Remicade and other meds

[Guest guest]

I don't post much, but I really have learned a lot from those of you who post

regularly. I have a question for all of you who have experience with

Remicade...

I will be having my third Remicade infusion next week. So far, I have not

noticed it " kicking in " . The only reaction I've had from the medication is that

I have trouble sleeping for a couple days after an infusion. My question - how

soon will I be able to drop the other meds I am on? I am currently still taking

seven pills of MTX (17.5mg), 20mg Arava and 5mg prednisone. I tried eliminating

the prednisone with disasterous results, so I started taking it again. Should I

just keep taking them all until the Remicade starts working?

I'm getting concerned because I am also taking several other prescription

medications for other conditions, and I worry about drug interactions. I take

Elavil for fibromyalgia and to help me sleep (didn't have a decent night's sleep

for 20 years - but I racked up over 2,000 games of middle-of-the-night solitare

on the computer!), Ziac for my rapid/irregular heartbeat, Lopid for my

cholestrol, Bellergal-S for my hot flashes, Skelaxin for muscle spasms, and

Foltx to counter the side effects of the MTX! WAAAY too many medications! I

want to get off some of them, but don't know what else to do at this point.

Thanks for all your help!

Vikki