for my Arava buddies

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/24/2008 8:53:50 A.M. Central Standard Time,

ktandtm@... writes:

I was wondering if anyone that has been on Arava had to stop it because

it didn't do anything for you? It isn't working for me so I have a

feelng we will be stopping it. If you had to stop it did you have to

do the washout proceedure before starting anything else?

I don't post much but any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

When I was started on Remicade, we stopped Arava. No washout procedure was

done. I don't know how helpful Arava was. I was also on Mtx. My primary care

doc was concerned because of possible respiratory problems. I think it caused

acne and hair loss.

dd

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[Guest guest]

I was wondering if anyone that has been on Arava had to stop it because

it didn't do anything for you? It isn't working for me so I have a

feelng we will be stopping it. If you had to stop it did you have to

do the washout proceedure before starting anything else?

I don't post much but any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

[Guest guest]

My Dr. started me on Arava today and I also and interested in the benefits or

problems with this drug. I am curently on Orencia, but it seems to not working

as it did in the beggining. I have been having a lot of pain and fatique the

last three weeks and not getting any relief. Any help would be most appreciated.

 

Merry Christmas.

Don in Kentucky 

From: ktandtm <ktandtm@...>

Subject: [ ] for my Arava buddies

Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 8:53 AM

I was wondering if anyone that has been on Arava had to stop it because

it didn't do anything for you? It isn't working for me so I have a

feelng we will be stopping it. If you had to stop it did you have to

do the washout proceedure before starting anything else?

I don't post much but any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

[Guest guest]

arava, I started it back in july with plaquanil..I was on 20mgs

daily..yes it was working..I had to decrease to every other day dt the

scoots...It take about a week for your stomach to get adusted but it is

tolerable..I do have hair some hair thinning but not bad...if you have

any other question please ask.. good luck

diane in ohio

[Guest guest]

, Arava worked very well for me to control my pain and

inflammation. Unfortunately, it continued the decline in my white blood

cell count that methotrexate had started. I didn't do the washout

procedure before starting Enbrel, but I did have to wait a month for my

insurance to approve the Arava, so I guess a lot of it had time to get

out of my body. Not all, I know, because it stays a very long time.

Sue

On Wednesday, December 24, 2008, at 09:53 AM, ktandtm wrote:

> I was wondering if anyone that has been on Arava had to stop it because

> it didn't do anything for you? It isn't working for me so I have a

> feelng we will be stopping it. If you had to stop it did you have to

> do the washout proceedure before starting anything else?

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I went off Arava once four years ago and I did the washout regimen (with

cholestrymine sp??). But the only reason I did the regimen was that I

wanted to try to have a fourth child. So I drank the mixture 2 or 3 times a

day for 10 or 11 days (I can't remember exactly), and then had special blood

work done to make sure the Arava was out of my system. After having the

baby, I went on Remicade & mtx, but after two years or so I just couldn't

take the mtx anymore because of stomach upset. (Yes, even the injectible

form.) So I'm back on the Arava!

Patty

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty:

Wishing you good luck going back on Arava. I hope you can tolerate it,

and that you will be pain free.

Oh, the ups and downs of these autoimmune diseases. God Bless you.

Hugs,

Barbara

--- In , " Patty Lightner " <palpsu89@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi,

> I went off Arava once four years ago and I did the washout regimen

(with

> cholestrymine sp??). But the only reason I did the regimen was that I

> wanted to try to have a fourth child. So I drank the mixture 2 or 3

times a

> day for 10 or 11 days (I can't remember exactly), and then had special

blood

> work done to make sure the Arava was out of my system. After having

the

> baby, I went on Remicade & mtx, but after two years or so I just

couldn't

> take the mtx anymore because of stomach upset. (Yes, even the

injectible

> form.) So I'm back on the Arava!

> Patty

>

[Guest guest]

How long did the Arava take for it to start working for you? I have

been on it 1 1/2 months now and nothing. I think once I get my

monthly bloodwork in 2 weeks, it its ok we will move up to the 20mg

dose. I don't know how long he will give that to see if it works.

I am really discouraged because I don't have any side effects from

the drug yet it isn't working so far either. I also take Plaquenil

and that worked great for a while but not so good anymore.

Methotrexate makes my anxiety go through the roof and stomach upset

too. If the Arava doesn't work we may try the MTX again at a much

lower dose just to see. I can't take the biologics because of my

lupus I am told.

I am trying to be optimistic but it is getting difficult.

Thank you all for the replies and anything else you can add would be

great.

