Psoriatic Arthritis - Alternative To Methotrexate?
Nov 29, 2015
My partner has been taking methotrexate for two years but due to the effect of it lowering his immune system he has suffered many infections and problems with wounds healing etc. As a result he has had to take various antibiotics, almost continually, for the past year. He has recently had a severe bout of mouth ulceration which, after research seems to have been caused by the excessive amounts of antibiotics creating a build up of the methotrexate. Does anyone out there know of an effective, natural alternative to methotrexate
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i was diagnosed 2 years ago and since then i have been on methotrexate but since that hasn't worked i have recently been put on sulfasalazine which i take four a day and am still on 6 methotrexate a week. i am hoping this is going to work but since i have been on this i have been having bad side effects such as really bad head aches, dizziness and feeling sick all the time and lack of appetite so hopefully that will die down over the next few months. the only thing that i have found when feeling sick is by having zantac as it helps settle the stomach.
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I have had psoriatic arthritis since age 30 and I am now 67. I have the usual patches on the knees and last year in June I had my left knee replacement operation and they were able to do it without cutting through the psoriasis. I have now been on the operating list 8 times for my right knee replacement and it has had to be cancelled but nobody (Surgeon, Dermatology Dept) can clear my knee for me from the psoriasis. I am desparate for the replacement knee as from my knee my right leg goes out to the side about 12" and I am two inches smaller on the right side which aggrevates the arthritis in my spine and gives me terrible pain. I cannot sit most of the time and have to lay on my side. Can anyone help. I am using Dermovate Ointment 0.5 mg clobetasol and going on a sun bed.
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Has anybody had the associated anterior uveitis associated with psoriasis and has anybody's psoriasis been made worse with the menopause !
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I have psoriatic arthritis and sjogrens. I take methotrexate injections weekly and remicade infusions monthly. I still am having pain and swelling in between all of this. Does anyone else experience a lot of pain?
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I had Guttate Psoriasis thirteen years ago (just the one time, it went away not to return). Fast forward to two years ago I started getting bad pains in various joints, was told I had Burst is, then an impinged nerve and then gout and so on. At the end of January I woke with a severely swollen painful wrist. A visit to our new gp resulted in referral to the hospital and at last a diagnosis. What I want to know is, is it normal for my skin to be itchy all the time ? I don't have Skin Psoriasis. I'm not sleeping well and it's driving me mad, just bought some E45 itch relief cream which I'll put on before bed.
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I'm 40 years old, mum to 2 girls 16 & 11. I just been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and I'm so scared and confused, I'm looking for people in the same boat to help me understand what I'm going through. I have suffered with scalp psoriasis for about 10 years. For about a year I had the odd pain here and there, but nothing I thought was worth going to the doctors about, but 6 months ago my knee started to hurt more regularly but I still put it down to getting old. One night I woke up in excruciating pain on my knee, could not move it at all, took a couple of hours with a bag of frozen peas to ease the pain and after taking painkillers the pain went and I carried on with my life. Just under 2 months ago that same pain came back but not just my knee, my shoulder, my elbow and my neck were affected too. I felt like I was paralysed by pain and had to be practically carried to the GP. That was the first time I ever heard of PA...I didn't even know it existed. My GP suspected it and sent me to loads of blood tests, and prescribed a load of tablets. A week later the pain was not easing so back to the GP and this time he gave me stronger co codamol and the pain started to get better. Another week and the blood tests results came back and showed inflammation, very low vit D and folic acid, so GP gave me supplements and decided to give me a 3 vial steroid injection, which he was hopeful could relieve me of pain for a month, while I was being referred to the rheumatologist. I was pain free for 3 days and then it came back with a vengeance. Back on the co codamol and naproxen but the pain was easing just a bit, I couldn't sleep as I any position made something hurt. GP asked for an urgent referral, but that got lost and despite me trying to get things moving, nothing was happening fast enough so I went private, got an appointment within 2 days and a diagnosis. I started methotrexate 2 weeks ago, which makes me very sick and diarrhoea for 3 days, then it settles. Still on co codamol for pain as I refused the steroids the rheumy wanted to prescribe. My life has been turned upside down, almost every day I wake up with different joints hurting. I feel like the pain is eating me away, it's so disheartening when I can't even prepare my child's lunch box because my hands won't allow it. I work through an agency and they are on the verge of getting rid of me because I have taken the odd day off when the pain is just too much. I have been on anti depressants for years and I feel my depression getting worse, I don't want to leave the house or see anyone because I feel so so low. Will it ever get better?
