Question:

My first post seems to have vanished, so I’m posting this a second time. I was very disappointed to see Arava included among these.  I thought this was one of the new drugs showing promise.

Yes, but many docs are giving it as part of a DMARD cocktail…and may begin lowering the other DMARDS when it kicks in.  Well, pardon me, but how would one know that it works if one is taking it along with everything else in the world?

Well…..pardon me, but I’d feel much safer adding it at first, then lowering others when I felt better. Knowing my body the way I do….if i dropped all other DMARDS before I started the new one, I’d be in bed with a total flare before the new one kicked in. It seems only common sense to me that we should be trying one drug at a time, and if it doesn’t work, move on to something else.

But if the present DMARD is working to some degree…….why stop it now? DMARDS can take awhile to kick in. Several people have said that Enbrel has worked for them, and they have dropped everything else they were taking

Well yeah…if it works..then ya can drop everything else. Perhaps a lot of drugs would work better for people if they weren’t being combined with others

Usually not the case. They seem to work better teamed with another. We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies

Of course! And common sense tells me to take what I need to function. Comments please

You asked for em! You got em! In a perfect world, we would need only one pill to stop our disease. Well in a truly perfect world, we wouldnt have these diseases. But the world ain’t perfect. And the sad truth is for the time being……multiple meds are the only way for many of us to keep things in control. Keep Smilin’ ~krissy Akron, Ohio Visit my web pages at: http://arthritisnet.com http://arthritisnet.com/kids http://members.aol.com/KrissyJo/RA.html

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Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this!

You would hate to see my medicine cabinet then.  Those are just ones I take consistantly.  I have compazine for nausea, Prevacid for GERD attacks, prescription cold meds and that’s what I can come up with off the top of my head.  Her system must be in complete turmoil!  How on earth can one possibly know what is working for them when they are taking sooooo many different medications?  And, who can possibly know what effect all of these medications are having on one another?  I can’t believe any doctor in his right mind would prescribe so many medications at the same time.  

My drugs are a mix bag of helpfulness.  Plaquenil didn’t help my joints but it helped dramatically with my Sjogren’s.  MTX was added to help with my joints and it did to an extent.  It helped with the burning pains I had and did reduce the swelling.  The doctor upped MTX to the point the side effects were winning out so prednisone was then added rather than upping MTX any further.  Because the MTX and prednisone were effecting my body so didronel was added for my thinning bones.  Since these meds aren’t a total God send I still had some pain that disturbed my night sleep so Percocet wrescribed to basically knock me out.  Arava was recently added because it is new.  Plaquenil works on SOME symptoms that others don’t so thats why that is staying.  MTX was cut in half with starting the Arava, and hope to cut it out totally but I am only on day 4 of Arava. Isn’t it obvious that if they don’t work by themselves, they are not going to work in conjunction with other drugs; and, if these drugs supposedly work best in combination with other drugs, why haven’t the drug companies done research on this and formulated combination drugs?  

Good question!   One less thing to shove down my throat sounds good.  I would imagine it has to do with chemistry. I was very disappointed to see Arava included among these.  I thought this was one of the new drugs showing promise.  Well, pardon me, but how would one know that it works if one is taking it along with everything else in the world?  

You know if you start to feel even better I suppose.  I haven’t noticed any drastic improvements yet but like I said I am only on day 4.  Still have time to wait. Am I the only one out there concerned about this?  Each drug in and of itself has the potential to wreak havoc on bodily systems.  It seems only common sense to me that we should be trying one drug at a time, and if it doesn’t work, move on to something else.

Certainly you aren’t the only one who feels this way.  No one in here I care to say enjoys taking a pill much less the cocktails we have to take. Unfortunately there is no magic cure and we are all living guinea pigs until we find out what works.  Luckily (hopefully) our doctors monitor our condition.  I get blood work drawn now every 2 weeks as a precautionary measure.  Trust me I am disgusted with taking all these pills…but I would be even more so having to live in pain hopping from medicine to medicine thinking only one pill is going to help. Several people have said that Enbrel has worked for them, and they have dropped everything else they were taking.  This is encouraging.  Perhaps a lot of drugs would work better for people if they weren’t being combined with others.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please.

