Metho vs. Humira. I am newly diagnosed with RA. I have been given the option of deciding which medicine to take. The side effects of methotrexate seem horrible! But the side effects of the Humira don't seem nearly as bad. Needles don't bother me and I actually prefer the shots.
Which is better? Does everyone start out on methotrex? Is Humira primarly for the "last resort" RA? Can I start out with this and have less side effects?
Thanks for your time!
It's a personal choice. Metho is awful and personally, I would stay away from it but that's JMO. Usually the first thing you are given is Prednisone to stop the inflammation before you choose your future drugs. If you like Humira-go for it.
I agree. Metho is tough....it affected my liver enzymes. what i have heard is that docs always start off w/ the most inexpensive medication...i suppose insurance companies will look for that. i'm on Enbrel and love it, even though there are side effects. keep researching both on the internet to keep learning, that's what i do and still do. good luck!
as the other person commented, the prednisone reduced the inflammation. when all of this started for me, i was swollen for weeks and all the meds prescribed was to get me out of this highly inflamatory state: metho, pred, diclofinac, a water pill. the metho was once a week and i had to not work that day because it was such a punch to my system. i was never on meds before, never ill. i finally switched Drs and in that switch got weaned off pred because that will eventually affect your heart. i took the lead and said to wean me off. got off the metho after 6 weeks after seeing bad bloodwork. those were the first tier of meds. at arthritis foundation website, it shows the tiers of meds Drs prescribe for RA. the final tier is the Enbrel, Humira, etc. the most expensive, the 'biologics,' but the ones that stop joint damage and pain. no side effects to Enbrel, it's just that is lowers your already-out-of-whack immune system, so........i have noticed that i am constipated/bloated more, thus gain weight and sluggish and that in itself will affect joints. so, i started prune juice every day and it helped. other concerns are what's listed is you read up on Enbrel. concerns for TB and cancer. granted, that would take some time. my neighbor has been on/off Enbrel for 10 yrs. and swears by it. he has had infections and when he does, he goes off Enbrel.
other than that, no side effects to speak of, only fear of what could come. to that end, this month i decided to get a mammo, pap and colonoscopy...i have to start policing myself and because of my age (54) and a lower immune system.
i just want you to know that in the 2 years since being diagnosed, i took it on and 'policed' the dr's...i made a spreadsheet of my bloodwork to keep the numbers in check because the file the Doc has, is just a bunch of sheets of paper. i liked seeing the numbers over time, in one, concise place. then, i told them to get me off as much meds as possible and now i'm on Enbrel and Plaquenil, because they work well for me.
i was floored - jaw fell - when 6 mos. ago i asked my Doc....'so what's the plan w/ me?' and he said, 'we wait for you to tell us.' what??? i was waiting for him to tell me! at least he was honest. i had to research on internet, watch how my body reacted to meds, and take the lead.
I would rather not be on an immune-supressant drug, so that i don't have to worry about having the swine flu or other contagious diseases, but i have to. the pain is not worth it. hope this helps.
I have been on meth for a year, I was scared to death at first to take it but I talked to some good people who've taken it and did alot of research. While it does have alot of side effects it had been used for over 50 years and they know everything about this drug, it is even used for children. I have had the flu, colds ect and recovered as easily I normal would have. I will admit it was rough at first tired and sick to my stomache for that day after but other that that it was fine and now after a year I have NO side effects at all. good luck!!!
I take Methotrexate and Humira... neither one bothers me. I started off with Methtrexate and when that wasn't doing the job, the doctor added the Humira, and that was building up from 3 pills to 5 then to 7. I was taking 7 pill (2.5 mg) per week but now only take 3 pills and am doing a lot better. I would rather be on the methotrexate pills than on steroids because of the side effects they cause from prolonged use.
I have been on metho for 6 weeks, 6 pills a week, and I have never experienced any of the initial nausea or stomach problems some people mentioned. Also all my blood work so far shows that my liver is handling it fine. Maybe I am just lucky but you might be lucky too and have the same experience as me.
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Thanks for your responses. I was given the pred. to start off and it has been really helpful!
How is enbrel for you? What are your side effects?