Flares while on MTX | Arthritis Information
Hi gang - I've been on MTX for 3 months and each week I've felt better than the week before until I was feeling completely RA free (it was GLORIOUS!). But then....last week the crippling fatigue came back, along with pain and swelling in my hands. I'm wondering if flare ups happen while on meds or maybe the dosing just isn't right anymore (I'm sure these are rhetorical questions......). It's just that I was feeling so terrific - and have been completely blindsided by the return of the symptoms (and to be honest, terribly depressed). Wondering if anyone could share their experiences or thoughts. Many thanks. Hi joywpa,
Welcome to the board. I can easily relate to what you are going through. I had a flare after a period of taking plaquinel and feeling pretty good. I called my rd and luckily she saw me the next day. After that she put me on prednisone and added mtx. I was still flaring and we tampered with the meds and then she added enbrel. After 6 months or so I am feeling pretty good again. My advice would be to call your doctor and let them know. They can decide what they want to do next. My experience with this disease is that is changes over time and flares come up and they have to be dealt with and the medications take a lot of tweaking; especially in the beginning. Good Luck to you and again, welcome. HG
I only had 1 flare in my 19 months of having RA. It was when I had to go off MTX for 3 weeks. At that time the pain was bad enough for prescription pain meds and I had to use bracing for my hands and wrists.
I do have to say that I used to feel better on MTX than I do today. I do have good days and bad days but I wouldn't call the bad days flares. I am on the maximum oral dose.
The first thing I would do is call my RD. That's what you pay him/her for and he/she is the only one qualified to know what to do. Secondly, try not to panic. Even on the best medication, you can still flare with RA. Sadly, our medications are only treatments, not cures, so flaring is bound to happen from time to time. My RD told me, that most of her RA patients, have two severe flares a year. I know how hard it is when a flare hits after feeling good, but hang in there. It will get better again! I'm so sorry that this happened to you!bump
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com