Drug Review

[Guest guest]

Just wanted make sure I have my drugs straight as far as what each one is doing... a little review now and then is good right?1.Humira/Enbrel/Remicade: stops the progression, Are they all the same class of drugs (TNF blocker)?2.MTX:  DMARD??????, Does it stop progression?3.Prednisone: Lowers inflammation, thus helping in pain relief, in theory.4. Folic Acid: necessary why? Will an increase perhaps help with fatigue?5. Vicoprofen and other pain meds: Help with immediate pain (Can we build up resistance? One tablet used to work really well, now at night I lay there with throbbing hands.... perhaps something new is required?)6.Lexapro: Anti-depressant to help with the fact that I am 36 years old, in chronic pain, and take more meds than my 96 year old Grampa!7. Lotensin: high blood pressure med... because the prednisone can raise blood pressure???As usual thanks for the insight...SamOn Aug 23, 2005, at 6:48 AM, Harold Van Tuyl wrote:Remicade is a TNF blocker and has been tested most extensively with Methotrexate.  However people are increasingly using it with a different DMARD instead of Methotrexate.  Perhaps Arava is the most common but Plaquenil and Asulfadine have also been used.  Some people take it without a supplemental drug but many doctors feel that the supplemental drug makes Remicade more effective and delays the body's rejection of the Remicade as a foreign invader.  God bless.----- Original Message -----From: Nina Rheumatoid ArthritisSent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 6:00 AMSubject: Re: Abatacept Information----- Original Message -----From: dbargad@... > MTX must be used to lower our bodies hyperactive immune system, specifically those overactive white blood cells in conjunction with any TNF blocker.  Is Remicade a TNF blocker?  I'm supposed to start it soon and I cannot take MTX.  The doctors have not said I must take it, so I don't think it's a "must". Nina