Guest guest Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Thanks for the response Jennie. What does methotrexate do? Is it an anti inflamatory? My daughter was on the prednisone for about 4 weeks at the initial time she was diagnosed which was in June 2004. And yes she was weaned off the prednisone. I will check out the Enbrel site and see about the co pay program. bettymiller56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Methotrexate (mtx) is also DMARD, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug. It started as a cancer drug (some certain type of cancer) but someone figured out that at a much lower dose than they use for cancer patients, it helps RA. It does more than help with stiffness and swelling, it helps prevent joint erosion. The strange thing is they don't really know why or how it works. Just that it does. The side effects are usually liver problems (they monitor your liver function and take you off if there are problems) and some other minor issues. When the biologicals came out, doctors would take patients off mtx and put them on a biological. But recent studies showed being on BOTH make a huge difference in keeping RA under control and preventing progression of the RA and destruction of joints. They found some that were only on a biological, felt great but still had joint erosion. They didn't expect to find that. But now most rheumatologists recommend staying on mtx, or starting it, when you go on a biological. Jennie > > > Thanks for the response Jennie. What does methotrexate do? Is it an > anti inflamatory? My daughter was on the prednisone for about 4 weeks > at the initial time she was diagnosed which was in June 2004. And yes > she was weaned off the prednisone. I will check out the Enbrel site > and see about the co pay program. > bettymiller56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Methotrexate (mtx) is also DMARD, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug. It started as a cancer drug (some certain type of cancer) but someone figured out that at a much lower dose than they use for cancer patients, it helps RA. It does more than help with stiffness and swelling, it helps prevent joint erosion. The strange thing is they don't really know why or how it works. Just that it does. The side effects are usually liver problems (they monitor your liver function and take you off if there are problems) and some other minor issues. When the biologicals came out, doctors would take patients off mtx and put them on a biological. But recent studies showed being on BOTH make a huge difference in keeping RA under control and preventing progression of the RA and destruction of joints. They found some that were only on a biological, felt great but still had joint erosion. They didn't expect to find that. But now most rheumatologists recommend staying on mtx, or starting it, when you go on a biological. Jennie > > > Thanks for the response Jennie. What does methotrexate do? Is it an > anti inflamatory? My daughter was on the prednisone for about 4 weeks > at the initial time she was diagnosed which was in June 2004. And yes > she was weaned off the prednisone. I will check out the Enbrel site > and see about the co pay program. > bettymiller56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Betty, Methotrexate is a DMARD (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug). It slows down or stops the damage to the joints that RA is doing. It is one of the most common meds that is used to treat RA. It is taken once a week either by injection or pills. For most people they also take folic acid as this drug can deplete you of folic acid. The folic acid also can help diminish the side effects of methotrexate which for most area nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and mouth sores. If you looik up methotrexate you will find it is a chemotherapy drug, but used in far lower dosages in RA than would be used for the treatment of cancer. Toni In a message dated 10/7/2004 3:01:28 PM Central Daylight Time, writes: Date: Thu, 07 Oct 2004 14:05:54 -0000 From: " bettymiller56 " <bettymiller56@...> Subject: daugter on Enbrel Thanks for the response Jennie. What does methotrexate do? Is it an anti inflamatory? My daughter was on the prednisone for about 4 weeks at the initial time she was diagnosed which was in June 2004. And yes she was weaned off the prednisone. I will check out the Enbrel site and see about the co pay program. bettymiller56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 Betty, Methotrexate is a DMARD (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug). It slows down or stops the damage to the joints that RA is doing. It is one of the most common meds that is used to treat RA. It is taken once a week either by injection or pills. For most people they also take folic acid as this drug can deplete you of folic acid. The folic acid also can help diminish the side effects of methotrexate which for most area nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and mouth sores. If you looik up methotrexate you will find it is a chemotherapy drug, but used in far lower dosages in RA than would be used for the treatment of cancer. Toni In a message dated 10/7/2004 3:01:28 PM Central Daylight Time, writes: Date: Thu, 07 Oct 2004 14:05:54 -0000 From: " bettymiller56 " <bettymiller56@...> Subject: daugter on Enbrel Thanks for the response Jennie. What does methotrexate do? Is it an anti inflamatory? My daughter was on the prednisone for about 4 weeks at the initial time she was diagnosed which was in June 2004. And yes she was weaned off the prednisone. I will check out the Enbrel site and see about the co pay program. bettymiller56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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