Only problem is Enbrel isn’t going to work for everyone.  Not every insurance is going to cover the 10,000 dollar a year medicine, and who can afford that? If taking multiple medicines works and isn’t doing too much bodily harm (lets face it aspirin can kill ya) then do it.  If that one miracle drug works great too Shandi

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Hi Kathy,  I can understand how and why you feel that way.  I feel the same way about people taking over the counter stuff that the doctor may not even be aware of or what the combo of his medications and todays hot seller at the vit-store.  I am sorry Kathy that I dont know what kind of arth you have but lots of people have improved condition by their RD combining medicine.  I take prednisone, sulfasalizine and Arava because methx has slowly failed my RA and has been dropped.  Inflamitory arth must be controlled and an RD has to keep working to do just that. Harv Houston,tx – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this!  Her system must be in complete turmoil!  How on earth can one possibly know what is working for them when they are taking sooooo many different medications?  And, who can possibly know what effect all of these medications are having on one another?  I can’t believe any doctor in his right mind would prescribe so many medications at the same time.  Isn’t it obvious that if they don’t work by themselves, they are not going to work in conjunction with other drugs; and, if these drugs supposedly work best in combination with other drugs, why haven’t the drug companies done research on this and formulated combination drugs? I was very disappointed to see Arava included among these.  I thought this was one of the new drugs showing promise.  Well, pardon me, but how would one know that it works if one is taking it along with everything else in the world?  Am I the only one out there concerned about this?  Each drug in and of itself has the potential to wreak havoc on bodily systems.  It seems only common sense to me that we should be trying one drug at a time, and if it doesn’t work, move on to something else. Several people have said that Enbrel has worked for them, and they have dropped everything else they were taking.  This is encouraging.  Perhaps a lot of drugs would work better for people if they weren’t being combined with others.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please. Kathy

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I’m so used to the "cocktails" used in autoimmune disease…I actually thought that you were commenting on the brevity of the list!  I mean, really…no NSAIDS, no anti-depressant, no tummy med, no sleep med…and only three supplements?

No NSAIDS…took them for 2 years and tortured my belly.  Had colonoscopies and endoscopies.  Like you said later I started prednisone…isn’t as rough on my belly taking 10mg daily. I didn’t know anti depressants were so widely used in arthritis.  I probably needed those the first year or so of RA.  I have adjusted nicely now I am fighting mean about the disease You spoke too soon about the tummy meds…started those yesterday Apparently my sore throat was thanks to my waning and waxing GERD.  I always forget about that symptom and I think I post the question every time it occurs…LOL…so add Prevacid to my list Sleep medicine for me is percocet.  Since I have been jobless I have been a night owl, only getting like 4 hours sleep but I don’t use up any energy during the day.  I popp a percocet before I want to go to sleep so I can get some, so it is a pain killer and a sleep aid for me when I sit home all day.  Usually if I am moving around sleep isn’t a problem. But this got my curious…what other supplements should I be taking?  I thought calcium and folic were the norms. Shandi

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in the beautiful sonoran desert. johnie

Dear J, The desert sounds like heaven to me today, here in the beautiful, but overcast and dreary Pacific NorthWest.  But, I don’t do consultations…I kibbitz <g. You know the old joke about what to do if you think you are the last person on earth?  Sit down and deal out a hand of solitare…someone will be along to tell you to lay the red Jack on that black Queen <g.  Well, I’m like that about rheumatology…I’m a bit obsessed with the day-to-day living of arthritis.  And being a child of my times, I believe in better living through chemistry!  And I don’t have enough symptoms to keep myself busy so I hafta mess in your symptoms, too! Warm regards, Angela "May those who love us, love us. And those that don’t love us, may God turn their hearts. And if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we’ll know them by their limping". -old gaelic blessing

