DMARDs for Arthritis Q & A

I have recently started methatrexate 7.5mg a week (4 weeks ago). I usually have a glass of wine or two with dinner and my husband and I go out on a saturday night where we normally drink 4 or 5 beers. My doctor says no drinking at all but other ra sufferers say they drink so who is right? Can I have a few drinks socially?

I am 43 and was diagnosed with RA three years ago. I am currently on humira and MTX and having good results. I do have a history of pleurisy and asthma. This past spring I had pleurisy of four months even after 60 mgs of prednisone. I tend to get it about three or four times a year and I have had pnumonia in the past. My queation is do you recomend your patients have a pneumonia shot? What are the pro’s and con’s of this? I do get a flu shot every year but was wanting to know about the pneumonia shot.

My daughter had been treated with Azathioprine for Dematomyositis. She is 18years old now & pregnant. Is she or the baby in danger from Azathioprine?

Has anyone developed cancer from taking enbrel? it so, what kinds?

I have undergone two fusion attempts for C1-C2 instability which have both failed. I am about to undergo a third attempt with screws and a cable instead of just wire. I know that I have to stop taking my methotrexate, but my question concerns whether I should stop taking my Enbrel for this procedure. I have one doctor saying yes and another saying no. Can you please help me with this confusion? I really want the fusion to work this time. My surgery is in a couple of weeks and I am not sure what to do.

I am a pediatrician who is not very familiar with Enbrel. My mother is 78 years old and has been taking NSAIDS for RA which she has had for over 30 years. Her wrist, elbows, and hands are severely deformed, but she has previously refused to try other forms of treatment, except prednisone which made her sick. Her doctor has suggested Enbrel. Considering her age and the probable condition of her joints due to longstanding RA, is it worth the risk?