Re: husband just diagnosed with RA

[Guest guest]

Methotrexate comes in both pill form and injections. I take the pill form. I don't know whether or not there's a difference in strength between the two. There has been some talk on this board about limited amounts of Methotrexate available. That doesn't affect those of us who take it in pill form.

gloria

[Guest guest]

Hi Terri, welcome to the board, and I'm sorry that both you and your husband have such medical problems. My rheumatologist started me off with 40 mg Prednisone and Arava. I think he didn't start with Methotrexate because I was a smoker for 57 years and he felt that Arava might be harder on the liver but easier on the lungs as compared to Methotrexate. I think doctors usually start with Methotrexate pills and then go to injections if the side effects of the Methotrexate become too troubling (usually nausea and mouth sores).

I have heard nothing either for or against digestive enzymes as related to RA.

Stress can be the trigger to start RA and can also cause flares or make them worse. Many people with RA become depressed and that is a form or stress that makes the RA worse. If there are any signs of depression he should ask his doctor about medical treatment for that.

Keep asking the questions and probably one or more on this board will address all of them. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: tlrajotte

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 2:33 PM

Subject: husband just diagnosed with RA

I've been learking in the background for a week or two, my husband (48) just diagnosed with RA has been on 40 mgs prednisone for about a month + 1/2 now tapering off and taking methotrexzate tapering up to 15mgs, but he's taking tablets. Is this "usual"? I've been reading about injectible, Do rheumatologists tend to go injectible after stabilizing the dose or is this whats done after being on tablets for a time? He's also taking folic acid tabs daily. I've read that digestive enzymes have been effective with RA. Anyone have any experience there? I had spinal surgery and am left on SSD, so the financial stress has been an issue with my husband, did this stress possibly accelerate the RA? I have so many questions and am glad to find a forum as I did with my spinal tarlov cyst. Thanks for sharing your story. Terri

[Guest guest]

Terri,

Typically with my Rheumy he only used prednisone for short periods of time to stabilize my RA, but doesn't want to use it long term b/c of side effects. I am only 24 and have progressive/severe RA. My experience with methotrexate is that I started out in the pill format and found that it didn't work for me and I was feeling sick all the time. We then switched me over to the injections and at first I found that it was really hard to "stick" the needle into my leg. I had my BF at the time do that part for me and then could do it myself later, but was forced to b/c we broke up and there was no one else to do it for me.

I have also heard that taking certain digestive enzymes work, but have no experience. Things like MSM and fish oils helps a lot. I have heard that moducare is a great one too, but have little experience with it. I took something through one of the magnet companies, it was a supplement that seemed to help, but I can't remember what it was.

Good luck to you and your husband. Try looking for a support group in your area through the arthritis society (canada) or the arthritis foundation (us).

>I've been learking in the background for a week or two, my husband

>(48) just diagnosed with RA has been on 40 mgs prednisone for about >a month + 1/2 now tapering off and taking methotrexzate tapering up >to 15mgs, but he's taking tablets. Is this "usual"? I've been >reading about injectible, Do rheumatologists tend to go injectible >after stabilizing the dose or is this whats done after being on >tablets for a time? He's also taking folic acid tabs daily. I've >read that digestive enzymes have been effective with RA. Anyone have >any experience there? I had spinal surgery and am left on SSD, so >the financial stress has been an issue with my husband, did this >stress possibly accelerate the RA? I have so many questions and am >glad to find a forum as I did with my spinal tarlov cyst. Thanks for >sharing your story. Terri > > Powerful parental controls improve your peace of mind with MSN Premium: Join now and get the first two months FREE*

[Guest guest]

Well that was short-lived, his doc called and told him to stop the

methotrexate and continue the prednisone alone cause something is

going on with his liver from the blood tests prior to starting the

methotrexate and to come in next week for an appt. It just never

stops does it! Terri

[Guest guest]

In my case I heard that the side effects were less with the

injections so I just asked for it and have been having injections for

years. I am a lot happier with the injections

Annette

> Methotrexate comes in both pill form and injections. I take the

pill form. I

> don't know whether or not there's a difference in strength between

the two.

> There has been some talk on this board about limited amounts of

Methotrexate

> available. That doesn't affect those of us who take it in pill form.

>

> gloria

[Guest guest]

I had always heard that the max dosage in pill form was 20mg. To go

above that you had to go to the injections.

Ray in OKC

> > Methotrexate comes in both pill form and injections. I take the

> pill form. I

> > don't know whether or not there's a difference in strength

between

> the two.

> > There has been some talk on this board about limited amounts of

> Methotrexate

> > available. That doesn't affect those of us who take it in pill

form.

> >

> > gloria

[Guest guest]

You can take more than 20 mg in pill form, but the side effects at

that level become a lot nastier so people switch to injections.

My doc uses 20 mg as the maximum dose if you're on a biologic or an

additional DMARD. For MTX alone though, he sometimes goes higher.

Beth

> > In my case I heard that the side effects were less with the

> > injections so I just asked for it and have been having

injections

> for

> > years. I am a lot happier with the injections

> > Annette

> > --- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , gloriarex@a...

wrote:

> > > Methotrexate comes in both pill form and injections. I take

the

> > pill form. I

> > > don't know whether or not there's a difference in strength

> between

> > the two.

> > > There has been some talk on this board about limited amounts

of

> > Methotrexate

> > > available. That doesn't affect those of us who take it in pill

> form.

> > >

> > > gloria