enbrel or methotrexate

There are so other negatives to taking Mtx whether by itself or in combination with Enbrel. I wish you the best with your RA and would like to hear from you about how things are going for you.

Hi there, when I was first dx with AS 4 years ago I was put on MTX and Folic Acid, was told you cannot take MTX w/o the folic. Long story short I had to stop the MTX as it made me severely depressed to the point I was having suicidal thoughts. My doc at the time acted like I was crazy but 2 rheumy's one from the Mayo Clinic said it can be a side effect for some people. After I stopped it I was back to my old self, and just an fyi while I was on it, it did nothing to help me.

You could also consult a pharmacist but he or she will probably tell you to talk to the doctor. Check also the methotrexate website.

The doctor kept talking about Enbrel or something comparable, but I was hesitant. I have avoided going to any of the TNF blockers but it took over a year of treatment before everything came under control. There are no guarantees that it would work that way for someone else. Please let us know what you decide to do and we will support you as you go through this.

Not sure if was the meds I was on at the time, methotrexate, prednisone and anti inflammatories ( Ketoprofen ). I had mentioned it n passing to my GP and she said she wanted to see them the next time it happened but I went off the methotrexate and prednisone, I could not tolerate either. 4 years later I am now on Enbrel and so far so good, wish I had done it sooner.

VE HAD RA FOR 25 YEARS, STARTING TAKING METHOTREXATE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO WITH PREDIZONE FROM TIME TO TIME. AROUND THREE YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING FLARE UPS AND MY DOCTOR ALSO ME ON ENBREL, WORKED VERY GOOD FOR THE RA BUT MY NOW MY THROAT IS ALWAYS SORE AND CONGESTED WITH PHELM. THIS YEAR I'VE SEEM NUMEROUS DOCTORS ENT, GENERAL ALERGIST AND EVEN HAD SINUS SURGERY FOR 30 GRAND, NOTHING FIXED THE THROAT PROBLEMS.

Is there any way you can be over medicated with the enbrel and celebrex? For the fatigue I use vitamin B complex. This really helps me. Good luck and dont give up!

m a bit confused about what you said, Smittygirl, because my doctor said that I should start feeling better in a few days after starting taking enbrel. It took you three months to see any improvement. Is it because you waited longer or maybe your case was more severe? Thank you again for everything.

d like info on natural enbrel alternative.

I have been taking Enbrel for over 3 years but because of the expense of it, I am in the process of taking methotrexate (1 ML by injection) as well as my usual dose of Enbrel, for a while to see if it helps my psoriatic arthritis. After a period of time, it is the hope that I will be able to stop the Enbrel and remain on the cheaper methotrexate. I also take klonopin for anxiety/panic.

I have AS ( Ankoylosing Spondylitis) arthritis of the spine and ReA ( Reactive Arthritis) AS is especially painful and I have no choice but to work as I am on my own. I too am on Enbrel 50 sure click. I cannot tolerate methotrexate and hate how prednisone makes feel. I take Ketoprofen which is a RX anti-inflammatory which does help me and always has ( been sick for 4 years) I have been on Vicodin 750 for that long as well, it doesn't really take the pain away but takes the edge off.

There are many, many medications available to treat not only the pain and inflammation, but also slow down and hopefully halt the progression of the disease itself. The frustrating part is finding the right medication or combination of meds for you - no two people respond the same way to the same medications. My "cocktail" is Enbrel and methotrexate, plus an anti-inflammatory called meloxicam (Mobic). These three meds only scratch the surface of what's available. Good luck!

My ANA and RF have always been negative but I have had a high ESR and CRP. I am on Enbrel, Plaquenil, and methotrexate. Thanks for any and all comments.

I have taken methotrexate for over 20 years. A few years ago we added Enbrel and it has been a good combination for me. The good news is, children are extremely adaptable. At her age, she may not have the language skills to tell you how good or bad she is feeling, so it is up to you to watch her for non-verbal cues. Also, you can teach her ways to communicate how bad something hurts. A series of simple face drawings that start with a smile and gradually progress to a frown could help.

No cure. I have AS and use methotrexate and Enbrel. I am virtually pain free and live a normal life. Occasionally I do have flares but other than that those 2 drugs gave me back my quality of life.

I suffer quite badly from Psoriatic Arthritis. I have no signs of Psoriasis, but my joints are inflammed and very painful. I'm 33, female. I'm taking 25mg of Methotrexate weekly, other anit-inflammatroy drugs. I'm interested in hearing from others who suffer from this and what they are going through, as I've never met anyone who suffers from this.

Hi Karen, I'm sorry you're having so much trouble. I also have RA, for which my main medications are methotrexate and Enbrel. If mtx isn't working for you, I would urge you to look into adding a biologic like Enbrel or Humira to the mix. It's very important that you get off the prednisone if at all possible. It can give you short-term relief but trust me, the long-term effects of prednisone are not worth it.

I have now been through prednisone, methotrexate, Enbrel, Humara(Humira? sp) then back to Enbrel.......then nothing. The Enbrel worked very well, but I have massive anxiety about the biologics. I just don't trust them and and it's very frustrating. I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard spot. On one hand they really do make me feel better, pain and ROM vastly improved.

It is a great place to find info and talk to others who have Stills. A friend I talk to from there takes methotrexate, Enbrel and steroids and she is having significant relief and she is returning to work after ten years. I get injections put in the joints that are bugging me, the best relief I got was a steroid and lidocaine mixture. The numbing effect doesn't last long though but it was worth it to me to be numb.

Still trying to get the dosages and combination of drugs right and may be going to Enbrel or Humira soon.

PS - if the sting (or injection site rash) of Enbrel is what's causing your Mom to want to switch, definitely have her ask to be switched to the self-mixed form. There are a few steps to mixing it, but like I said before, once she gets the hang of it, she'll be done in under 5 minutes.

I have severe psoriatic arthritis (it's like RA, just not quite as deforming) and used Enbrel for four years 3X a week plus one injection of metho. For me it was a miracle drug! I felt like a spring chicken again! I could go up and down stairs, I could squat, I could get in and out of chairs or off the toilet without help.............I felt normal for the first time in years. I stopped taking it last August, almost a year ago, and it's been a nightmare.

I am seeing a new dr.next month and may be changing to Humira or Remicade. The Enbrel has helped my lower back and hip pain, but my hands are still swollen and painful. The one other thing that has a HUGE impact on how I feel is Stress and Lack of Rest/Sleep. This past week was very very stressful and today when I woke up I felt like the Tin Man and my hands are still swollen and painful and it's 11 pm.

Also, I forgot to ask this at her last rheumy appt, but how is Remicade any better than Enbrel or Humira? (SHe hasn't been on them, but I just wondered why he chose Remicade.) Any info you can provide would be most appreciated! My daughter is at the end of her rope.

I thought I had the flu about 5 years ago.. turned out to be PMR and my joints were very painful.. could hardly walk.. it was in my feet and ankles, knees, and wrists.. anyway I took celery seed and Ibuprophen.. and it went into remission.. yeah! celery seed.. worked as well as the sterioids that others have been on.. and though I have had a flair up .. so has another person I know with it, who is still on the steriods.. so you might want to at least look into the symptoms..

Enbrel or methotrexate

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