HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

RA Meds

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/25/2013 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Happy Holidays all!! So my dr finally agreed that my symptoms are that of RA. So I am back on prednisone for a longer period then I have some medication choices to make. She has given me information on Methotrexate and Xeljanz. Does anyone have information on those medications? TIA
Posted 12/26/2013 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
You can google the medications or go to www.drugs.com to look up more info on them. They are scary medicines, but they can be helpful...I take MTX or Methotrexate once a week with folic acid...Make sure to get a script for the folic acid as it can help with side effects and help to keep you from getting side effects...I do the injectible MTX as I've had stomach ulcers before...
Also, do not let all the scary side effects you read about worry you, usually your doctor starts at low doseages and most side effects are avoided by starting at low doses and working up...I know when I first read up on this medicine that no way in heck was I going to use it and three years later and I've been on and off it and hanging in there and doing good so far...and no scary side effects...usually a lot of the side effects happen with larger doses and more frequent doses, but you'll only do this medication ONCE a week...very important you remember Once a week....
My doctor said absoultely no to the Xeljanz for me at this time... so I do not know about that medication other than it's fairly new medication...
Many well wishes...
Posted 12/26/2013 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Ty for the advice! Yes all the side effects sound bad on both, but I can't be on prednisone for much longer.. I am just glad they finally believe there is something wrong.. It's a breakthrough for sure.. Won't be easy but at least I know what has been going on..
Posted 12/26/2013 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't taken Xeljanz, so I don't know about side effects. I was nervous about everything I'd read about Methotrexate, but it's been pretty easy on my system. I had a bit of nausea and fatigue at first. I read that green olives help with the nausea, so I eat a couple when I take the pills. I don't get nauseated any more; don't know if it's the green olives or I'm "acclimated" to the meds now.

As far as fatigue, I talked to my rheumy and she helped me find a schedule that worked better for me. The first time I took all six pills at once and was wiped out for two days. Now I take half of my dose on
Saturday morning and the other half on Sunday morning. For some reason mornings work better for me than evenings. You might want to talk to your doc ahead of time about how you can change your dosage schedule if you start to have problems.
Posted 12/26/2013 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
I was so afraid of methotrexate that the first time the doctor mentioned it I told her I wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

I also started a thread that ended up following myself and one or two other members as we started the med.  I had some initial side effects but when I upped my folic acid the side effects went away. about 4 years later I am still on it and it is still helping me.

Posted 12/28/2013 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Ty everyone for the advice!! It will be a hard decision to make and I am still in a bit of shock, but glad I now know what is going on. Thanks!
Posted 12/28/2013 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it is indeed a hard decision, but getting on a medication soon will help to prevent any further damage, and that's again taking a look at the bigger picture. You do not have a lot of time to consider this as time is now working against you.
Also, get into your eye doctor as soon as possible, before starting any medications and explain your medical history to your eye doctor cause Ra and some RA meds can effect the eye's and you need to get some good baseline pictures now of your eye's...This is very important! not trying to scare you but I know first hand the damage these can do to the eye's as I have early onset macular degeneration (doctor's are still trying to determine the cause-link on this for me and I'll know more in March 2014).
So get an appointment set up with a good eye doctor...then consider methotrexate as it's the easiest tolerated medication for the treatment of RA...
So, I would say ask about starting the methotrexate first and then later adding another medication...
Many well wishes to you...
Posted 12/28/2013 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Xeljanz since around August and so far, it works okay. Not great but okay. At least I don't have to do Humira injections anymore.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply