Arcoxia

wibberley
wibberley Member Posts: 421
edited 4. Nov 2009, 03:12 in Living with Arthritis archive
Is anyone on Arcoxia for RA?

I'm taking 90mg daily plus 20mg of omeprazole. Since starting it I don't have acute pain anywhere but my whole body aches and I do still have mild swelling in my ankles and right wrist, which all make it impossible to sleep at night.

Just wondering if anyone takes anything to supplement this as I don't want to take a big step-up to mtx until I have exhausted all other options.

Also, am getting quite a few stomach upsets and nausea just now - could that be the arcoxia? I thought the omeprazole was supposed to deal with that?

Comments

  • carol101
    carol101 Member Posts: 584
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, i take Arcoxia, co-codamol and diazepam for OA.
    I have found these take most of the pain away but not all the pain. Also i need to sleep a lot but since all 3 of these drugs can cause drowsiness it's hardly surprising! I also feel fatigued which again can be caused by all 3.

    I have had no other side effects. You may have seen another post of me saying i feel ill? But this only started when anti depressents were added to my collection, this has nothing to do with the Arcoxia.

    Hope this helps

    Carol XXX
  • wibberley
    wibberley Member Posts: 421
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Carol and thanks for replying.

    The arcoxia just didn't seem to be working for me. I've diar...(sp!), nausea and taste alteration....and ache all over, so he's changing my prescription to something beginning with c (I can't remember the word, sorry).

    If that doesn't work, it's Dmards for me...eek!
  • topgirl
    topgirl Member Posts: 290
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi...I take Arcoxia along with Sulfasalazine( 6 a day) and co-codamol and Tramadol( for pain control)....
    I had a bit of a problem at first with my liver not being able to cope with all these pills and was asked to try to cope without Arcoxia....I soon realised just how good they are when I stopped taking them...OWCCHHHH....
    Slowly went back on them and my liver is fine now....
    I do feel sick at times...but feel its a small price to pay for less pain!!!
    Hope this helps
    Kay
  • wibberley
    wibberley Member Posts: 421
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kay, thanks for your reply.

    Doc is going to give try me on a different anti-inflammatory. Can't remember the name except it begins with c...I think?

    Thats good to hear arcoxia is helping you. Perhaps I should persevere....? Ah well, will give this different one a go.
  • topgirl
    topgirl Member Posts: 290
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The funny thing was , was that I didnt think it was working till i stopped it...LOL..
    I was on Diclafenic( spell??) before Arcoxia and that did nothing so yes , I would keep on with them....
    The waiting time for drugs to work is really frustrating isnt it...??
    I have been on Sulfasalazine since April and its only in the last few weeks i can feel a difference...
    What part of the world are you from???
    I have some relations with the surname Wibberley...
    love
    Kay
    xx
  • wibberley
    wibberley Member Posts: 421
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm from Aberdeenshire - I stole the name Wibberley from one of our guinea pigs!

    Really pleased to hear arcoxia is keeping most of your pain at bay...maybe I've not given it enough time? How did you know you were having liver problems? The docs don't seem that bothered about monitoring me!
  • c4thyg
    c4thyg Member Posts: 542
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    20mg of Omerprazole is the low dose. I have problems with my cocktail of drugs earlier in the year and the GP gave me 20mg omerprazole morning and night and it made a big difference. Maybe you could ask your GP?
  • wibberley
    wibberley Member Posts: 421
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks C4thyg,

    The Duty doc did tell me to take 2 omeprazole tabs instead of one and it did make a big difference to my stomach pains.

    Suppose I'm just over-reacting to any side effects. Ah well, too late now - my new prescription is waiting for me!

    Am learning from my mistakes - will be back again soon to ask if anyone is taking this new anti-inflam that I can't remember the name of. Wonder what side effects await me now!
  • suzster
    suzster Member Posts: 1,328
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    i've just started on the arcoxia to, i was taking naproxen but i was still really struggling so gp started me on arcoxia last friday, she started me on 60mg daily, i have to have a blood test tomorrow then they will check my bloods monthly but because i have blood tests monthly due to mtx i guess thats not a big problem!
    i know my gp mentioned that arcoxia can cause problems alongside mts which is why they will monitor me, if all ok she will up my dose if needed.
    sue
  • suzster
    suzster Member Posts: 1,328
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    i've just started on the arcoxia to, i was taking naproxen but i was still really struggling so gp started me on arcoxia last friday, she started me on 60mg daily, i have to have a blood test tomorrow then they will check my bloods monthly but because i have blood tests monthly due to mtx i guess thats not a big problem!
    i know my gp mentioned that arcoxia can cause problems alongside mts which is why they will monitor me, if all ok she will up my dose if needed.
    sue
  • topgirl
    topgirl Member Posts: 290
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Sorry, I dont know any Guina pigs in Scotland :shock: Lol
    If you go on a DMARD( MTX or Sulfasalazine) which is normally something a Rumy would put you on, you are given a little book which details all your blood results( dont want to scare you but DMARD's are quite toxic)...you start on every 2 weeks and as you get stable results you go on to monthly....this way they pick up any major side affects and may change your drug or dosage...
    My GP is good but nothing compared to a good Rumy...I'd push for your GP to refer you to see a Rumy...( if you havnt already)
    Take care
    xx

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