I take a biologic, but then, I can't take MTX.

My advice? Have your doctor carefully explain why he feels you should add the biologic now, and why it can't wait. Remember that you're the boss, and he's your advisor. I feel that if you can get satisfactory relief wth what you're taking, maybe that should be good enough. If he has compelling reasons, you can consider them.

By the way, the very fact that you're getting decent results from MTX is a wonderful sign.

Good luck.

If you are still exhibiting inflammation/stiffness and some pain then the MTX is not controlling the RA by itself. This is why your doc wants to add a biologic. According to my rheumy is you still have either stiffness or pain then the disease is still active.

I've been more off my Humira than on in the last six months and even tho I haven't been hurting a lot I am hurting and noticing changes in my fingers and I don't like it. I need to get back on my Humira pronto.

Good luck...hugs jilly

By the time my rheumy started me on Humira, I was kinda like you...had improvement, but still stiffness and pain. She said "we can do much better than this."
I think the kicker for me agreeing to Humira (and it took several visits before I DID agree) was the possibility of not just greater relief, but of actually reducing risk of permanent damage.
I've had some ups and downs with Humira, but I am determined to give it at least a solid 4 months (without stopping, which I had to do for an infection and a back problem); if I tolerate it, I'll be staying with it.

I was started on methotrexate in September 08 when I was diagnosed, along with 5 mg of prednisone. After 1 month the doctor increased the mtx. 2 months later my inflammation levels doubled so he gave me the options of immuran, humira or enbrel. We talked about the sidse effects and how long each had been used. I decided to start out with immuran because it's been approved for RA for about 20 years. I take 3 per day, along with plaquenil, prednisone, and the 6 mtx one night per week. Today they called and said my inflammation levels were stable, so I will see the doctor on Friday and see if he wants to do anything else. It's hard to decide what to do. I too don't feel too badly most of the time and don't have the degree of pain that many members write about. Just make sure all your questions are answered so you are comfortable with your decision. Good luck. Keep up posted.

I take MTX...doc said if inflamation (sed rates on your blood work) go too high, he'd recommend adding a biologic. It's been holding pretty steady so far (knock wood), so that hasn't been an issue for me. I wonder if your sed rate is still higher than doc wants? Definitely get him to explain more why he wants to do this. Lisa

I feel pretty much normal but my doctor had mentioned he might put me on a biologic also. He is giving me more time and I am not up to his max dosage (8) of methotrexate yet. I am taking 7 now. My last blood test showed no inflamation, so thats a good sign. I don't have any stiffness. Early on I was in a hurry to be put on biologics. Now I am happy to be just on Methotexate.

i've been on mtx for over 2 yrs now and and am thinking about adding the enbrel. no major side effects that i can think about with mtx, but i am experiencing some inflammation and joint deformities, bone nodules what ever you call them. so ive decided to add the bio. im hoping it will work. haven't experienced remission yet, i think the harder doc fights it in the beginning the better isnt it?

To add: My rheumy told me in the beginning that it is believed that there is a "one year opening" during which it is best to begin the biologics. One year from beginning of symptoms. Of course, that can be hard to pinpoint, because for me my feet starting hurting in Dec. 07...but I had some kind of autoimmune flare about 10 years ago, with nuisances creeping up now and then (hip, ankle, shoulder pain, swollen hands that would come and go) up until that December.
But yes...I think the RA guidelines (link below) do state that early aggressive treatment is now the recommended procedure.

link to treatment guidelines:
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment-guidelines-updated.html