Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 The chest xray was explained to me as baseline to be sure no lung problems develop on the metho... I have done the injections twice now and am not having the side effects I had while taking the pills since Aug. I cannot decide if the medicine has curtailed the progression of my psoriatic arthritis or not yet. -----Original Message-----From: Vicki [mailto:Gagliardi1543@...]Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 5:36 PMRheumatoid Arthritis Subject: On Methotrexate againHello all. Hope everyone is doing ok. I was originally diagnosed when I was 6 and between the ages of 21-29, I had minimal flares. Now we are back in full swing. I am learning about the new injection medications, Enebral & Humira. I am a bit afraid of needles though. I just started taking Methotrexate again. Is it possible that the Methotrexate may help the disease alone? It did in the past, or should I really plan on trying the new injections? How has it worked for some of you? Also, I had to have a TB test and got a shot to prevent pneumonia. Is this something that is normally done now? I feel so new to this disease again, because alot has changed in the past few years. It's nice to have a place to read about other people going through the same thing though. I don't feel as much alone as I did when I was younger.Thanks and take care,Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Hi Vicki, It's possible that the methotrexate will keep things in check for you - often that's the first medication that the doctor will try. If it doesn't show good enough results, then they'll add one of the newer biologic agents - Remicade, Enbrel and Humira are the most common ones. The TB test is required before starting Remicade, as there have been people on the drug who had TB lurking in their lungs and the Remicade made it come out in full force. All of the drugs lower your immune system and you have a greater chance of being sick when on them. If you have trouble with needles, you may want to start with Remicade, since it's given as an IV infusion and there's a nurse or med assistant who starts the infusion and monitors your treatment. It's amazing how you can get used to giving yourself shots though. After 2 years on Enbrel and almost one on Remicade I'm now on Kineret and give myself daily injections. Keep up the reading and ask your doc lots of questions before you start any additional treatment. We need to be really aware of everything that's going on with our treatments. Best of luck! Beth > Hello all. Hope everyone is doing ok. I was originally diagnosed > when I was 6 and between the ages of 21-29, I had minimal flares. > Now we are back in full swing. I am learning about the new injection > medications, Enebral & Humira. I am a bit afraid of needles though. > I just started taking Methotrexate again. Is it possible that the > Methotrexate may help the disease alone? It did in the past, or > should I really plan on trying the new injections? How has it worked > for some of you? Also, I had to have a TB test and got a shot to > prevent pneumonia. Is this something that is normally done now? I > feel so new to this disease again, because alot has changed in the > past few years. It's nice to have a place to read about other people > going through the same thing though. I don't feel as much alone as I > did when I was younger. > > Thanks and take care, > > Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Vicki, I was diagnosed last March, went on oral MTX in april and injection in August. The MTX helped but not enough for my satisfaction. I started Enbrel injections almost two weeks ago and haven't realized any noticable benefit yet. For some people the MTX works very well for years. That is the first drug usually tried. The VA requires that I try the Enbrel for six months before they will even consider Remicade. I hope the Enbrel works as I don't want to drive 120 miles and spend 2 - 3 hours getting an infusion, but what ever works I'll be glad to do. Are you taking Plaquinil along with the MTX? This is also the usual drug given with MTX. You didn't mention how old you are. Some people are afraid of the new biologic DMARD's because there hasn't been long term (10 to 20 years) of follow up on the effects of the drug. I am 55 and figure I can take the Enbrel and any longterm effects will OK as I will be be near the end of my lifespan anyway. Research, read and learn as much as you can. Be a participant in your health care. This is a very individual desease and the more you know the more you can help your healthcare providers. Best of luck and God Bless, Jay > Hello all. Hope everyone is doing ok. I was originally diagnosed > when I was 6 and between the ages of 21-29, I had minimal flares. > Now we are back in full swing. I am learning about the new injection > medications, Enebral & Humira. I am a bit afraid of needles though. > I just started taking Methotrexate again. Is it possible that the > Methotrexate may help the disease alone? It did in the past, or > should I really plan on trying the new injections? How has it worked > for some of you? Also, I had to have a TB test and got a shot to > prevent pneumonia. Is this something that is normally done now? I > feel so new to this disease again, because alot has changed in the > past few years. It's nice to have a place to read about other people > going through the same thing though. I don't feel as much alone as I > did when I was younger. > > Thanks and take care, > > Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Hi Vicki. I didn't get RA till I was 74 years old. First I was given Arava and that didn't work alone, then I was given Methotrexate and that also didn't work alone. Then Remicade was added and after about six months it started working pretty well and I was able to get off Prednisone except for flares. I'm still on Remicade and Methotrexate. You don't say how much Methotrexate you are taking. People can take up to about 25 mg a week and it can take several months to become effective. Most RA medicines are slow acting so it is difficult to be sure whether things are working. I've never given myself a shot but I know of a lot of people who have done so. My mother used to give herself daily shots for her diabetes. I'm not anxious to start injections, but I wouldn't hesitate if I thought it would help me. Good luck and God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: Vicki Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 2:36 PM Subject: On Methotrexate again Hello all. Hope everyone is doing ok. I was originally diagnosed when I was 6 and between the ages of 21-29, I had minimal flares. Now we are back in full swing. I am learning about the new injection medications, Enebral & Humira. I am a bit afraid of needles though. I just started taking Methotrexate again. Is it possible that the Methotrexate may help the disease alone? It did in the past, or should I really plan on trying the new injections? How has it worked for some of you? Also, I had to have a TB test and got a shot to prevent pneumonia. Is this something that is normally done now? I feel so new to this disease again, because alot has changed in the past few years. It's nice to have a place to read about other people going through the same thing though. I don't feel as much alone as I did when I was younger.Thanks and take care,Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Isn't it amazing the changes over the past 10 years in Rheumaotid Arthritis medication? When I fist was diagnosed, over 9 years ago, Methotrexate was the last drug they tried. Plaquenil, Sulfasalazine, gold shots and combinations of those were first.... now there are so many choices.... - > > It's possible that the methotrexate will keep things in check for > you - often that's the first medication that the doctor will try. If > it doesn't show good enough results, then they'll add one of the > newer biologic agents - Remicade, Enbrel and Humira are the most > common ones. > > The TB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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