Question
Varied doses of methotrexate, plus hydroxychloroquine, which I stopped taking because it made me dizzy, have not completely worked. My doctor is now considering putting me on Enbrel or Humira (depending on which the insurance will pay for), as well as continuing the methotrexate. Can Enbrel or Humira work without the methotrexate? The methotrexate makes me very tired and I get sick when I am out in the sun for more than a few minutes. My doctor says I need to deal with those and some other minor side effects, but I would like to stop taking the methotrexate altogether. Can either of those injectable drugs work on their own?
Answer
Enbrel and Humira can be effective on their own but recent studies suggest that they work better in combination with methotrexate.