--- In , " Patty Lightner " <palpsu89@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi,

> I went off Arava once four years ago and I did the washout regimen

(with

> cholestrymine sp??). But the only reason I did the regimen was

that I

> wanted to try to have a fourth child. So I drank the mixture 2 or

3 times a

> day for 10 or 11 days (I can't remember exactly), and then had

special blood

> work done to make sure the Arava was out of my system. After

having the

> baby, I went on Remicade & mtx, but after two years or so I just

couldn't

> take the mtx anymore because of stomach upset. (Yes, even the

injectible

> form.) So I'm back on the Arava!

> Patty

>

[Guest guest]

,

What about Rituxan (rituximab)? It's a biologic, but not an anti-TNF biologic.

Not an MD

On Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 8:44 AM, ktandtm <ktandtm@...> wrote:

> How long did the Arava take for it to start working for you? I have

> been on it 1 1/2 months now and nothing. I think once I get my

> monthly bloodwork in 2 weeks, it its ok we will move up to the 20mg

> dose. I don't know how long he will give that to see if it works.

>

> I am really discouraged because I don't have any side effects from

> the drug yet it isn't working so far either. I also take Plaquenil

> and that worked great for a while but not so good anymore.

> Methotrexate makes my anxiety go through the roof and stomach upset

> too. If the Arava doesn't work we may try the MTX again at a much

> lower dose just to see. I can't take the biologics because of my

> lupus I am told.

>

> I am trying to be optimistic but it is getting difficult.

>

> Thank you all for the replies and anything else you can add would be

> great.

>

[Guest guest]

when is he upping the arava? I was on 20mgs aday with plaquanil..it

took 3 to 4 months to work. mY rhuemy had to decrease the arava to

every other day and I am misable again. so, maybe a few more months or

maybe increase it...but it does take time.

diane in ohio

[Guest guest]

Yes , I can use the Rituxan. I just think he is wanting to

exhaust all other options first before going to that. I don't have

any organ involvement just the joint issues at this time. Either way

it sucks. LOL

> > How long did the Arava take for it to start working for you? I

have

> > been on it 1 1/2 months now and nothing. I think once I get my

> > monthly bloodwork in 2 weeks, it its ok we will move up to the

20mg

> > dose. I don't know how long he will give that to see if it works.

> >

> > I am really discouraged because I don't have any side effects from

> > the drug yet it isn't working so far either. I also take Plaquenil

> > and that worked great for a while but not so good anymore.

> > Methotrexate makes my anxiety go through the roof and stomach

upset

> > too. If the Arava doesn't work we may try the MTX again at a much

> > lower dose just to see. I can't take the biologics because of my

> > lupus I am told.

> >

> > I am trying to be optimistic but it is getting difficult.

> >

> > Thank you all for the replies and anything else you can add would

be

> > great.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think he is going to up it in 2 weeks if my bloodwork is good.

Everything I read says that it is suppose to take effect in 4 weeks but

I guess not. So far it seems like my stuff has got worse. Weird.

--- In , " diane crawford " <nuttynurse25@...>

wrote:

>

> when is he upping the arava? I was on 20mgs aday with plaquanil..it

> took 3 to 4 months to work. mY rhuemy had to decrease the arava to

> every other day and I am misable again. so, maybe a few more months

or

> maybe increase it...but it does take time.

>

> diane in ohio

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry, . It does suck.

I hope you and your rheumatologist will try something that will work

well for you soon.

Not an MD

On Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 12:27 PM, ktandtm <ktandtm@...> wrote:

> Yes , I can use the Rituxan. I just think he is wanting to

> exhaust all other options first before going to that. I don't have

> any organ involvement just the joint issues at this time. Either way

> it sucks. LOL

>

>

[Guest guest]

and group;

it will be ok hon. I was on all that one time or other. I am

humira now and it works great. I didn't know there was so much out

there for RA till I talked with Barbara when I first came on our

group here.

I may have mis-understood you. You want side effects?? You said

your really discouraged cause there is not side effects. I am sure

you didn't mean that lol.

I was very allergic to mexthotrexate. I know I didnt spell that

right haaaaaaaa. Patience my dear. Something will eventually work.

I know it's hard waiting. I waited a real long time and finally

something worked, the Humira injections help so much I hardly have

any pain, and the group told me how to take it without the injection

burning.

Good luck sweety.

gentley hugs

Clora

*********************************************************

> How long did the Arava take for it to start working for you? I

have

> been on it 1 1/2 months now and nothing. I think once I get my

> monthly bloodwork in 2 weeks, it its ok we will move up to the 20mg

> dose. I don't know how long he will give that to see if it works.

