Comments on: My RA Methotrexate / Enbrel Test: How Well Do Methotrexate & Enbrel Work on Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:44:15 +0000

I had a similar impromptu “experiment”.
I was due to see my Rheumatologist for my 12 weekly check up, but my MTX script only lasts 10 weeks. By the time I’d worked out that I was out, and with the time lag involved in getting hold of him and having the prescription posted to me, I thought, oh well, it’s only 2 doses, how much difference can it make?
Hah! famous last words!
Even though I was on Humira and prednisone, without the MTX I had quite a downhill slide, starting with increased swelling and pain in my right knee, and progressing to other joints. Fortunately it didn’t go to the extreme I get when “between meds” before I got back onto the MTX, but it still took a month or more to get back on track…

By: Rosacea

Rosacea — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:18:22 +0000

Antibiotic…

[...]My RA Methotrexate / Enbrel Test: How Well Do Methotrexate & Enbrel Work on Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis? | RA Education | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior[...]…

By: Kat

Kat — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 07:15:25 +0000

Hi, I know this is an old post, but I really wanted to let you know my experience with enbrel (and methotrexate). I was on predisolone (10mg) for about 5 years when enbrel first arrived. I started enbrel thinking I could get off the dreaded prednisolone. Although I felt better, I still could not reduce the pred below 8mg no matter what I did.

After my bilateral hip replacement I was looking forward to trying to reduce it once again, however I found I just never regained my strength. I was so tired all the time. Even though my hips felt great, I was having to go back to bed after breakfast because I was so exhausted then back again once I showered, then again after I dressed etc. The exhaustion was almost worse than the hip pain. I was still house bound. After becoming convinced I had either contracted something from the blood transfusion, or developed chronic fatigue syndrome, I was pretty depressed. My GP couldn’t help me or find anything. I was like this for about a year before my rhuematologist suggested I try methotrexate with the enbrel and the pred. Within 4 weeks my energy was back. it was unbelievable! Now I am able to live my life including exercise and enjoy it!

I still cant get the predisolone down past 7mg without a flair, but am considering trialing actemra – I really want to get off those roids!
So there you go – one amazing reason to use both methotrexate & enbrel together.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:36:06 +0000

Hi Sara. Yes, usually at that point, the doc would prescribe a different Biologic. People change Biologics either because one didn’t work at all or quit working as well. Yes to what you said, but also it’s interesting that they keep coming up w/ new approaches too. So new drugs are also hope for the folks like me who haven’t responded to any current ones yet. :rainbow:

By: saraethompson

saraethompson — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:01:30 +0000

This is all really useful and informative and its a worry to think that maybe one day the Embrel (even if combined with mtx -) can stop working as your body becomes ‘immune’ – (i didn’t know that MTX can make Embrel ‘last longer’) So where do we go after that – do the docs then try you on another Biologic? As you say Kelly, some people’s RA can run faster than they are making new drugs…scary stuff…

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:44:44 +0000

Yes, it’s confusing when you change more than one thing at a time. Impossible to prove what is causing what. Just a thought: if it were the mtx, it’s doubtful that the improvement would be so quick. That would lean toward the Advair. I hope you can get an answer – get another opinion if you need to… It could be something else entirely.

By: elizabeth moses

elizabeth moses — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:54:55 +0000

I have spent the better part of the evening researching the need for Enbrel alongside methotrexate. I started experiencing shortness of breath, anemia, and some dizzy and fainting spells, my general practioner sent me to a pulmonologist to have my lungs checked,and he also ran some blood work. i knew that I was slightly anemic, but I had never had any of these problems before. I know from researching on my own that methotrexate can cause pulmonary issues and anemia. However I learned that enbrel can excacerbate anemia as well. Since I stopped taking the methotrexate that my shortness of breath has gotten alot better. But, I’m also taking Advair too. Soooooo…..I don’t know what to think! I’m so confused. Does anybody have any ideas? Thank You- Elizabeth

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:31:50 +0000

One thing I’ve discovered is that you never realize how truly badly you feel until you go off any of the drugs.

If you think you’re hurting while you’re ON the drugs [and you are], it’s nothing compared to being OFF the drugs.

By: Helen

Helen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:48:17 +0000

I had exactly the same experience being off Enbrel for 3 weeks – it was a nightmare. I was in so much pain I could hardly moved. The bright side is that it showed me how well Enbrel really does work and showed me I’d made the right decision to take it.

By: URandomnessK

URandomnessK — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:24:04 +0000

Kelly:

I hope that you are able to start meds and get relief soon. I pray for you all the time and hope that you soon will get the remission that you so very much deserve! Hang in there! I do think though that no matter how long we have arthritis, we have some form of denial. Though I have been suffering since I was in nursery school so about what 23 years now, I still have moments of denial, mostly of my limitations. Hang in there!