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And what would you say your side effects are? And how good is the drug at easing your condition?
For me, and I have been taking it for around 2 years now. My condition has improved greatly. But, my elbows and wrists are still not fully flexible, I was tempted to ask my GP for some 'one off' steroid injections to ease the swelling in some of my joints. But other than that awesome.
I do get tired though quite easily, particularly the morning after the methotrexate intake. Folic acid probably eases the side effects though, which I take the following day.
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I am starting MTX on Friday and am a bit nervous to start it, mainly because I have some dental work that needs to be done and I cannot afford it. Does anyone know how MTX affects the teeth? Will it make my teeth worse? We do not have dental insurance and I have one tooth that probably needs a root canal and didn't know if the MTX would make things worse.
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After MRI my diagnosis was "Lots of mileage left, another 10 years, at least!" (I am 75)! Good to hear but still have to be careful going DOWN stairs! Not too bad going up! Some pain now and again. BUT I sometimes get a strange feeling on upper left thigh, (the worst knee), as if it is wet but when I touch the skin it is totally dry! Happens after I have been standing for a couple of hours.Also, sometimes the skin feels sore, but there is no evidence to show. Has anyone had similar feelings?.
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I've begun taking a dosage of 10mg of Methotrexate and that was on 10 of May, I have a party to attend on the following Friday the day before my next dosage. I know that alcohol is not suggested on Methotrexate and up to two drinks is permitted but it will be a day before my dosage so that means i've only taken one tablet, there wouldn't be enough in my system to start inhibiting it would there? I plan on drinking more than two standard drinks and I need some help to know if I there will be any drug interaction producing liver problem or illness.
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Did my first methotrexate injection on Tuesday. Seem to have had a splitting headache ever since. Do not know if coincidence or side effect. If side effect any tips?
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Hi, so i've read here multiple times that although you should not be drinking while on methotrexate, people have found that their alcohol tolorance has gone way down. Has anyone else had the opposite effect?
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It's now two years since first diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica and the first Prednisolone which was like a miracle and I guess still would be if I 'overdosed'. Currently well stuck at 10 mg there seems no way forward. I've tried the slow taper but the first day I drop there is a reaction so I had decided to just take a quiet view and stick at 10mg until the new year and then try the slow taper again.
I'm not uncomfortable at this level and it does not worry me to stay at this level.
But, the Hospital called today as there was a cancelation and I was overdue to see the Consultant. Chatted over my position and he expressed concern that I had become steroid dependant, something that can happen after two years. Whilst the dependency was not something that concerned him in itself it did however at the 10 mg level. Get to 5mg 'ish and that would be more acceptable.
So he wants me to go on Methotrexate, starting with a three month course running alongside the 10 mg of Prednisolone. This is to be closely monitored by a 'specialist' under one if the consultants (can't remember for what) and will mean blood test one or twice a week. Then after another Rheumy appointment in three months a decision will be made to start lowering the Prednisolone.
The whole thing seems horrific, especially as I have just noticed in an article on this site the following 'There is little evidence for the efficacy of steroid-sparing agents - eg, methotrexate or anti-tumour necrosis factor agents. Methotrexate is the most commonly used corticosteroid sparing agent.'
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I took my first dose of 6 - 2.5mg pills last night for my arthritis. Woke up a few hours later in the most excruciating joint pain I have ever had--in EVERY joint including my knuckles of my fingers. Anyone ever experience this crazy reaction to this medication?
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Although my symptoms began a year ago I was not diagnosed with PMR until the end of July when the RA Doctor put me on a 15 mg daily dose of Prednisone. Within a week I felt like a totally different person. I thought I had my life back. In Sept my blood work showed my inflammatory markers had dropped to normal range. In three months the Dr wanted me to reduce to a 12.5 daily dose which I did. It only took about 4 days and all my symptoms were back full blown. She told me to go back to the 15 for a month and then try again. Again the same results and I went back to 15 for another month then dropped again. Same results. Only this time the RA Dr doesn't want me to increase the Prednisone but take pain meds to help me adjust to the lower dose. I ask if I can at least try lowering the dose slower she agrees so I go to 14 mg for two weeks then to 13 two weeks then 12.5 then 11 then 10. I want off the Prednisone as well having had many of the lovely side affects that come with taking it so even though my pain is growing I try to stick with it. I see my primary Dr for pain management. My blood work is showing elevated C reactive protein but my RA Dr seems to think it's an acceptable level. I start PT, and do a pain education class. Slowly the flu symptoms come back as well many nights sometimes all day. I break down many a morning trying to get up to start the day and often cry myself to sleep at night. I go back to my Primary Dr to see how to handle all the pain. She had put me on Cymbalta in January and I thought it helped some so she increased that. I don't like taking so much pain meds but I have to now to get through the days and nights. She does blood work again and my C Reactive Protein has doubled. I get a call the next day that she has talked with my RA Dr and I should go back up to 15mg a day till my apptmt with the RA Dr which was today. The thing is the 15mg is not subduing all the pain like it did before so here I am 7 months later back to where I started only I now have pain in more places than before. Today the RA Dr says she still wonders if I could actually have RA even though I am not manifesting the swelling in the joints that accompanies that. She suggests adding Methotrexate but I dont like adding yet another drug with its own set of side affects to the steroids until I research it. I have to increase the steroids now greater than the 15mg a day so I can have a life! I would like to hear any input/experience on the Methotrexate and just on the steroid use for PMR in general. I sometimes wonder if I was reduced too quickly !!
