I have read some about enberl.What are some other drugs that are perscribed for treating RA?
Thanks,Sheila
MTX seems to be the most popular "first" one given, but thats just what I have noticed. I can be wrong hehe. Plaquenil too, but that one does nothing for me anymore. Im also on Enbrel and its making me feel great :) Just in case you were thinkin about starting it :) Good Luck.I have limited experience with drugs, but, I have a lot of experiences knowing about them.
The first thing most rheumys prescribe is methotrexate. Then they may move on the plaquenil or sulfasalazine. Then it would be a choice between remicade, Arava, Kineret and Enbrel. Most docs seem to think that Enbrel works best with another "helper" drug such as methotrexate or other.
I was started out on Plaquenil when they didn't know why I had the joint pain...oh, and Relafen. Over the years the combo changed to MTX....then to Arava...and back to MTX. Right now I am finding relief with MTX, Plaquenil, Relafen....when I was weaned off Plaquenil in favor of Arava 2 years ago my RA flared terribly. Plaquenil in combo with other meds seems to do wonders for my own joint pain. Not sure I ever want to quit taking it. I am getting my annual eye exam in a couple weeks. My eye doc is scrupulously careful to monitor eye changes. Sometimes I am not sure if it is the meds or the Sjogren's. (last night I "forgot" to take Evoxac and my mouth was like the Mohave desert this morning.....ugh!)11 years ago I was given Sulfersalazine and eventually used Plaquenil in conjuction with that.
I doubt he'll start you on any biologics right off until you've tried a couple other things without success.
I now use MTX & Humira.
Hi Sheila,
I think what you start on can vary according to your Dr and your personal history. I was started on a non steroid anti-inflamitory drug when I was diagnosed a couple of months ago and told the next step would be adding a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug "plaquenil" within the following few months.....still waiting. I spoke to another RD (friend of my husbands, not on my ins) that told me she would probably have started me on MTX to try and stop it in it's tracks. She also said she could not disagree with how my RD was handleing me, but she personally believes in a very aggressive start.
Good luck, I hope you get some answers....please let us know how it goes
Pam's right. Back when I started out most doctors took the approach of starting you on less aggressive treatments and letting you work your way up to the more aggressive treatments. It only delays your progress though.
I would have preferred the coarse of treatment Pam's friend suggests. It would have saved me years of pain and suffering.
Who knows though. You may be one of the lucky ones that has good results with a less effective treatment...and that's the hope for these doctors that choose to go this route.
Hi, I take Enbrel once a week and MTX once a week. (same day). I used to take the two shots a week of enbrel. No pain. I find this one shot of Enbrel is very painful. About half way through injecting the Enbrel it starts to burn like fire. Has anyone else experienced this?
Hi Emily.
The very first time i was shown how to prepare and inject 50 mg shot by my doc, it burned. I've noticed that if i mix it for longer, about 15+ mins, it doesnt burn at all. Just wondering if the burning sensation is being caused by the solution not being fully disolved, as the first injection was only mixed for about 10 mins.
Or maybe i've just been lucky so far!!!