methotrexate, naproxen, omeprazole and sulphasalazine

brightlinda

I take all of the above medication and luckily do not suffer from the sickness associated with methotrexate, the only side affect is headaches. I have been reassured that methotrexate and omeprazole are a safe combination in spite of various articles I have read on the Internet. My regular blood tests have been keeping quite consistent apart from the last 2 where my ALT has doubled from 21 to 43. My rheumy has said it would be helpful if I could cut out the naproxen, something I attempted 2 months ago and within a week I experienced a severe stiffening of my joints and so I resumed the naproxen. I have been taking methotrexate for 6 months and can honestly say it does not seem to be making any dramatic change to my condition. I have been living with RA now for 33 years and I remember when first diagnosed the consultant telling me my problems would start to occur in my 50s. Does this resonate with anybody else.

dreamdaisy

Hello brightlinda, that combination of meds sounds very familiar to me but I have ditched the nap. I took it for over a year (more habit than anything else) it did nothing to help joint-wise but gave me beautiful oral thrush. My GP gave me diclofenac to try and that has helped without a doubt. I do the omep first, then after half an hour or so have a cuppa, brekkie then neck the other tablets.

I have PsA (psoriatic arthritis) and do my own meth injections. I have no trouble with side-effects at all but I do feel generally better in myself when I stop it due to catching a bug or a cold. I also do humira injections, that's an anti TNF treatment. I began my PsA in 1997 but it wasn't recognised as an inflammatory arthritic condition until 2002. Then in 2006 my skin obliged with a bout of the psoriasis and every one went 'Oh! So that's what it is!' Nothing else changed though, not on the meds front. I am now 53. If the meth is not 'cutting the mustard' as such then maybe someone will talk to you about starting an anti-TNF treatment. My hospital has the policy of doing this after six months on meth and they can make a great difference to one's quality of life. I wish you well. DD

earthspirit

i think you can only get the anti tnfs after you have tried unsuccessfully with 2 other 2 mards - one of which must be methotrexate. have to say i dont particulary like this ethical decision made for us by people who dont have arthritis but i think its just the law.

we should get what is likely to be most effective & best for our future first surely??

good luck with whatever they give you next.

skezier

Hi Linda,

The combinatio of drugs is used a lot so is safe otherwise so many here wouldn't be on them. Saying that I know what you mean as it does say you shouldn't take them.

I haven't as by the time I went on the mtx I was on Lanzoprozole instead and now on emeprazole. They re all the same kind of thing with slightly different strengths though.

Never been on the Naproxen as I have been on the diclo's for over 30 years as they actually do help and i respond well to them. I also know if I haven't taken them after a couple of days.

The age thing I was only told re the oa. I got that in my teens and they said after 40 it would really bite me.

6months with things like mtx.... I been on it 3 years and say it does nothing but if I forget to take it I find it does do a bit.

When is your next rumo appointment? Maybe you can talk to them about the fact you don;t think its doing anything and they could maybe up the dose or add something in?

I hope the joints are not too bad today and nice to meet you. Cris x

stickywicket

brightlinda wrote:

I have been living with RA now for 33 years and I remember when first diagnosed the consultant telling me my problems would start to occur in my 50s. Does this resonate with anybody else.

No-one told me anything like that. I do remember being told, though, that, if I didn't take the meds, I'd be in a wheelchair before I was 30. (I took the meds ) Actually, mine's been better in recent years. New knees and hips have helped though

I take meth (15 mgs) and a double dose of omep daily. Remember that meth is also a chemo drug. It might be that the combination is dangerous when taking meth in the large quantities needed for cancer.

welshgooner

Hi Linda
I have used all these drugs to no effect. I am currently on my second Anti TNF, Humira, and 15 mg weekly of oral Meth. Still no effect. I don't take kindly to the Meth, makes me feel sick and even more tired! I wish you luck and by the way I was told ten years ago I would really feel rotten due to RA from my mid forties onward. I certainly have.
Den.

brightlinda

Thanks to everyone who responded to my last post, I recently had an appointment with my rheumy not the best consultation as it was on a Friday and I felt he was hurrying me along so much so that I had to bring my blood results to his attention as my ALT had doubled. He seemed more concerned over my assessment of my condition on a scale of 1 to 100 when I said 50 he replied shall we say 40, do consultants try to massage figures to give an impression of improvement? Having been on methotrexate now for 7 months I would say I say that any improvement in my condition is extremely subtle and the original benefit was supposed to be the facilitation of the removal of naproxen, I have been unable to reduce my naproxen dose because when I halved the dose within days I experienced a worsening of my condition. On taking my my most recent dose of methotrexate I am experiencing my first feelings of nausea in spite of taking frolic acid. My next rheumy appointment is in 6 months time I just hope the consultant can spare a little more time.

phoenixoxo

Hi Linda,

Sorry that your appointment was a bit disappointing. I've been hurried along a few times myself, and it isn't helpful. Neither is massaging figures, something else I've experienced. It gives the impression that the rheumatologist has determined on a course of action before hearing the patient's concerns. No doubt this is common practice, but it doesn't feel good!

I hope your next appointment is more satisfactory, though six months seems a long time to wait, especially if the methotrexate isn't helping. Ultimately it's up to you whether it's worth persevering with this treatment; and if there's still no sign of improvement, perhaps you could try to bring your appointment forwards for a medication review. At 43, your ALT reading is in the safe range according to my own hospital literature, but please get in touch with your GP if you're worried about it or anything else.

One more thing: change consultant if you feel he's not up to it. There are some good listeners out there, such as mine; and I knew he was a keeper when he admitted to my family that he doesn't have all the answers. No one does.

Best wishes,
Phoebe

pepperflo

Who and where is your consultant Pheobe ? :P I like my consultant most times, but feel he doesn't listen to me a lot of the time, and just likes sticking needles into me. I too am on most of these meds and told him in April I didn't feel like the Methotrexate was doing anything, and have been on it now for nearly 12 months, he just said perseveer with it a bit longer and see how you feel next time I see you.