Re: Newly Diagnosed -- Treatment?

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the board and I'm sorry that you have need for this board. Your choice of medications is up to you and you seem to already know the principal differences between the two medicines. Methotrexate is more likely to be effective but also usually has more adverse side effects. If Plaquenil doesn't work you can always try Methotrexate later but perhaps some permanent joint damage will occur by that time. The choice is between a higher risk or adverse side effects and the greater risk of permanent joint damage. It's your choice.

Another medication that is sometimes used for early treatment of mild RA is Minocycline. I haven't heard much about it and I've never tried it but you may be a good candidate for it. Here's a link to a lot of general information about RA medicines. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/meds/ Good luck and God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: jlind_2002

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 10:13 AM

Subject: Newly Diagnosed -- Treatment?

Hello,I'm brand new to this message board, and to RA. I was newly diagnosed last week as exhibiting the pattern of early RA. I'm 32, and I've had symptoms off and on for the last five years. The duration of swelling increased enough recently to get the diagnosis. Right wrist gets painful and swollen; ditto for right knee; swelling in both hand by the knuckles. My rheumy suggested I start with either methotrexate or Plaquenil. I'm leaning towards MTX. However, I don't want to overdo my initial treatment if Plaquenil would work, with fewer side effects. Any thoughts? I really appreciate your help and insight as I weigh the pros and cons.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the earlier info Harold. I think I must be so tired

because the ra is acting up again so maybe Remicade with the mtx

would be a real plus, though there's no way my doctor would prescribe

it unless he thinks so too which is fine with me because he is an

expert in this area.

I have a couple of comments for - If you are taking the

methrotrexate in pill form and it upsets your gastrointestinal system

try Gravol or something like it. If that doesn't help and you find

it uncomfortable to take after a few weeks talk to the doctor about

having it by injection. You have to see the dr more often but a shot

and a long actiong gravol late in the day leaves me feeling ok in the

morning.

Of course it doesn't bother everyone. My gp had to take it to treat

some kind of tumour and she insisted on gravol first but it didn't

bother her at all. So you never know

Annette

Another medication that is

> sometimes used for early treatment of mild RA is Minocycline. I

> haven't heard much about it and I've never tried it but you may be

a

> good candidate for it. Here's a link to a lot of general

> information about RA medicines.

> http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/meds/ Good luck and God

> bless.

> >

> > Just so you are clear...Minocycline is an antibiotic. There is

> great differences in belief's from one rheumatologist to the next

on

> whether this is a viable method of treating Rheumatoid Arthritis.

> There is a very small but tightly knit group of believers behind

one

> man's theory to support the use of antiobiotics in treating RA.

Both

> my past and present Rheumy's do NOT feel this is a good choice for