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Dear Shandi, I didn’t know anti depressants were so widely used in arthritis.  I probably needed those the first year or so of RA.  I have adjusted nicely now I am fighting mean about the disease

Anger does seem to warm those achy joints, eh?  Actually, a low dose of some anti-depressants (I take half the dose given for depression) seems to work to correct non-restorative sleep.  That is, you spend more time in deep sleep which is also where you do healing of the minor muscular and fascial damage of daily wear-and-tear.  Most arthritics have spent some sleepless hours because of pain and such and will understand how very important sleep is in a system that is plagued with pain. Apparently my sore throat was thanks to my waning and waxing GERD

Hey guys, none of us thought of that…and we should have, remember the lady from New Zealand whose newborn had respiratory problems that her doctor was treating with H2inhibitors?  I bet lots of pain we preceive as being costachrondritis (sp?) could be GERD, too.  Anybody know what kind of pain receptors are present in the esophagus? But this got my curious…what other supplements should I be taking?  I thought calcium and folic were the norms.

Of course, Shandi, that depends on what kind of nutrition you’re getting from the food that you eat.  Lots of arthritics have problems with appetite (sedentary gets you low metabolic rate, your system responds by lowering the hormones that stimulate appetite) – not * my * problem <g – but, if you just pick at your food, a basic multiple vitamin is a good idea.  If you have fibromyalgiac-like symptoms, people often supplement magnesium.  If you’re pre-menopausal, you probably need iron.  Designer supplements are available, too.  Glucosamine and/or chondrition for OA symptoms, melatonin for sleep, fish/grape seed/evening primrose oil have all been used in connective tissue disfunctions.  Now, I don’t recommend that anyone run out to the health food store and blow the rent on vitamins and supplements, but do some research…talk with your RD…become aware of what foods will supply the nutrition that you need.  For instance, if you eat a lot of fish…it might be a waste of money to supplement fish oil.   LOL…I am just a consumer of health care, whether it is pharmacologic or nutritional.  I’ve just been at this for awhile and tend to read anything that gives me another nugget of power against the evil Prince Arthur (who knew <g? His father…the King  was a pretty nice guy…).  The opinions expressed are those of the gimp behind the moniter, your milage may vary. Warm regards, Angela "May those who love us, love us. And those that don’t love us, may God turn their hearts. And if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we’ll know them by their limping". -old gaelic blessing

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(Prtyobscur) writes: You know the old joke about what to do if you think you are the last person on earth?  Sit down and deal out a hand of solitare…someone will be along to tell you to lay the red Jack on that black Queen <g.

That just HAD to prompt me to brag, LOL. What is the highest score people have had on the solitare game that comes with MSWindows? Mine is 9229!!! (I *know* I am a sad person who has nothing better to do with her time LOL) Chase the cats away for e-mail 8=8

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Angela, are you sure your not an RD, and if you are what would you charge for consultations down here in the beautiful sonoran desert. johnie

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if these drugs supposedly work best in combination with other drugs, why haven’t the drug companies done research on this and formulated combination drugs?  

Even if it is ok to take two (or more) drugs at the same time, it is quite possible that a formualtion of the same in one tablet might not be stable, especially when stored – sometimes not in ideal conditions in the home – for several months at a time. Chase the cats away for e-mail 8=8

