Comments on: Comparing Risks and Benefits of Rheumatoid Arthritis Medicines

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:43:06 +0000

I have read that it can stay in the body about 6 weeks if someone has been on it awhile, but that is probably only a rule of thumb. I was told that there was a bloodtest for it but that it’s not done very much any more.

By: Brooke

Brooke — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:41:20 +0000

I wondered if in all your research you had ever been able to find out how long Methotrexate stays in your system after the medication has been discontinued. 2 times I have experienced swelling of the left forearm (swelling like double the size of the right) and a rash on my neck after my 8th dose of mtx 15mg, it was then dc’d. I was restarted on it at a dose of 10mg, had 4 doses of it and then it was discontinued due to an abnormal CT of the chest. 17 days later I had the left arm swelling again, no rash. I know you can’t answer every question but wondered if you’d ever come across this one before. Thanks for all you do!

By: jey

jey — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:25:32 +0000

I was diagnosed with RA about 2 years ago, and currently just take Plaquenil advil, and vicodan for pain/ I was diagnosed with moderate to severe RA. My GP referred me to a Rheumatologist but I declined. I read all the comments about the different drug regimes that is prescribed. I am speaking for myself, but there is no way I personally would take medicine that have side effects that could harm me, when it won’t cure me. To take these medicines for months only to find out it didn’t help and then get switched to something else is not for me. I have been adjusting my pain medication on a daily basis as some days I need more and some days I need less, I decide. I would rather live with the pain (which can be intense) than to subject myself to a lifetime of medications that make you sick, lower your immune system, and the countless other side effects that may or may not occur. No thanks.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:01:41 +0000

Good luck Marilyn – I hope you find an RA treatment that works safely for you. That surprises me that the rheum doc wanted to try the lyrica first. I’ve always heard them say it in the other order. To use RA treatment and then offer lyrica if there are leftover symptoms that can’t be explained by RA. Maybe it was due to your myeloma experience. There are so many different philosophies with different docs. You have certainly been through a lot – I hope it gets easier.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:52:57 +0000

Kelly, Thank you so much for keeping this thread open so long. I escaped probable paralysis myself when I finally had back surgery three years ago. I had damage from RA at L 4/5 and thank goodness that particular pain has not returned since.As to RA meds and side effects, I was on Humira for a year, and was feeling great, until I developed a myeloma on my face, and had to stop the med. The pain in hands and feet gradually escalated until my fingers and hands began to lock up at night.Braces helped. Now treating what the rheumy claims to be FM with Lyrica, and after a month, the plan is to go after the RA; feeling better at present, but am worried about what any new med might be.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:39:04 +0000

I know this is an older post, but I wanted to say that I did gain weight while on MTX – but mostly because of the nausea. I was eating a lot of starchy food to try and settle my stomach. It was like morning sickness for me – too bad I didn’t have the food aversions that kept me from eating like a pig during pregnancy, ha! Anyway, I could see weight gain as an indirect result of MTX treatment, so maybe this was the case for you, Stephanie?

By: Barbara Gobrail

Barbara Gobrail — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:47:58 +0000

As a medical student back in the late 1960s, MTX was used ONLY for cancer patients. Thus, when my rheumy wanted to begin MTX in the summer of 2007, I was very hesitant! Memories were vivid and my area of speciality did not include anything with MTX so my knowledge was fixed at what I had learned years ago. Since I have been on it, it has helped and I no longer fear it as I once did. I would tell my patients that every medication is a selective poison – one must weight the benefits vs the risks. But one must look at the source of information as well as the information itself!

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:58:42 +0000

Robyn, so glad that is resolved.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:11:30 +0000

Stopped by the Home Health. Aha! The nurse tried it and found the vial did have a problem-not me! She used my other bottle to draw up two syringes and had no problem. I was doing it correctly, just the bad vial. She said to return it to the pharmacy, and they replaced it with no problem. That is a nice article on needles and I will save it, as I do all of your articles. Life is so challenging and we need to continue to be strong and keep the faith.
My Aunt(non-blood) had gnarled fingers many years ago. As a teenager I marveled at her ability to sew and do many other things despite her RA, and she lived to be 80yrs of age. My mind reflects on her strength when I face my own challenges.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:20:19 +0000

I'll bet you have seen this article on needles, but just in case here it is.