new to posting

[phoenix14]

I am new to the boards and have not posted before. I was diagnosed with RA 4 years ago and have been on a variety of drugs. Right now I am on Remicade, Methorexate and Lodine. I have had 2 back to back urinary tract infections and my primary care doc has put me on Cipro and macrobid. I am coming up on another infusion on May 8th and want to know if I can still get it while I am on antibiotics or not. Any one have any experience with this? Its sort of frustrating to find something that works and then having other side effects like infections. Thanks alot for any info anyone has. Fern

[mc1982]

Hi Fern...I have had RA for 4 1/2 years and take Enbrel, methotrexate, Celebrex, folic acid and Skelaxin for RLS. My Rheumy instructed me that I was to contact him if I have any type of infection or open wound. You cannot take the Biologics when you do...such as Remicade, Enbrel, Humira, Kineret and Orencia. You should call and let him/her know that you have a urinary tract infection and are on antibiotics, I am sure he will tell you to wait until that is cleared up and off antibiotics, before doing the Remicade. You said you have had two back to back infections, the Dr. did give you a different antibiotic for this second infection didnt he, because the first one must not have cleared it all up. If he didnt, I would call and ask for something different. Hope this helps, I have had UTI's too and was told not to take my Enbrel shot. Good Luck and let me know if you have any other questions....Marcia