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I have left it all here because it was said so well and some people have problems getting posts from some servers.  Anyone can read a report but it takes someone special to be able to put it into words that are understandable and apply like someone turning on a light.  Thanks for being there==Angela-FIWSASC – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Kathy, Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this!  Her system must be in complete turmoil! I didn’t see the original posting on this, so I’m piggybacking on Lori’s post…I had to laugh.  I read through casually, and got to the "I am amazed" part and had to go back and read the list again! I’m so used to the "cocktails" used in autoimmune disease…I actually thought that you were commenting on the brevity of the list!  I mean, really…no NSAIDS, no anti-depressant, no tummy med, no sleep med…and only three supplements? This may be an example of the "culture" shock we were talking about around the block…if you know what each of those drugs are, and you’re familiar with the current treatment regimes, you can almost "diagnose" what Shandi’s probs are (Shandi, I mean no disrespect by discussing your meds like this, I’m afraid I’m taking them as a case in point.  Hope you won’t mind.):  Inflammatory arthritis: the mtx and plaquenil have been tested and found to work better together than apart…so taking them together allows the patient to take less of each drug.  The Arava is new so, she may be at "loading" dose stages…if it kicks in, she’ll probably be able to wean some of the others.  Percocet is a pain killer…well, actually more of a pain wounder <g, inflammatory arthritis hurts!  Prednisone is a powerful anti-inflam and if Shandi can’t take NSAIDS, she may need it to keep the swelling in check – it’s hard to have a life if your hands and feet are swollen such that you can’t hold anything or walk. Didronel is a supplement to support bone marrow function, folic acid acts to protect the liver and calcium is a good idea to avoid osteoporesis. Kathleen, have you been watching those commercials where they take a couple of asprins for the minor pain of arthritis?  In that context, Shandi’s list does look scary…but, I’m betting that Shandi is as glad as I am that there are more powerful drugs to deal with arthritis that isn’t minor.  As in any disabling disease, the meds work to calm a system that is already in turmoil. The benefits of such medication soup are supposed to outweigh the risks…at least, to Shandi and me, too the risks are even scarier than the side effects of the medicine.  I’m grateful that I have medications that act as anti-inflamatories to keep me flexible and somewhat mobile,   disease modifying drugs that slow erosion and delay the need for replacement surgeries, and pain medication for relief of ongoing-every-waking-hour-and-some-sleeping-hours-nagging-fussy pain-in-the-butt (sometimes literally) kind of pain.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please. Kathy I hope you’re not sorry you asked for comments…I just love standing up here on this soap box.  I should add a disclaimer:  I am not a pharmacologist (but, I can read the research as well as the next guy).  All opinions expressed are my own, unhindered by common sense. Warm regards, Angela Pseudo-arthritic and social director, FIWSASC "A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention in human history, with the possible exception of handguns and tequila." — Mitch Radcliffe

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Dear Shandi, when my Sjogrens flares, a sore throat, l;aryngitis flares and I have some trouble swallowing and with aspiration .  You can get arthritis in the bones in the larynx (extememly rare).  You can go to an ENT who can do a Schirmers test – a simple piece of litmus paper measires your saliva production – it take s three minutes.  I also had a salivary gland biopsy of some tiny salivary glands in the inside of my lower lip. The lab confirmed chronic inflammation of the minor salivary glands.  For the eyes, the schirmers test uses a piece of paper also to measure the tears produced in your eye, and of course a comp;lere exam especially of the corneas is critical.  Sjogrens is so commonly overlooked as a secondary autoimmune disease – I would check it out if I was you.  You don’t want to compromise your vision or end up with rampant tooth decay. Good Luck Sending healing thoughts your way- and God Bless You, Michelle aka CTNATIVE Vaya Con Dios

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Dear Kathy, Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this!  Her system must be in complete turmoil!

