Hello board buddies. I've been fortunate to have a reduction in my painful/stiff joints and hope for improvment in my neuropathy eventually, but I've been wondering how the MTX and Plaquenil actually work. Since they're not painkillers, per se, nor anti-inflammatories, I'm stuck for an answer. I've read up on both meds but the medical lingo is beyond me. How do these drugs stop the pain? Someone said something about MTX getting into the cells, but to do what? Can anyone explain in layman's terms how these two drugs affect the disease process? What's actually happening in the body? If you find out, you'll get the Nobel Prize!
Sorry to be flippant, but o one really knows how they work (although I
suspect Plaquenil works because it's an antimicrobial). The guess with
mtx is it represses your immune system, but no one really knows.
I asked my Dr what the Plaquenil does...he told me it helps stop any joint damage...but I don't know "how" it does it. I can't say it's helped hugely with my pain, but he says I don't have any "active erosion" going on, so he said the Plaquenil is doing what it's supposed to. I guess when my hands are in a lot of pain (like today) I don't really know why they hurt? I don't take any pain meds though. It's not so severe that I can't handle it....so far.