Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction.

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Medications

jewl12
jewl12
I have been having a lot of back pain lately. I am trying really hard to wait it out for two months till March when I will turn 65 and be on Medicare so I can have some test to see if the pain is coming from my ostio or if there is something else wrong. I went to the doctor last week and she wanted 'to do an x ray but I told her that I couldn't afford it right now. She wanted to make sure that I didn't have a pinched nerve or something. Also right now I'm taking Celebrex for pain. It has been working pretty well till lately but I've found out that when I go to a Part D perscription plan, the one that I am subscribing to, the copay for Celebrex will be $95, which I can not afford. Before I took Celebrex, I took Meloxicam, which will be much cheaper. Do any of you folks take Meloxicam and does it work well for you? I know the doctor will change my perscription. Just wondering what is working for others. I really hate to change because I get the impression that the doctor thinks that the side effects aren't as bad on Celebrex but the cost is out of the question for me.
bstaykova2003
bstaykova2003
I take the NSAID Arcoxia which ( like Celebrex)is also a COX-2 inhibitor and doesn't harm the stomach as much as the other NSAIDs do.Meloxicam is considered a comparatively good choice but still it isn't a COX-2 inhibitor.
jewl12
jewl12
Thanks for your reply, bstaykova,. I checked the formulary for my insurance and Arcoxia isn't even listed. Is it new? It would probably have one of the higher copays too, like Celebrex. I'm going to try to get by with meloxicam . Don't know if I can. I take protonix even with Celexa. I was going to try to get by without it but I start getting really bad indigestion. I've heard that they are really hard to wean off. All of my other meds are generic except Celebrex. Just trying to keep the cost down if possible.
YvetteK
YvetteK
I take indocine. It's amazing, but very harsh on the stomach. Nothing else works as well for me on my arthritis. But when I take it, I have to make sure I eat something, PLUS take an acid reducer, PLUS have some tums on me just in case. It's like aspirin on steroids.
ingelo
ingelo
I get so sad when I read that you folks in the U.S. have to debate whether you can afford tests or necessary medication. We are so lucky in Ontario that we never have to have those worries.
jewl12
jewl12
inqelo, Yes you are so lucky. We worry about it probably more than anything.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hello Everyone! I just posted a new topic in the Chronic Pain Support Group regarding the new FDA laws planned for this year. In addition, if you are taking a medication like Naproxin, be careful about the dosage because my brother-in-law got stomach ulcers from them. I have read that other people have complained about this, so just don't overdo it.

Here is my posting:

Hello Everyone!

There has been quite a lot of discussion about the changes coming in the laws regarding opiate derived medications for chronic pain. I found a few articles which explain it quite well, and why general practicners do not want to prescribe it to their patients much anymore.

First, the doctors will have to go to extra pain management training classes to be able to dispense opiates. Second, the doctor's records will be scrutinized once a month. On the first item, I think the doctors are just to busy or too lazy to take the necessary courses. On the second item, I think the doctors are scared to death of what their records might reveal.

Of course, I may be wrong about how doctors are handling prescribing pain medications to their patients, but after the last few experiences with my PCPs, I don't think so. Now I have to go to a certified "Pain Management Specialist" which of course will cost me more.

Anyway, if you are interested, here are links to a few of the articles:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Con...

http://www.drugs.com/answers/new-la...

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsr...

Let me know if you have any other information about this subject because it is about to drive me crazy to think that I will have to spend the rest of my life in pain, or argue about it every time I see the doctor.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Having read the articles regarding new medication laws, the most I see is that the FDA will reclassify hydrocodone from Schedule III to Schedule II, which carries with it changes in number of refills and time frames. Medications already under tighter control are the stronger and long acting narcotics. Physicians may also have to take a prescribing course. I don't see that this should cause a huge problem for chronic pain patients who likely see their physician every three months anyway.