I didn’t see the original posting on this, so I’m piggybacking on Lori’s post…I had to laugh.  I read through casually, and got to the "I am amazed" part and had to go back and read the list again!   I’m so used to the "cocktails" used in autoimmune disease…I actually thought that you were commenting on the brevity of the list!  I mean, really…no NSAIDS, no anti-depressant, no tummy med, no sleep med…and only three supplements? This may be an example of the "culture" shock we were talking about around the block…if you know what each of those drugs are, and you’re familiar with the current treatment regimes, you can almost "diagnose" what Shandi’s probs are (Shandi, I mean no disrespect by discussing your meds like this, I’m afraid I’m taking them as a case in point.  Hope you won’t mind.):  Inflammatory arthritis: the mtx and plaquenil have been tested and found to work better together than apart…so taking them together allows the patient to take less of each drug.  The Arava is new so, she may be at "loading" dose stages…if it kicks in, she’ll probably be able to wean some of the others.  Percocet is a pain killer…well, actually more of a pain wounder <g, inflammatory arthritis hurts!  Prednisone is a powerful anti-inflam and if Shandi can’t take NSAIDS, she may need it to keep the swelling in check – it’s hard to have a life if your hands and feet are swollen such that you can’t hold anything or walk. Didronel is a supplement to support bone marrow function, folic acid acts to protect the liver and calcium is a good idea to avoid osteoporesis. Kathleen, have you been watching those commercials where they take a couple of asprins for the minor pain of arthritis?  In that context, Shandi’s list does look scary…but, I’m betting that Shandi is as glad as I am that there are more powerful drugs to deal with arthritis that isn’t minor.  As in any disabling disease, the meds work to calm a system that is already in turmoil. The benefits of such medication soup are supposed to outweigh the risks…at least, to Shandi and me, too the risks are even scarier than the side effects of the medicine.  I’m grateful that I have medications that act as anti-inflamatories to keep me flexible and somewhat mobile,   disease modifying drugs that slow erosion and delay the need for replacement surgeries, and pain medication for relief of ongoing-every-waking-hour-and-some-sleeping-hours-nagging-fussy pain-in-the-butt (sometimes literally) kind of pain.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please. Kathy

I hope you’re not sorry you asked for comments…I just love standing up here on this soap box.  I should add a disclaimer:  I am not a pharmacologist (but, I can read the research as well as the next guy).  All opinions expressed are my own, unhindered by common sense. Warm regards, Angela Pseudo-arthritic and social director, FIWSASC "A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention in human history, with the possible exception of handguns and tequila." — Mitch Radcliffe

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Hi Kathleen, When i was 1st dx 11 yrs. ago, i was on Naprosyn only.  It didn’t help and i started to progress thru all the Nsaids until i found one i could stomach pretty well.  My RD also added low dose prednisone to help me work and function on a daily basis as well as 1 DMARD (disease modification anti-rheumatic drug) to slow eroision.   I went many years with this magical combo and my quality of life was VERY GOOD!!  I felt SO good that i felt i could get off of all my meds except for the Prednisone.  I managed to go a couple of years when my RA returned with a vengence.  I found out the OLD combo would no longer work.  It’s been almost 4 years and i’ve spent that time fighting vigorously a disease that refuses to sleep.  I’ve dropped and added every DMARD available to me, with Cyclosporine being the exception. Right now i’m still on my low dose pred, my nsaid (oruvail), but also sulfasalzine, plaquenil and Arava (3 DMARDS).  My Doc will slowly taper my meds if we find the Arava kicks in.  However, these drugs combined together do much better for me than just one.  You must realize that with RA, to date there is NO cure.  Also, there is nothing scarier than watching myself deteriorate joint by joint.  I have to make choices NOW to assure the best quality of life in order to LIVE for today.  So you see, my only weapons are these drugs.  I’m hoping tho my luck may be changing with the release of these *newer* ones.  I guess you could say i’ve got NEW ammo and i’m filling my arsenal, and it’s because of this I feel pretty hopeful that my *magic* combo will be found again soon! Phyllis Texas

Response:

Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this!  Her system must be in complete turmoil!

