Any advice please?

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squidgy
squidgy Member Posts: 4
edited 6. Apr 2010, 11:51 in Chat to our Helpline Team archive
I have had RA since I was 32 - now 59 - my specialist wants me to go on methotrexate, but i see you can be prone to infections on it. During the past few months i have had, Swine Flu, Shingles, tooth abcess, diagnosed with Sjorgens syndrome and now have pleurisy....i really dont want to be prone to anymore infections as with the RA as well, i feel suicidal! How can the methotrexate help, or should i discuss other options please!

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  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,495
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    Hello

    Methotrexate is tried and tested and is now the standard treatment for RA. It is s Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) and designed to slow down the progress of your condition and help to protect your joints against the damage and deformity it can cause.
    I can understand your concerns about being more prone to infection but RA is a disease of the auto immune system, your immune system is in overdrive and is attacking your joints. A DMARD will calm this down.

    You have had RA for many years and if your blood inflammation levels are raised or if you have a lot of pain, swelling or stiffness in your joints, it might be time now to consider taking your consultant's advice and start drug treatment.

    We often talk to people about their concerns over taking a DMARD and if you would like to talk to one of us here please do ring us on the freephone number. Also have a look at other threads on the forum as there are many people there who are taking methotrexate.

    Best wishes

    Val
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    Hi squidgy,

    I can really understand your reluctance to start Mtx. :roll:

    I wasn't very keen either when it was first suggested to me but my rheummy sat me down and explained that the progress of the disease was likely to mean that without the DMARDs there would be so much more joint damage....

    Yes there is an increased risk of infections, but the monitoring and support while on Mtx does ensure that any quirks in the blood results or any reported sign or symptoms of infection are very quickly responded to/ treated.
    Your rheummy would not be suggesting it if he felt that you were too high a risk would he?

    I've currently been on Mtx 15mg injection for 2yrs in combination with anti tnfs. (I've also been on Mtx on it's own some years back in tablet form) Mtx can/ does cause some of us problems with side effects...but I've found these are manageable.

    I suppose for me the bottom line is that I believe that being on the Mtx and other drugs is helping to control arther's progress and I trust the advice of my rheummy to keep me right on what treatments are best for me.
    of course there are no guarantees with Mtx or any of the drugs we take that they will be 'successful' but if we don't try what is the alternative? arther running amok!

    It is an important decision and it is troubling you so why not talk it all through again with the rheummy or your doc?

    good luck with this x....let us know what you decide. we are here for you too if you want to post on the other forums.

    Iris x
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