Lupus

14 years ago

I have an appointment with my rheumatologist next Tuesday and need some advise before I go in. First let me say that I have always followed the experts advise until now. But, the last recommended medication change resulted in what we believe to be remicade induced lupus. Previously I was being treated for RA. I've had RA since age 8 or so albeit a mild case most of my life. In recent years it became more debilitating hence the remicade. I am being treated with methotraxate and prednisone presently. The last three months or so it has stopped being as effective so we began tapering off on the prednisone last saturday. I am going to have to replace the current treatment with something else and am here to see what you guys recommend and what works for you. I have done quite a bit of research but still don't have any concrete idea of how well these drugs actually work from anyone who might be taking them. I would appreciate any help you might have to offer.

Thank you for any feedback you can give.

Pris

Comments (3)

oilpainter
14 years ago
Talk to a pharmacist. They know more about medications than doctors and if you deal with the same pharmacy they will know what you,ve taken and what works for you. They also hear back from their customers and dispense many different meds.

My sister took her husband to the hospital with bad chest pains. 4 days before he was given antibiotics from a specialist in preparation for surgery, and his own doctor had prescribed cholesterol medication. The day after he started taking both he started geting pains which steadily got worse.

At the hospital they started doing heart test after heart test. My sister asked if it could be the meds. because that's when it started. The doctor said no. A nurse took my sister aside and told her to go down to the hospital pharmacy and ask them. She said that often doctors just don't know all the ins and outs of medications. My sister did and the pharmacist said those 2 together can cause pains all over the body. That was exactly what it was. When he stopped taking them the pains went away.

I know this has nothing to do with your meds. but it goes to show--If you want to know about medications, ask the person who knows--ask a pharmacist.
pris
Original Author
14 years ago
Scary, ain't it? I sometimes think I was better off taking otc nsaids alone. Everytime they give me something new a new problem crops up. Now I not only have RA to contend with, I have lupus as well. I can't increase the methotrexate as higher doses causes liver problems and I can't take remicade as that started the lupus problem and I can't take enbrel and humira because they're the same type drug as remicade. I did talk to the pharmacist about a new drug on the market, but she didn't know anything yet other than what I could find on the internet. This drug is one of the things I'll be talking to the doctor about on Tuesday. The drug is called Anakinra and the upside is it's not the same type as the rest but whether it works or not is the question.
Thanks for the advise. I'll keep you posted as to the new drug.
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pris
Original Author
14 years ago
Scary, ain't it? I sometimes think I was better off taking otc nsaids alone. Everytime they give me something new a new problem crops up. Now I not only have RA to contend with, I have lupus as well. I can't increase the methotrexate as higher doses causes liver problems and I can't take remicade as that started the lupus problem and I can't take enbrel and humira because they're the same type drug as remicade. I did talk to the pharmacist about a new drug on the market, but she didn't know anything yet other than what I could find on the internet. This drug is one of the things I'll be talking to the doctor about on Tuesday. The drug is called Anakinra and the upside is it's not the same type as the rest but whether it works or not is the question.
Thanks for the advise. I'll keep you posted as to the new drug.