DMARDs for Arthritis Q & A

It has been over one year that I have had infusions of remicade. February 23, 2005 treatment was the most successful. I felt great for the entire month. The months before February and the treatment -which is usually 6 weeks-after February (April 14, 05) I feel not 100%-more like 75-80%. Joint pain not relieved at all; in fact; worsen. Dose is 600 for me. Is it normal to have this irregular response?

Could extended use of Humira cause TIA’s, strokes and/or short term disorientation?

Patient diagnosed with multiple small bowel telangectasia. Meds being taken are coumadin 4mg/5mg alternating days, lipitor 40mg/da, methotrexate 10mg/wk, Toprol XL 50mg/day. Arava discontinued in March of 05. Is there a danger of bleeding if Arava therapy reinstutited. INR kept below 2.5.

I’ll try to make this short. I am 52 and RA for also 10 years. Had to retire from nursing because of this. Also have fibromyalgia and asthma. I have tried every drug that there is for RA. Nothing seems to work. trying to do antibiotic therpy now. Have been on doxycycline 100 mg. IV q day for 1 wk, and then every,other day for 2 weeks and minocycline 100mg QD for 2 weeks. RA factor is now 2670 and sed rate 90. Have gone up since on rx. I have Kaiser for seniors ins. In my area there are not many dr. I can see. The last one’s nurse said that until I could afford the meds. that the dr. prescribed there is not much hope. So my PC is taking care of me and he doesn’t really know what to do next.Is there a web site that he can go too to talk with someone.At least he is trying to take the time to help me. Can you help with my problem.

I was diagnosed with RA in 2002. I am receving remicade at 5mg every 4 weeks, & methotrexate 15mg weekly. My first 2 remicade treatments, I had reactions where it felt as thought my throat was closing up, but no other ones since. I do have a very mild case of Hep c and dormint TB. Liver functions are always normal and I went thru the antibiotics for TB. At this time, it appears as though the remicade is only working for about 2 week and I know I cant get any more. I was thinking that before I try another program that I should increase the methotrexate and the remicade to the maximum which I believe is 25 mg of meth and 8 mg of remicade. What is your thinking.. It was good while it lasted…. THanks for your help… PS> I have been diagnosed with Systemic Lupus since 1985 but never had to be treated with meds

My daughter is 13 years old and has been taking Enbrel for the tx of JRA (she was diagnosed at age 2 years) for approx. 9 months with good results. How long can she be on the medication, and what are the long term effects, neurologically, on her reproductive system, and her immune system.