Hello, I was recently diagnosed with PM in July last year. I am still on Prednisolone 25mg a day, but Im also on Azathioprine 100mg a day, my Rhuemy told me this is a small dose of Chemo.This drug is an immune suppresent, it is also given to people that have had an organ transplant so their body doesnt reject the new organ. It has worked wonders as far as reversing my effects of muscle weakness, so far she wants me to be on it for 3 yrs. Side effects include having my liver levels checked as it can cause damage, and it can also cause cancer, I cant go out in the sun for too long. The PM got so bad I suffered a cardiac arrest, when I woke up I couldnt move my body at all, so as much as I hate the side effects of all the meds Im on, Im very happy to be alive.

Many people (myself included) take Methotrexate. This is a chemo medicine as well. We take low doses so the side effects arent too bad. I actually do the injectable Methotrexate to cut down on the side effects even less. It takes time to build up in your system, but I do believe it is helping me. I am also still on 5 mg of Prednisone a day. I was first diagnosed back in August of 2011.

Rituxan is used as a chemo drug too although technically it is a biological agent and not truly chemotherapy. It is used primarily to treat cancer.

I take Methotrexate. I do know that is a classic chemo agent. Although my dose is 25 mg a week by injection, it is 100 times lower dose than they use for cancer treatment.

Rituxan is used as a chemo drug too although technically it is a biological agent and not truly chemotherapy. It is used primarily to treat cancer.

I take Methotrexate. I do know that is a classic chemo agent. Although my dose is 25 mg a week by injection, it is 100 times lower dose than they use for cancer treatment.

Rituxan is used as a chemo drug too although technically it is a biological agent and not truly chemotherapy. It is used primarily to treat cancer.

I take Methotrexate. I do know that is a classic chemo agent. Although my dose is 25 mg a week by injection, it is 100 times lower dose than they use for cancer treatment.

Rituxan is used as a chemo drug too although technically it is a biological agent and not truly chemotherapy. It is used primarily to treat cancer.

I take Methotrexate. I do know that is a classic chemo agent. Although my dose is 25 mg a week by injection, it is 100 times lower dose than they use for cancer treatment.

Hey Lexis, glad to see the multi posting is not just happening to me, welcome to the club!....I think we all take one or more of the chemo agents but as said before me, we take such a small dose of them that their known side affects usually do not concern us.
Take Care
Ness

Hello Polymyositis community, i am a 46 yr old male with Polymyositis, i developed symptoms in 2007 the same year my transplanted kidney failed. I am only taking 10 mg of prednisone, my cpk is around 1000. I joined because it is important for us to communicate with each other and share the do's and don't regarding treatment of this disease. I look forward to talking with you, be safe and keep on fighting! I love you guys spirit!

Hi, jpaige02, and welcome to this PM/DM support site. I hope we can encourage you on your journey. Best wishes to you.

Welcome Paige. Are you still feeling good at 1000 CPK? Did you start on higher Prednisone? They say not to treat the CPK but treat the symptoms. That is wise advice since everyone is different.

I hate the multiple posts. I swear I didn't copy and paste 100 times!

this could be way ioff but a friend of mine had been diagnosed ewith lupus, then she developed breast cancer. After her chemo treatments she hasn't had any signs of having lupus...she is also cancer free! So it makes me wonder that if a round of chemo would work better then the slow intake of mtx or other forms.