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  If you are on what I call "the big drugs" for RA, it's common to have some initial side effects after taking it.  For instance, after I get my Humira shot, I spend anywhere from 2 to 4 days having increased muscle pain, sinus issues, fatigue and nausea, after which the side effects simmer down to a dull roar.  Over time, some of the side effects have increased (muscle pain) and others have decreased as I have become more used to the medication (fatigue).  Taking medications like this is a bit of a balancing act - you try to manage the side effects well enough that the pros outweigh the cons.  For instance, you can rearrange your life so that you can get more rest for a few days after you take the drugs, then increase your activity level, take a few more painkillers if your side effect is muscle pain or eat a somewhat bland diet for a few days if you are nauseated.  Over time, you assess the negative impact versus the positive and hopefully the positive wins.    However, the side effects can become so debilitating that the drug is not doing what it's supposed to do: enabling you to live your life as much as you can.  If the side effects of your current medication are making you feel so unwell that you can't do anything but sit around and feel unwell - even after having giving yourself a reasonable amount of time to get used to the drug - then make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your options.  There are many different medications for rheumatoid arthritis and they don't all work in the same way for everyone.  Maybe you will respond better to a different drug, maybe you need to tinker with the dose.  Treating RA can at times be a doing a jigsaw puzzle and it might take a while to find what works for you.  Keep the lines of communication open with your doctor - the two of you are a team and together, hopefully you will find an effective treatment with tolerable side effects.  Good luck!