Kathleen, I know it sounds extreme to be on so many different meds, but like Shandi explained to you—it’s a trial and error type thing.   I imagine if she wasn’t taking those meds she would be in worse shape than she is now taking them.  You have some good questions—maybe you need to ask your dr these questions! What type of disease do you have?  Are you on any medications?  Just wondering what has brought you to ASA. It’s not unusual for someone to be on a combination such as the one Shandi is on……I take 4 rx’d meds for my RA alone, and a handful of other things—so I am also learning what it’s like to be a human guinea pig.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please. Kathy

I feel like I use common sense everyday—-not a day goes by that I don’t think about what I am putting into my body–whether it’s the meds I am taking or the food and drink I am ingesting.  At this point I am willing to try anything in any combination. (except Perple stuff and Emu oil <G) You kinda’ get that way when you are in pain!!! Oh and not only do I think about what I am doing to my body–I also think about what RA is going to do it if it’s not treated—–and treated with some urgency!!!  So YES I’d say we all are using our common sense here!!!!! Hope you are well, Lori

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P Ah the question of multiple meds.   I am not even on a DMARD yet and I am on a fist full, no not really but enough that with the CRS and the different times of day I take meds, I am to the point that a need some of those little strips of boxes you use for pills.  Never thought I would need them,   Boy was I wrong.    I have antibiotics for a month for the cellulitis (every 6 hrs)  then their is the diuretic that I take 1 1/2 pills once a day, my Arthrotec (3x daily) my Ultram 3x a day, Trazadone at bedtime (for my FMS) over the counter meds for sinuses, and laxatives when the prune juice doesnt work.  And if the number of meds is going to keep going up, I will definitely need those little boxes. Char – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this!  Her system must be in complete turmoil! Kathleen, I know it sounds extreme to be on so many different meds, but like Shandi explained to you—it’s a trial and error type thing. I imagine if she wasn’t taking those meds she would be in worse shape than she is now taking them.  You have some good questions—maybe you need to ask your dr these questions! What type of disease do you have?  Are you on any medications?  Just wondering what has brought you to ASA. It’s not unusual for someone to be on a combination such as the one Shandi is on……I take 4 rx’d meds for my RA alone, and a handful of other things—so I am also learning what it’s like to be a human guinea pig.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please. Kathy I feel like I use common sense everyday—-not a day goes by that I don’t think about what I am putting into my body–whether it’s the meds I am taking or the food and drink I am ingesting.  At this point I am willing to try anything in any combination. (except Perple stuff and Emu oil <G) You kinda’ get that way when you are in pain!!! Oh and not only do I think about what I am doing to my body–I also think about what RA is going to do it if it’s not treated—–and treated with some urgency!!!  So YES I’d say we all are using our common sense here!!!!! Hope you are well, Lori

