference and

basically had no Symptoms until a few months ago when it all returned.

I have taken Celebrix on and off and am on again. Now Dr. wants to

start me on Methotrexate.

>

> I know a lot of you have real troubles daily with your RA and I feel

so lucky that mine hasn't been too bad. It is mostly in my feet, knees

and hands and mostly stiffness and some weakness. I never thought twice

about going on a hike or saying yes to bowling etc. but now I do think

twice and I worry about the future.

>

> I wonddered if any of you have had luck with methotrexate?

>

> Did you stay on planquinal or other drugs while you took it?

>

> How long did you take it for?

>

> Did you do oral or injections?

>

> How long did you have to see your DR. 1x a month while on it?

>

> Any side effects? How long did it take to work?

>

> Well that's way more then enough questions. except for one

underlying question.....When do you know if it is the right time to take

a new med, or change doeses of a med or just put up with the symptoms?

>

> Thanks, Barbara