Guest guest Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Dear Carla- You are a hot zone and between the lupus and RA your body is like a wild fire. You need a biologic, either Remicaid or Enbrel.. Something. MTX isnt enough, not with what you are experiencing. Please consider writing to the drug companies to get the drugs you need, whatever they are. Are you on medicare? Medicaid? Disability? If none of these apply, take steps to start the process. Try to get Emergency Aid from the State to pay for your drugs. You need assistance. There are options here. Prednisone is important to keep your organ inflammation down but it isnt effective for flares. You need a Biologic. Ask the Doctor. Compassionate use letters are received by drug companies all the time. Please consider them. Yours, Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Actually for many predisone is VERY effective for flares, while waiting for the other meds to kick in . It is one of those first line meds given as rheumy find the perfect cocktail of drugs that work. Prednisone can given almost immediate relief to many of the swelling that causes pain. Prednisone alone...especially long term of course will do nothing to stop the damage that is occuring which also causes pain nor to get the swelling under long term control.....But the standard for most in a flare is a steriod burst and increase in possibly pain meds...MTX or Biologic as well as NSAIDs. Also keep in mind that some of the side effects of some of the biologics is lupus like symptoms...so this person may not benefit from the use of them...but may actually see worsening symptoms. Lupus treatment drugs are usually cellcept, Immuran, MTX, prednisone, plaquinil, rituxin and a few other chemo meds....this is the course of may of my friends that have lupus. Toni In a message dated 5/17/05 6:52:07 P.M. Central Daylight Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 03:41:45 EDT From: dbargad@...Subject: Re: New to group....Dear Carla- You are a hot zone and between the lupus and RA your body is like a wild fire. You need a biologic, either Remicaid or Enbrel.. Something. MTX isnt enough, not with what you are experiencing. Please consider writing to the drug companies to get the drugs you need, whatever they are. Are you on medicare? Medicaid? Disability? If none of these apply, take steps to start the process. Try to get Emergency Aid from the State to pay for your drugs. You need assistance. There are options here. Prednisone is important to keep your organ inflammation down but it isnt effective for flares. You need a Biologic. Ask the Doctor. Compassionate use letters are received by drug companies all the time. Please consider them. Yours, Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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