Need info on antibiotics & RA treatment | Arthritis Information

Good morning all! I'm pretty sure I have strep throat and seeing my pcp for it this afternoon. I know you have to go on antibiotics to clear it up so how does that affect my RA sysmptoms? Will they take me off Enbrel and Arava while on the antibiotics? Will that cause a flare?Audrey, I have found that each RD is different about whether you should stop your other treatments when taking antibiotics. Mine never had me stop, even during 5 courses of antibiotics for a 3.5 month sinus infection. If your doc has you stop, you might have a flare. But more importantly, you want to get that strep throat under control. Oddly enough, I woke up with a very sore throat this morning, so I may be heading down the same road...hi achey audrey i had 8mths antibiotics for chest infections
while on mtx and pred.. none were stopped..doc said you expect
to get infections on these meds..

Boney

It might have taken you so long to get over these infections because you did not stop your meds. Medications such as MTX and Biologics slow the healing process so it might be in your best interest to stop the medications....get over the infection in a timely manner and then go back on your medications.

Often it takes many weeks before you'll go into a flare. You'll likely stiffen up as each week passes; but it will be worth it in the end if you're able to clear up the infection quickly before it has an opprotunity to turn into something more serious.

Predisone doesn't need to be stopped.....and if you aren't on it already it might be good to take it if you begin to flare while off your meds. It might actually help clear up infections like something like bronchitis more quickly before it turns into something like phnuemonia and help relieve RA symptoms at the same time.

For the record:

I speak from experience with things like bronchitis and sinus infections. I have no experience with strep throat. I haven't had that since childhood.

i agree whith Lovie.. but rheumatologists seem to see no further
than treating the ra..it took high doses antibacterials to clear chest up..

Boney
At the same times; GP's rarely understand the complications associated with RA meds.

My GP wasn't really up to date on current RA treatements; mainly Humira when I first started taking it the first go round. I was happily suprised to see that she did her research and quickly became current on what was best for my situation.

I'm pretty sure my GP has RA, or at least something similar. My rheumy recommended her to me, and I realized later it was probably because she's a patient of his. At least she understands what the RA meds do!That's excellent! Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a doctor that actually shared in some of what we experience?

Hi Audrey - I had flu/sinus infection this spring and went off both for 3 weeks. I checked with my RD on whether to stop, not my pcp - I would recommend a call to your RD to find out. Did fine until the last week and then start feeling some stiffness coming back. After I started back up, my RD said I could have probably started the mtx sooner, but the enbrel was a no until I no longer had a fever and was over my sinus issues.