Opinions on starting meds...

May 8, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Well, I am going to start Methotrexate on Sunday night. I always take

my 4 gleevec pills in the morning, and currently, one plaquinil am and pm, and

one naproxin am and pm... also Tramadol 2X a day (the tram gives me energy,

funny, I know).

So, I will discontinue use of the plaquinil on Saturday, and Sunday

night I am to take 3 methotrexate (I think my dosage is 7.5).

Well, needless to say, I'm concerned because I have been in complete

molecular remission for 8 years on Gleevec. Gleevec keeps my white cells from

going crazy, so they stay in the safe zone. Now with methotrexate, I'm worried

that they may drop too low? Hopefully, they will just remain the same.

They always fall in the 5000 to 7000 range.

I was afraid of the plaquinil because of the risk to the eyes. Silly,

probably, but hey, I have leukemia AND RA, what are the chances of that? So,

I got worried that I may be at more risk for eye problems with plaquinil.

Gezzzzzz, well, I guess any medication can be discontinued if things go

wrong, right? I am going to have my monthly blooddraws, of course. Scary

though.

Now, about this " flare up, " my pain has NOT decreased since it started.

Then again, I just started an RA medicine last week - the plaquinil - so you

all must be referring to flare ups once you're on a medicine, and stable,

right?

So, any advice?

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