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I guess I should consider myself very lucky taking only Plaquenile and 4 mg Prednisone for the RA. But Oh boy all the other crab, Cozaar for the Nephrotic Syndrome, Dyazide for the high BP, Lipitor for the Cholesterol, Prempro, for hmmmm….,  Potassium because of the Dyazide, blah blah blah Vitamins. Strange though, when I switched from the MTX to Plaquenile, thats exactly what we did, dropped the MTX, started Plaquenile next day. No flares or anything during that time. Just thought I mention that. Nocki – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this! You would hate to see my medicine cabinet then.  Those are just ones I take consistantly.  I have compazine for nausea, Prevacid for GERD attacks, prescription cold meds and that’s what I can come up with off the top of my head.  Her system must be in complete turmoil!  How on earth can one possibly know what is working for them when they are taking sooooo many different medications?  And, who can possibly know what effect all of these medications are having on one another?  I can’t believe any doctor in his right mind would prescribe so many medications at the same time. My drugs are a mix bag of helpfulness.  Plaquenil didn’t help my joints but it helped dramatically with my Sjogren’s.  MTX was added to help with my joints and it did to an extent.  It helped with the burning pains I had and did reduce the swelling.  The doctor upped MTX to the point the side effects were winning out so prednisone was then added rather than upping MTX any further.  Because the MTX and prednisone were effecting my body so didronel was added for my thinning bones.  Since these meds aren’t a total God send I still had some pain that disturbed my night sleep so Percocet wrescribed to basically knock me out.  Arava was recently added because it is new.  Plaquenil works on SOME symptoms that others don’t so thats why that is staying.  MTX was cut in half with starting the Arava, and hope to cut it out totally but I am only on day 4 of Arava. Isn’t it obvious that if they don’t work by themselves, they are not going to work in conjunction with other drugs; and, if these drugs supposedly work best in combination with other drugs, why haven’t the drug companies done research on this and formulated combination drugs? Good question!   One less thing to shove down my throat sounds good.  I would imagine it has to do with chemistry. I was very disappointed to see Arava included among these.  I thought this was one of the new drugs showing promise.  Well, pardon me, but how would one know that it works if one is taking it along with everything else in the world? You know if you start to feel even better I suppose.  I haven’t noticed any drastic improvements yet but like I said I am only on day 4.  Still have time to wait. Am I the only one out there concerned about this?  Each drug in and of itself has the potential to wreak havoc on bodily systems.  It seems only common sense to me that we should be trying one drug at a time, and if it doesn’t work, move on to something else. Certainly you aren’t the only one who feels this way.  No one in here I care to say enjoys taking a pill much less the cocktails we have to take. Unfortunately there is no magic cure and we are all living guinea pigs until we find out what works.  Luckily (hopefully) our doctors monitor our condition.  I get blood work drawn now every 2 weeks as a precautionary measure.  Trust me I am disgusted with taking all these pills…but I would be even more so having to live in pain hopping from medicine to medicine thinking only one pill is going to help. Several people have said that Enbrel has worked for them, and they have dropped everything else they were taking.  This is encouraging.  Perhaps a lot of drugs would work better for people if they weren’t being combined with others.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please. Only problem is Enbrel isn’t going to work for everyone.  Not every insurance is going to cover the 10,000 dollar a year medicine, and who can afford that? If taking multiple medicines works and isn’t doing too much bodily harm (lets face it aspirin can kill ya) then do it.  If that one miracle drug works great too Shandi

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Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this!  Her system must be in complete turmoil!  How on earth can one possibly know what is working for them when they are taking sooooo many different medications?  And, who can possibly know what effect all of these medications are having on one another?  I can’t believe any doctor in his right mind would prescribe so many medications at the same time.  Isn’t it obvious that if they don’t work by themselves, they are not going to work in conjunction with other drugs; and, if these drugs supposedly work best in combination with other drugs, why haven’t the drug companies done research on this and formulated combination drugs?   I was very disappointed to see Arava included among these.  I thought this was one of the new drugs showing promise.  Well, pardon me, but how would one know that it works if one is taking it along with everything else in the world?  Am I the only one out there concerned about this?  Each drug in and of itself has the potential to wreak havoc on bodily systems.  It seems only common sense to me that we should be trying one drug at a time, and if it doesn’t work, move on to something else. Several people have said that Enbrel has worked for them, and they have dropped everything else they were taking.  This is encouraging.  Perhaps a lot of drugs would work better for people if they weren’t being combined with others.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please. Kathy

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My first post seems to have vanished, so I’m posting this a second time. My apologies if it appears twice. Shandi posted recently that she was experiencing a sore throat from time to time.  She also shared that she is on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium, and I am amazed that no one has commented on this!  Her system must be in complete turmoil!  How on earth can one possibly know what is working for them when they are taking sooooo many different medications?  And, who can possibly know what effect all of these medications are having on one another?  I can’t believe any doctor in his right mind would prescribe so many medications at the same time.  Isn’t it obvious that if they don’t work by themselves, they are not going to work in conjunction with other drugs; and, if these drugs supposedly work best in combination with other drugs, why haven’t the drug companies done research on this and formulated combination drugs?   I was very disappointed to see Arava included among these.  I thought this was one of the new drugs showing promise.  Well, pardon me, but how would one know that it works if one is taking it along with everything else in the world?  Am I the only one out there concerned about this?  Each drug in and of itself has the potential to wreak havoc on bodily systems.  It seems only common sense to me that we should be trying one drug at a time, and if it doesn’t work, move on to something else. Several people have said that Enbrel has worked for them, and they have dropped everything else they were taking.  This is encouraging.  Perhaps a lot of drugs would work better for people if they weren’t being combined with others.  We need to use common sense and think about what we are doing to our bodies.  Comments please. Kathy

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(Shandster) writes: I was wondering if anyone else has had a prolonged problem with a sore throat. Off and on for the past few months I get bouts of my throat hurting. It is a weekly thing, just some days are better than others.   It feels like I got a baseball growing out of either side of my neck.  The area is tender to the touch (on my neck under my jawline).

