Orencia, high blood pressure & a washout procedure

[Guest guest]

Background: I have been on Orencia for 1.5 years now. As time has gone on my

blood pressure has slowly risen. Yeah, I'm overweight but who isn't? Besides, I

am also on Arava & sulfasalazine. Since going on those two I have been slowly

but steadily losing weight (abt 1 pound per week average) due to an increase in,

shall we say, dropping deuces more often. Too much info, I know.

Back to the blood pressure thing. It has risen to the point that I was forced to

go on BP medication. I live in the flippin' bathroom now. If I'm not doin' #1

then it's time for #2. Being on the BP med has me worn out much more than normal

and I want off this garbage.

My rheumy, who just left his practice in Terre Haute to move to Cali, has

repeatedly told me that my BP is rising due to the Orencia. OK. I don't think it

is helping me anyway. As a matter of fact I didn't start feeling better until he

added the sulfasalazine with the Arava.

Getting closer to my question now....I know I need to talk with my new Rheumy

whom I've heard is a really good guy but that appt is 2 months out. I want to go

off the Orencia for good. I'd rather have more pain to cope with than high blood

pressure & it's effects on my body. Knowing all this, I've been told that

quitting Orencia will require a " washout procedure " . I have looked on the web

but would appreciate any knowledge you folks may have on this. What does such a

procedure entail, how long does it take, what are the effects of it on the body,

that type of thing.

Dalanne the dump truck driver

Mushrooms in East Central Illinois!