Hi All!
How long should I give a specific medication to work before I throw in the towel? I'm currently on 15 mtx/week, (Just raised 2 wks ago), 30 pred, FA. He is planning on adding Enbrel if I can afford it at my appt later this month.
I'm not sure the mtx is working. I have increased my pred significantly, from 10-30 mgs and can't decrease from that right now. What do you think?
Also, what is the "big daddy" of all RA meds? I thought it was remicade, is that the case? By big daddy, I mean, what do they put you on if everything else fails?
Thanks a million...
Lori
I would try to give any med that you are taking 3-6 months to work. It is frustrating that these meds have to build up in your system and can be so slow in working sometimes.
I'm not sure there really is any big daddy of meds. I think it is just finding what works right for you. What have you been on besides the mtx and pred?
Gramma,
Those are the only meds I've been on. I know I should be patient....I'm very impatient by nature and worse so when I'm in pain. I have a lot of options I know, just trying to think ahead and get a game plan for my next RD appt. I just feel like I have been sick for so long and I'm not seeing any improvement. I don't feel on top of my game at all. I feel very fuzzy brained and kinda "out of it" all the time. I also really, really want to get off this Pred. I hate being on it. Thanks for the response!
Lori
That is a lot of prednisone, 20 mg just wouldn't work? MTX takes a long time to take effect. Maybe three months or so. I really didn't have much relief from just MTX. The Enbril made a big difference i think. I also started taking an homeopathic med about the same time so one or the other or a combination sure has made a big difference. I now inject 50mg of enbril into my stomach every week, 25 mg of methotrexate per week and am finally down to 10 mg of prednasone per day. You should try to at least get downt to 20 mg of prednisone if at all possible. Prednisone is a very nasty drug and is nastier at every little mg increase.Maybe less prednisone and a small amount of codeine. It used to work for me. Oh yeah, don't over do the codeine, just take a minimum. Enbril is very expensive. 5 per syringe. It will get better. Don't worry 'bout the "big daddy". You will get better. They will gradually increase the MTX and start you on one of the TNF (A) blockers such as enbril. You won't be brand new but will be soooo much better. Get good rest, have good dreams.
Thank you for the kind words. I am trying to decrease my pred. it seems like an ongoing thing. i decrease it, then I can't move my arms or hands, then I increase it and i do better. at 30 mgs of Pred, i'm still not pain free. that scares me. I'm going to try a decrease it to 20 and see where I am after that
I know it takes mtx a while to work. i just want to get off the pred. i don't like it at all.
Lori
Lori-Lori - If you are taking so much pred. that means your meds are NOT working. My meds semi work but I am stubborn so I try not to stay on high doses of pred. long. I agree with Hess - I think you should try a biologic. I think of the Remicade as a "big gun" only cause I have lousy veins so it would take a big gun to get me in to try it
You are trying to get the pred to put you back to brand new. It won't work. Back when prednisone was first introduced, it was called the "Get up and dance medicine". Crippled people could walk and dance at 100 mg. It wasn't long before it was called the get up and dance to your grave medicine. Be patient. There are such good meds that actually work. You are still at a low dose of mtx. They want to slow you into higher doses to ensure that your body will tolerate the mtx. Oh, I told you that one syringe of enbril is 5, I meant to say 5.
Seriously, ask your Dr. for some codeine. Sometimes I could take a half of one and sometimes a whole on. So good and sometimes to feel real good I would do two.
Anyway get good rest and have good dreams.
There might a couple of options. One is painkillers. Stop living in pain and on pred!! The other is to wean the pred and start a biologic along with mtx. I do no pred at all on humira and mtx. The only time I do pred is for a BAD flare and then it is only 10-15mg. The pred is supposed to take away the inflammation. The high dose you are on and can't seem to lower does indicate it not working for you any longer. Maybe it is time to get in to the doc and start discussing other treatment options. RA is a progressive disease and you just might be progressing to the point of a biologic. Some good advice given here, including about pain killers. Like you, I started off on MTX and Prednisone. My doc helped by trying different pain killers until we hit on a combo that worked for me - tramadol, on prescription, and OTC paracetemol. Was taking them every four hours, gradually weaned down to twice daily. Arava was added to the mix for a while and things got a lot better. Looking back, it's been a ten months stint of trial and error. Down to 10mg Prednisone daily with the less harmful pain killers doing the rest. It's hard to be patient through pain but I believe that's what we need to be. MTX can take a long time, if another drug is added so much the better. May I suggest reading all of the above replies carefully to see what you think might work for you. There can be light at the end of the tunnel, here's hoping it shines on you soon! Good luck!!!I had to look up paracetamol on google lol! That is called acetominophen here in the states and is also over the counter. Amazing the differences between 2 countries and what things are called!
thank you everyone for excellent advice and thoughts. I am using the pred just to function thru the day. i agree that I am on way too high of a dose. I am working full time, have 2 kids and go to school and I'm single. so, I have to take something to get me thru the days. although i don't like it, Pred works at really high doses. for me, it has just been frustrating waiting to see how I'm going to react to the mtx. We are going to add Enbrel on the 18th. So, I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. its just hard when you are in pain. you guys know how that is. =)