I get a sore throat quite often – usually not like a ‘normal’ sore throat in that it isn’t at the back of my mouth but lower down and all the way down to my stomach, so I guess it must be the oesophagus (sp?). My glands nearly always come up when I am starting with a flare, but they are not usually tender. Chase the cats away for e-mail 8=8

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I get a sore throat quite often – usually not like a ‘normal’ sore throat in that it isn’t at the back of my mouth but lower down and all the way down to my stomach, so I guess it must be the oesophagus (sp?). My glands nearly always come up when I am starting with a flare, but they are not usually tender.

Frequent sore throats here too. But I smoke, so that may be the culprit. My glands tend to enlarge when I flare too. And I get very hard pea size lumps in my cheek sometimes, and was told they were saliavry(I  didnt spell that right….spit glands) that  were inflammed. I have had those on and off since I was a teen ager……an early sign of sjogrens? Keep Smilin’ ~krissy Akron, Ohio Visit my web pages at: http://arthritisnet.com http://arthritisnet.com/kids http://members.aol.com/KrissyJo/RA.html

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I get the sore throats and some are attributed to GERD/Hiatial Hernia and just recently found my thyroid was enlarged, the blood tests for thyroid were normal but the thyroid was sore to the touch.  My sister had ganglion cysts in her neck and complained of sore throats and that baseball type feeling.  You probably should get this checked out asap. Steph — Some People Dream of Worthy Accomplishments While Others Stay Awake to Do Them

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Hi Shandi.  Do you think it could be your jaw joint refering pain down your throat?  Does it hurt if you open your mouth wide?  I have this as well and though not to bad at present it has been bad enough that it felt like there was swelling in my throat.  Wendy — Surf Usenet at home, on the road, and by email — always at Talkway. http://www.talkway.com

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I get that sometimes.  Sore throat, can’t stick my tongue out, neck tender to touch, and sometimes my jaw will not close all the way.  It’s a real pain in the ass, especially when you’re in the process of having dental work done (cancelling appointments is often necessary).  I can’t say that I’ve ever felt like a baseball was growing out of my neck! Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was wondering if anyone else has had a prolonged problem with a sore throat. Off and on for the past few months I get bouts of my throat hurting. It is a weekly thing, just some days are better than others.   It feels like I got a baseball growing out of either side of my neck.  The area is tender to the touch (on my neck under my jawline).  I am on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium.  I have to call the doctor tomorrow but since I was thinking about it I thought I would throw the question out to the pro patients Shandi

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I was wondering if anyone else has had a prolonged problem with a sore throat. Off and on for the past few months I get bouts of my throat hurting. It is a weekly thing, just some days are better than others.   It feels like I got a baseball growing out of either side of my neck.  The area is tender to the touch (on my neck under my jawline).  I am on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium.  I have to call the doctor tomorrow but since I was thinking about it I thought I would throw the question out to the pro patients Shandi

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It feels like I got a baseball growing out of either side of my neck.  The area is tender to the touch (on my neck under my jawline).  I am on MTX, Plaquenil, Percocet, prednisone, Arava, didronel, folic and calcium.  I have to call the doctor tomorrow but since I was thinking about it I thought I would throw the question out to the pro patients

Do ask the doc, Shandi… sounds like enlarged glands to me, which is a sign of infection.  Ask… and let us know the answer, ok? Best regards,

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