Shingles | Arthritis Information

I think my shingles questiond are getting a little old, but here I go again.

Do any of you who have had shingles attribute them to methotrexate and the supressed immune system it causes.

I certainly don't want to stop taking it. I'm not thrilled about missing it for 2 weeks.

But I've had had shingles twice and although they aren't painful I don't want them again.

They're on my upper arm this time and I'm wearing long sleeved shirts and waiting for them to go away.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

And I do realize how lucky I am not to have the pain.

oh i had shingles last october

they were terrible

all over my chest and back lol

and mine hurt

but that was before i got JRA and started methotrexate this spring

so im not sure if the methotrexate could have something to do with it

ooh i just found out the exact day i started methotrexate

it was may 20th

but still idk if i could have anything to do with shingles

go call ur doctor or something

StarPerson1212009-06-19 12:30:40

dotty... did you call your RD? He would be your best source of what to do in this instance?

As StarPerson indicates, shingles are usually painful. Have your physicians suggested a culture/and or biopsy of the area for definitive diagnosis?

When I began taking MTX, I was given a prescription for anti-viral medication and instructed to begin taking it immediately if I suspect either herpes simplex or herpes zoster. I have taken one courses of the medication in the past two years for herpes simplex.

I am, knock on wood, not had shingles and I wish that I had had the foresight to risk getting the vaccine before starting Enbrel. Hindsight is such a comfort! LOL

Babs suggestion to discuss your questions with your physician(s) is one I soundly second.

Lynn49 presented an article for us in the recent past regarding RA and herpes zoster: http://arthritisinsight.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22380&KW=herpes

Best wishes, Shug

Mtx and other DMARDS, as immunosupressants, are known to cause re-emergence of herpes viruses (including the simplex viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes as well as the zoster virus that causes shingles).

I had to go off mtx because it gave me cold sore after cold sore, week after week. It was unbearably painful.

I suspect mtx-based immunosuppression is causing your shingles to re-appear.
oh so thats why

Kim H u helped me out too

i wondered why i recently had gotten a cold sore lol

maybe it could possibly be from the mtx

i guess lol

Shingles suck plain and simple. I had them last september on of all places...my scalp! I STILL have post herpetic neuralgia nearly one year later and don't think it's ever going away. I was told that they were a direct result of all the immune suppression as I was on a monster dose of prednisone, mtx, and humira at the time. I'd almost guarantee that the mtx is what caused the outbreak if it is shingles. But in our case these drugs are a necessary evil and so we go off of them until whatever resolves and then start them again. If it hasn't been more than 36 hours go to the doc and get valtrex which will help you fight off the herpes zoster virus a little quicker. Other than that it's just playing the waiting game with them.

good luck....sorry about the shingles...again they stink!!!!

Bob

Thanks so much for your replies. I did call my RD and she said to stop MTX for 2 weeks.

I have an appointment in a couple of months and I'll ask her more questions then.

My PCP diagnosed them and prescribed valtrex. They are fading quickly.

Considering how helpful methotrexate is I guess it does come at a price.

Thanks again!!

FWIW some information re: shingles... ... ...

http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/news/20090217/arthritis-treatment-ups-shingles-risk

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/02/17/rheumatoid-arthritis-drugs-raise-shingles-risk.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/025671_shingles_arthritis_rheumatoid_arthritis.html

As always, be a critical reader.

Thanks for the links, I checked them out and I'm thinking I may be able to get the vaccine.

I'll check with my RD at my next appointment.

My rash is clearing up, hopefully I'll be in short sleeves soon!

Again, thanks.

[QUOTE=dotty]... I'm thinking I may be able to get the vaccine.[/QUOTE]
Great! I understand that "they" are perfecting another vaccine that does not contain live virus and that will be safe for those on TNF, etc. to take even while taking RA therapy. THAT cannot happen too soon for me!

Best wishes, Shug
Dotty, I'm glad your shingles don't hurt. My mom had them once and although she didn't say they were completely painless, she did say that it wasn't bad. I guess you two are lucky, I know a lot of people can't say the same about their shingles outbreak.
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