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After 7weeks of methotrexate and one dose increase it is starting to work.My shoulders are starting to improve and my thighs are a bit better.Only problem is my knees;despite losing nearly a stone of prednisolone weight gain (still quite a bit to go)they are suddenly a nightmare when trying to stand up as the pain is excruciating even with analgesics.Good news ESR is down to 30 and CRP 6.Will mention my knees to rheumatology nurse.
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I'm writing this post because my father has passed away from methotrexate toxicity in February. This cause of death has been officially confirmed. I'm in a state of shock and I really don't believe that the general public understand the severity or danger of this drug.
As I've read here many MTX patients have been on this drug for months if not years. My Dad was on this drug for only five days.
Here is some advice for everyone on this drug:
> Please everyone always ask for a consumer information pamphlet and be aware of the side effects.
> Even if you feel fine don't ignore any side effects
> Hospitals don't check for MTX levels in the blood - if you find yourself in Hospital ask them to test the levels.
> Be aware of leucovorin therapy ; known as 'rescue therapy' (this is administered if you have suspected MXT poisoning)
> Always follow the directions from a rheumatoid arthritis specialist or dermatologist or oncologist - not a general practitioner
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Just trying to hear other people's opinion on the benefits of taking Folic acid and hydroxychloroquine with Methotrexate. I stopped taking these two medications since switching to MTX injections and I've never mentioned this to the doctors during routine checks and so far I'm feeling much better on MTX alone.
Has anyone had a repercussion of not using any of these tablets where it's been prescribed along with MTX?
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I saw my rheumatologist today and after being on Prednisone for 22 months and only getting it down to 9mg, which has happened several times, she continues to STRONGLY insist I start Methotrexate to help reduce my Prednisone dosage! She says I should at least give it a try even at the lowest dose for 3 months to see if it helps. She simply wants me to do whatever we can to reduce my Prednisone because of her real grave health concerns about my being on it long term. She says that if I don't start it at our next visit in 3 months she'll have to send me back to my doctor because she'll no longer be able to help me........and can bring in a new patient whom SHE CAN!! I don't want to risk the side effects of Methotrexate so I'm in a real quandry here. May I ask what experiences any of you have had with Methotrexate?
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I almost feel a fraud here as the docs say I don't have PMR.
On the recommendation of this group I requested a 2nd opinion. I asked to be referred to see Professor Bowman at The QE Birmingham.
Today was my big day. Well the Prof was lovely. He listened really well, gave me a good examination and is following up with loads more blood tests.
I was also treated to xrays on my chest, hands & feet.
Now the downside (again) he went over all my blood results from the last 9 months and said that every result pointed to PMR. But bigggg BUT,
he doesn't feel he can say it is as I am too young! (44) I certainly don't feel to young when I am trying to get out of bed and get moving in a morning.
I have been on pred for few months now after begging my GP. Then refusing to leave the surgery until they listened. My GP agreed to a trial. Base line bloods for ESR & CRP 6 weeks on pred at 15 and then more bloods. Results were amazing and my bloods came back almost within the normal range. Good news my GP has since said I do need steroids.
I am now at 10mg a day but I feel it could do with being higher. Today Professor Bowman said he is really worried about me taking steroids. He agreed I needed them but is concerned about long term use and my age. I got moon face very quickly on pred and Prof commented that he could see pred was already making changes to me that he didn't like.
He wants me to come off pred using the dead slow method and wants me to start another drug.... Either Methotrexate or Azathioprine. I get tp choose.
So my lovely people have you had any experience of these drugs?
Which one would you choose?
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