>

> I am really discouraged because I don't have any side effects from

> the drug yet it isn't working so far either. I also take Plaquenil

> and that worked great for a while but not so good anymore.

> Methotrexate makes my anxiety go through the roof and stomach upset

> too. If the Arava doesn't work we may try the MTX again at a much

> lower dose just to see. I can't take the biologics because of my

> lupus I am told.

>

> I am trying to be optimistic but it is getting difficult.

>

> Thank you all for the replies and anything else you can add would

be

> great.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Clora,

So sorry if that didn't come out right. LOL What I meant was that I

really really really want the Arava to work because so far it isn't

giving me bad side effects. Actually it isn't giving me any side

effects but it just doesn't seem to be working either.

Thank you all for the support. I know something will work sooner or

later. I am just in a lot of pain lately and as you all can relate

it sucks. Oh well, we live day by day and I have hope that tomorrow

will be better and as always it could be worse.

Its great knowing you all understand.

>

> and group;

>

> it will be ok hon. I was on all that one time or other. I

am

> humira now and it works great. I didn't know there was so much out

> there for RA till I talked with Barbara when I first came on our

> group here.

>

> I may have mis-understood you. You want side effects?? You said

> your really discouraged cause there is not side effects. I am sure

> you didn't mean that lol.

>

> I was very allergic to mexthotrexate. I know I didnt spell that

> right haaaaaaaa. Patience my dear. Something will eventually

work.

> I know it's hard waiting. I waited a real long time and finally

> something worked, the Humira injections help so much I hardly have

> any pain, and the group told me how to take it without the

injection

> burning.

>

> Good luck sweety.

> gentley hugs

> Clora

>

> *********************************************************

>

>

>

> > How long did the Arava take for it to start working for you? I

> have

> > been on it 1 1/2 months now and nothing. I think once I get my

> > monthly bloodwork in 2 weeks, it its ok we will move up to the

20mg

> > dose. I don't know how long he will give that to see if it

works.

> >

> > I am really discouraged because I don't have any side effects

from

> > the drug yet it isn't working so far either. I also take

Plaquenil

> > and that worked great for a while but not so good anymore.

> > Methotrexate makes my anxiety go through the roof and stomach

upset

> > too. If the Arava doesn't work we may try the MTX again at a

much

> > lower dose just to see. I can't take the biologics because of my

> > lupus I am told.

> >

> > I am trying to be optimistic but it is getting difficult.

> >

> > Thank you all for the replies and anything else you can add would

> be

> > great.

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

and group;

I thouht so haaaaaaaaa. I know we don't want them side

effects. I have mis-wrote so much I should be on the mis-wrote list

haaaaaaa. I kringed some of the stuff I sent. I even sent one by

mistake thought it was private and had to email emmideatly to

tell it was by mistake. is so patient. Cause she says don't

worry about it, it happens.

gentle hugs

Clora

******************************************************

> Clora,

>

> So sorry if that didn't come out right. LOL What I meant was that

I

> really really really want the Arava to work because so far it isn't

> giving me bad side effects. Actually it isn't giving me any side

> effects but it just doesn't seem to be working either.

>

> Thank you all for the support. I know something will work sooner or

> later. I am just in a lot of pain lately and as you all can relate

> it sucks. Oh well, we live day by day and I have hope that

tomorrow

> will be better and as always it could be worse.

>

> Its great knowing you all understand.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Arava helped with the RA pain and stiffness but also shot my blood pressure up

so keep a watch on it.  linda

From: ktandtm <ktandtm (DOT) com>

Subject: [ ] for my Arava buddies

@gro ups.com

Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 8:53 AM

I was wondering if anyone that has been on Arava had to stop it because

it didn't do anything for you? It isn't working for me so I have a

feelng we will be stopping it. If you had to stop it did you have to

do the washout proceedure before starting anything else?

I don't post much but any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

[Guest guest]

I have been on it for about a week, seem to hurt every where today, chest nck,

back everywhere. Tired and hurting for the last couple of days, hopefully I will

feel better soon.

Thanks

Don

From: ktandtm <ktandtm (DOT) com>

Subject: [ ] for my Arava buddies

@gro ups.com

Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 8:53 AM

I was wondering if anyone that has been on Arava had to stop it because

it didn't do anything for you? It isn't working for me so I have a

feelng we will be stopping it. If you had to stop it did you have to

do the washout proceedure before starting anything else?

I don't post much but any help would be great. Thanks in advance.