Has your doctor checked your vitamin levels? | Arthritis Information

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone's doctor ever recommended getting their vitamin levels checked for vitamin deficiency's and what type besidse Vitamin D are common with RA?

I had my vit D levels checked in the very begging 3-4 years ago, vit D was extremely low, had me take 50,000 iu's weekly for a while and have been on vit D 1000 daily but wonder if those still need to be checked, they've never rechecked those Does anyone else get checked regularly?

I have tremors getting worse, and wonder if its not the biologics I've been on though it does seem to be making it worse, but maybe a vitamin deficiency problem. Maybe a B vitamin.

Anyone have other vitamins they were told might be lacking with RA? I also read somewhere something about Magnesium.

Thanks!!

Kelly
yes, taking vit D 1000 1xday rusty2011-05-16 11:39:24After Enbrel the tremors/muscle twitching/weakness began. Could be the biologics. There is now a black box warning associated with neuro problemsKelly, talk with your RD this week, don't wait for your appt. Like 6th5 said one of the more serious side effects is neuro issues and trembling is one of the symptoms. Search for Humira neurology side effects. Have you discussed this with your RD before now? Have that discussion again. Lindy

Hi 6t5 and Lindy,

I switched rheumys. The new one said it would be stupid to put me on another biologic if i was having tremors... he saw the tremors in my thumb in his office. He said Orencia hasnt been known to have neuro side affects so we would try that. I've had 2 doses of Orencia so far, tremors havent gotten better but wonder if the damage has been done from Humira? Ive tired Enbrel, Humira now Orencia.

Funny thing, the old rheumy sent me to a Neurologist about my tremors and stopped Enbrel to get her opinion. She looked to be in her 30's, maybe a newer doctor , said she didnt know what Enbrel was and after talking her into an mri which she wasnt going to give me, said if i can deal with the headaches and tremors to keep taking Enbrel. She's supposed to be the specialist? I just didnt feel good about that answer. I had tremors very slightly when I started Plaquenil 4 years ago. But those tremors became worse after Enbrel, then went away a little after stopping , then tried Humira, they are back again...now trying Orencia. Bad part is that its really helped my RA so if I have to stop biologics, then what?

so frustrating....

Kelly, I had tremors when I was on Enbrel, but I was also on pred and thought this might be the cause. They stopped when I stopped the Enbrel and I really wasn't on Humira long enough to see if it caused the same. I take Cimzia now, with much improvement in my RA. However, I went through a deep depression last summer, along with many tests to determine if the cause was the Cimzia. The answer? No definitive answer as to the Cimzia, but remained off for several months trying to get control of my depression via antidepressants and therapy. I went back on the Cimzia, but RD is paying close attention now, looking for any neurological signs of depression and MS, (I had also suffered several bad falls) and so far so good. I refer to that time as The Great Depression and hope I never suffer through such a thing again as it was a dark hole and such a struggle to pull myself out.

What next indeed... I understand your frustration and find its something I worry about too...

Well HELLO WADDIE

It's good to hear from you! It sounds like Cimzia is working well for you, Im so happy! I hope you can pinpoint if it is the drug that caused the depression. Hopefully not and you can stay on this one for good to keep things in line. So you had tremors too while on Enbrel ? Did they mention what they were concerned with or go into anymore detail? Im assuming MS it what they worry about? Im glad you are feeling much better! I have an appt with my Rheumy next week so we will see what he says....