Medication question? | Arthritis Information

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Hey good people.  Well, I stopped mtx in Jan. due to awful rashes and since stopping, have had none.  I have had these rashes for three years now and went through allergy testing (blood and skin test by an allergist who found no sensitivity).  RD thought I had reaction to a sulfa drug once, but now I think that was the mtx also. 

Anyway, I e-mailed my RD and told her the last 2 doses of Humira (I take it 1 every 2 weeks) just were not getting me through 2 weeks without the mtx so could we add something else?  The flares have started and I am feeling worse by about 8-9 days out.  She wrote back and said we could go to weekly doses of Humira.

I am wondering about this course of action... why not add another dmard like Plaquenil or one of the others?  Would this be safer?  Is anyone else on a weekly dose of Humira?

So what do you think?

edited again for spelling (typing with thumbs I guess)waddie I haven't taken Humira but I can't take mtx either. It's awful when the drugs have to be altered.

I love your little avatars, they're the cutest I've seen and make me smile whenever I see your posts. I will not take MTX because it makes me hurt worse, and told my current RD about it and she said she has heard of it making people hurt worse, so that is why I am on Imuran.

 
I use to take Humira once a week. It really only lasted 3-5 days out of the week, but I was not on anything else either at the time, except prednisone 15mg.
 
I would probably give the Humira once a week a shot and if it still did not last long enough, then I would probably ask about other options. Well... not really... I am more of the go along with what the doctor thinks best kinda person. LOL!
I have some med questions too.

I started MTX about 2 months ago. I was on it with Plaq, as well as Naproxen 500 Mg. I have been on several other NSAIDS, but all throw my liver enzymes sky high. So, I drop all of those, (per my RD) and we keep slugging away to find that perfect cocktail.
So now my liver enzymes are nuts again, and he tells me to stop the MTX AND the Naproxen! OMG, I am living on Vicodin.
I am also swelling all over the darn place. I have sausage fingers, swollen ankles, and my knees are all swollen.

Anyone have similar reactions to all these darn pills? I am so sick of pain and swelling, and handfulls of meds!


Janalx, thanks!  These avatars pretty much represent me, I am a klutzy typer but I work hard at it!

Thanks Joonie, I think it helps to hear from the trenches, so to speak.  Who knows best about the effects but someone who has first hand knowledge???  Of course, I know everyone is different but it sure helps!

GrammaKathy, I am sorry you are having problems with medications too.I am already on Arava and Plaq and RD wants me to stay on them while I start Humira.  Honestly, MTX did nothing, Arava, MAYBE a little more...with a gun to my head, I can't say I'm any better than I was before Arava.  Maybe a bit more regular-ha! [QUOTE=waddie] I swear, I think the MTX caused me to puff up like the fat lady at the fair! [/QUOTE]       

Hilarious visual Waddie. I immediately thought of a large woman I saw at our county fair.... cell phone in one hand, funnel cake in the other, sticky toddler running ahead of her. When the toddler stopped to molest a baby in a stroller she yelled, I kid you not, "Thunder Rose! You get yer hands off that baby! We don't know if yer rash is contagious or not!!"

Hey, I just now became a senior member as I simultaneously did my first quote! I don't think I've been this excited in weeks

Well, folks, it is official!  I will now start on weekly Humira.  Idk if I am thrilled about this... but I will give it a shot (so to speak). 

Now, every time I take an injection, I am going to say;

[QUOTE=leila] "Thunder Rose! You get yer hands off that baby! We don't know if yer rash is contagious or not!!" [/QUOTE]

Thanks, Leila!  You sure made things easier for me! 
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