"only" on plaquenel? or is everyone on a combination of meds?marianne; I only take MTX right now. I've been on combination treatments in the past and for me at this point in the disease I have found that to be more effective. Years ago I took plaquinel alone for a long time. It all depends on your progress. If one medication is effective I'd stick with that. If it's not an increase might do the trick. Using more than one thing at a time is an option.....but don't rush things. If you are doing ok without another medication I'd definately stick with that. I'm hoping to be....but right now I'm also on Prednisone. The "plan" is to taper off the Prednisone once the Plaquenil has had time to build up in my body. I started to taper from 10mg to 9mg 2 wks ago...but this week has NOT been good, so we'll see....
Plaquenil, Celebrex, Enbrel, Prednisone, Vicodin, Tylox, Paxil & Levothyroxine.
Hope I didn't forget anything I'm tired and I don't know where my sticky notes are.
I had a reaction to MTX which my rheumatologist calls an allergy.
I cannot take humira, remicade or any of the biologics, as I am already suseptible (?) to lymphoma because of a blood condition, so docs will not take any chances.
I've been on plaquenil since January '07 and so far, no big improvement. Also my blood work is "disappointing", as my rheumy says. I see her again in Aug. Don't know what we're going to do yet. They want to save Rituxan for when absolutely necessary and I agree completely. Too many unknowns, and I react to many drugs.
Are you on Plaquenil alone? If so, how are you doing on it?
Best wishes,
Nini
I am only on 400 mg Plaquenil a day, as well as 5 mg Prednisone. But not any combonation of drugs.Marianne, I am so happy to hear that it is working for you! Rheumy told me to give it 6 months before we decide it isn't working. It has been 6 months and I'm pretty sure that it isn't helping for me.
It's kind of difficult to tell, however, because I also have OA, Scoliosis, DDD and several other things that cause pain.
Plaquenil is the only RA drug I take, but I do take pain meds,which now are methadone and morphine IR, and I take mobic and flexeril, too.
I hope the plaquenil is stopping any further erosion in your hands. That would be great! Keep us posted.
Be well,
Nini
Nini~I think if I was you and I had to take things like methadone and morphine for pain I'd go ahead and ask my doctor about taking a stronger DMARD or even biologics. Years ago when I took plaqinel it worked pretty well....but that alone wouldn't do it for me I'm afraid now. Once I started using MTX years ago it really stepped up my progress and I really think I started feeling better. After years on that I had to move up to MTX & Humira. Even that had to be increased after a while to Humira twice a week and 25mg of MTX. (I'm in my 13th year)
One thing I always like to tell the newer folks is that with RA you kind of climb this ladder of progression. After a while what's next? You should ALWAYS exhast the medication you are on before switching to something else. Over time it's going to take more and more of things to help you and once something stops working or you have to switch for other reasons you might not be able to acheive the same results on that medication again.
I'm now on MTX only but need something more. I'm thinking of trying plaquinel again myself. I was taken off Humira and I'm a little worried about trying another injection that's simular because it's believed it might cause the same problems that Humira was.