Does anyone know if she would ever be able to stop taking that medicine?
Q: My friend started treatment with remicade and methotrexate.
Answers (6)
5/ 6/09 2:38pm
Once in a great while, RA can go into remission for periods of time. So it is possible but probably not.
5/ 7/09 2:01pm
Not to sound too depressing, but I doubt it very much if she could ever stop taking either one. They may put her on a different "biologic" but not eliminate the methotrexate. It is a "lifelong" battle.
5/ 7/09 5:21pm
As of now, there's no cure for RA. Until there is, we'll all be taking some form of meds. Assure your friend that taking shots and pills just becomes part of your daily routine after a while.
5/ 7/09 6:00pm
I am someone who stopped taking methotrexate even though I was on Remicade. The metho kept me too sick all the time. My doctor put me on Arava instead. That was about 6 mos before the medical association (or one of those associations) decided that arava could be used along with remicade instead of metho.
I now take 20 mg of arava daily with none of the side effects of metho and I get 600 mg (6 vials) of Remicade every 6 weeks. Like some of the others have said I doubt very seriously if she'll get off the Remicade for some time. My doctor gives me benedril and something else before they do the infusion to cut down on any type of reaction to the infusion. I can tell the difference since my previous doctor didn't do that.
Tell your friend good luck and if I can help her in any way just hollar
5/ 7/09 9:09pm
Tell her to watch what she eats and make a note if something hurts. I can't do red meat or orange juice. I gave up with Metotrexate as it made me sick. I have been on Celabrex for 5 years and life is worth living again. Don't be afraid to ask your Dr to try sometng else
6/22/09 12:15am
Sorry to say but Rheumatoid Arthritis isn't something that is gonna go away! It's something you will deal with the rest of your life. I also take Methotrexate and am at the highest dose right now as per my rheumatologist. He has added Arava but the generic name not sure what that is but just started a couple weeks ago as my methotrexate isn't helping as much as it should, I still take it with the new med though as I have had inflamation for the past month or so .
smiley69
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By everyseason— Last Modified: 12/24/10, First Published: 05/05/09
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thank you for your response, I understand the body immune system lowers because of these medicines, however, is this at the beginning of the treatment or is it something that is on going? should it get better?