Have any of you had DMARDS & Steroids? | Arthritis Information

Hi,

I got diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis on Weds, had an initial shot of steroids which seem to be working quite well apart from pain in my boobs.

I was wondering if anyone has had DMARDS and what the side effects are etc?

Do you have to have the drugs they prescribe - if the side effects are too severe do I have the right to think about it for some time.

Thanks for your help

Sades

Sades, I was immediately put on the DMARDS MTX (chemo) and predisone for five months. I will never take the predisone again, and the weanoff prescribed by the rheumy was horrible, and I have found out since then it was not a standard weanoff, but a weird fast one. I just dropped the MTX (sudden high liver enzymes blood tests and he didn't do the baseline tests for hepatitis before starting me which is SOP and I now also have developed osteoporosis, probably brought on by the MTX) after 18 months and have gone to antibiotic protocol. Good luck. Cathy justsaynoemore39459.602662037I'm also on MTX for eight months now and so far, no problems with the blood tests. You absolutely have the right to not only think about whatever a doctor prescribes, but to refuse it outright. You should, however, not just refuse a drug out of fear, but from solid knowledge through research. I think we have to be careful about refusing our doctors' recommendations, but we also should have a lot to say about it. It is, after all, our body that's being affected. We've probably all been on or are on some kind of DMARD, but you should really research them and decide if they're right for you. There ARE other options your RD probably didn't tell you about, that you must research yourself. It's your body and you have a right to say what goes in it.

Whatver you decide to do, please don't procrastinate. The sooner you address your RA the better your long term prognosis will be.

Number 1 and please never forget this: YOU are the patient and always have the right to choice! It's a very important concept. I have been on prednisone for years (and my bones are fine), and also have had tried several different Dmards with differing results with all. All drugs always affect all people differently. If I had a horrible reaction to one drug, it does not mean that you will have one. Seek opinions, do your research and talk things over with your rheumatologist. If he/she doesn't "feel" right, fire him her and get another one you can talk to.

Welcome to the board superstar. Sorry your boob hurt. I can relate, lol. My
2 cents. Please research the steroids you are getting. Read up about
prednisone if THEY decide you cannot live with out that drug. It is a
lifesaver short term but WILL cause damage eventually. No one escapes
problems with this drug when taken for years and years.

I took methtrexate for a couple months over a year ago and then for a month about 6 months ago and both times i had horrible outcomes. My body swelled up all over from shoulders to calves, my breathing was horrible shallow, i got bronchitis too.

I have been on arava for a month now and so far i have only had a couple bouts of diarhea and one nausea day (today). I get my blood test on the 31st for my liver cultures.

I also take prednisone and have for over 2 years, almost 3 total. i have been on 10mg to 5mg depending on how much I need. My body rejects most medications with a reaction like methotrexate so prednisone is the only one that had worked.

There are many problems that can happen from all the drugs. You have to decide what side effects you want to live with. Since prednisone is the best for me, I have decided to stay on that one. I am hoping arava kicks in and helps.

Depending on how sick you are, can determine how you want to fix yourself. Some hold off on drugs because they can and 10+ years it will take until damage occurs. Others like me already had damage in the first year because of how aggressive their RA is.

So, I don't think anyone could give you the full advice you want because all bodies are different, but I do know that the earliers you get treatment, the more you can hold off the RA damage, you just have to roll the dice for other medical problems.

I know people who have been on prednisone more than 20years without one side effect, not even bone damage, and i know people who were on methtrexate for a couple montsh when their liver went bad.

But, others have had some problems with prednisone within a couple years of use and some with methotrexate have gone 3 or more years without problems.

It's a roll of the dice, i wish i could help more.

Oh, forgot to mention, all 3 of my doctors have stated that if 5mg was working for me in prednisone (which is isn't fully) they would leave me on it since the outcome of damage is easier to work with, they don't like the side effects of other drugs and don't like the outcome of cancer etc. of biologics. But since i can't do just 5mg pred, i am on arava too. My doctors are my allergist/immuneologis, my rheumatoid doctor and family doctor.

bubbagump39460.6247916667I've used Methotrexate for 8 plus years and haven't had any problem with it. I also used a low dose of Prednisone for quite some time. I weaned myself off after I suffered a stress fracture in my hip. I just thought it was a wise thing to do. Nobody can tell you how any med will affect you. Different people respond differently to the meds.

Lynn

Thank you for your replies.

I'm concerned really as I'm quite young (only 23) and its sort of the long term probs.

For me the pain is bad but I can live with the pain up to some extent. The steroids have really helped me quite a bit, but I'm still getting some pain.

Accidently posted again to ask if you still got some pain after a shot of steroids.

Thanks again for your help

Sades