Plaquenil vs Methotroxate????

[birhen]

Originally Posted by teachergirl64

I was diagnosed in May and started on Plaquenil at that time. I changed rheumatologists in July and he promptly added MTX to the plaquenil. He has switched me to the MTX injections because of never-ending tummy problems. But neither drug is controlling the RA. It is severe enough that it has begun affecting my bone marrow/red blood cell production and my white count is right on up there. We are giving it 4 more weeks and then I am starting Arava. I won't be sad to discontinue the MTX. I feel worse now than I did before I started it.

Hi!

Do you take just medications or do you take supplements and vitamins, too?

I started on prednisone in early July then MTX was added one month after. I didn't start feeling better until the end of August. I was taking multi-vitamins and joint supplements for 2 mos. before I started taking the medications, and still take them now with my Dr's approval. I always take my meds and suppls. with meals. So far, the bloodwork for my liver is coming out fine (I really believe it's because of the milk thistle I'm taking), and I don't have any stomach problem or any other side effects (knock on wood)...well, except for hairloss and a mild sorethroat on the MTX day. Though, since taking folic acid, the hairloss and the sorethroat is minimized. Right now, I'm almost off the prednisone(easing it to 2.5mg every other day). Trying to wean off prednisone (started 2 weeks ago)I went through some major pains on the right hip, knees, and down to my foot but I stuck through it. Finally, today I'm feeling much better. I'm on 5pills for MTX per week. Hopefully I'll ease out on that too.

Some people seems to be doing ok and some aren't with certain medications. I wonder if there's underlying factors behind it--vitamins or supplements taken with it, taken with or without food, home and/or work stress. Or...is it that different people just react differently?

[frenchshopgirl]

Hi guys! Just joining here ... after putting up with aches and pains for about a year and a half, i was just diagnosed with RA. For some reason, i had all the symptoms, but my blood tests were coming back negative for RA (?odd) She just put me on Plaquenil last week, along with a week's worth of prednisone, to see how my body would react.

I must say, I have felt amazing this week, probably as a result of the Pred since i understand that it'll take a while for the Plaquenil to kick in. After having night pain and stiffness for the past six months, i couldn't believe it after only 2-3 days on the meds, i woke up one morning with no pain, hardly any stiffness, and the kind of energy i haven't felt in ages. (I'm only 36 but feel like 86 most mornings!) By today, less than a week later, i woke with no pain or stiffness whatsoever. Haaaaallllllleeeluuuujaaaahhh!!!!

My Dr. thinks i probably need to be on Methotrexate, but i, too, am hesitant to start down that road. i've watched my mom suffer with RA since the late 80's and have seen how much medication she's been through over the years (and still goes through), so that isn't an encouraging picture for me of my future ... just from reading about Methotroxate, i would like to stay on the Plaquenil as long as possible. I too take it before bed with milk and that seems to do the trick to solve the naseau problem...

sorry for the long history report, but any thoughts as i'm just getting started? Has plaquenil worked well enough for anyone reading this that you didn't have to move on to Methotroxate? Also, i've been taking Move Free (gluc/cond/msm/vit d) for about a year now and i swear by it. Will these prescribed meds do the job where i don't have to take the Move Free any longer or should i keep taking it as a supplement?