Good question. I would like to go off of methotrexate. Never felt that it did much good, because while on it I also had to take prednisone. Every time I tried to wean off of the pred, would have another flare. Now on humira, and my Dr wants me to continue mtx as well until my appt next month. I've been decreasing it-have gone from 20 mg to 12.5 and plan to go to 10 today. Just don't want to be on more meds than needed. Have not had any problems decreasing, so probably will continue. Look forward to other's responses.

Guys, ask you doc about Leucovorin, I take 1 24 hours after mtx and it has stopped my hair falling out. It is an rx but it's for folks undergoing cancer treatment and since mtx although in minute amounts is still a cancer drug. Trish

Thx for the suggestion! Plaquenil kills hair?! Never read that....since ceasing arava, well from 100-60 mg, my hair loss decreased enough to notice. I want off all meds but enbrel. That is my goal. Then like bcatz get into remission....a girl can hope right;)

Methotrexate can also cause your hair to thin--I think part of what the DMARDs do is suppress certain actively dividing cells, of which the cells generating hair are one type. The methotrexate lasts in the body for several months (that's why they tell you no pregnancy for 3 months after stopping). Plaquenil also lasts several months in the body after you stop taking it. I've never taken Arava, so can't specifically comment on that, but I expect it's similar to the other meds in that they have to build up for a few weeks before they take full effect,and it takes several weeks before you notice the effects of a decrease. When I decrease mtx, it takes 3-5 weeks to feel the effects for me.

On a side note, I notice that I have a seasonal increase in hair loss (like dogs shedding :) In the fall and spring I lose a ton of hair, but I don't seem to develop thin spots, and it seems more pronounced since starting the RA meds--could that be part of what you are seeing?

If Enbrel is really working well for you in another month or two, ask your doctor to stop the arava or planquenil. Or keep both and reduce to very very small dose.

Many people can take just the biologic w/no other drug. My aunt has been on remicade for 6-7yrs - WORKS GREAT! And the doctor pulled her off other dmards...too much immune system reduction. She needed to have the ability to fight kidney and other urinary infections.

It probably takes as long for the drug to completely leave your system as it did for it to kick in. A long time ago I took Feldene. It would take exactly 21 days before I'd feel any effects. When I would stop taking it I'd flare in 21 days.

I know the Plaquenil takes about 6 months before you know for sure if it's working. I'm guess that if you stop, it will be 6 months before your body detects it's completely gone.

Whenever I try changing my doses or stopping something I always let either my rheumy or GP know what I'm doing. They're ok with that and encourage me to experiment at times. My rheum says he can tell from my blood work if I've been "messing" with my prednisone. Apparently I'm very sensitive to that one

Jane