Rheumatoid 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. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I just started on cyclosporine today. I saw my Rheumatologist yesterday and we added it and switched my Prednisone to Medrol. We also added protonix because I'm getting gastritis and switched vicoprofen to morphine for pain. The Vicoprofen just doesn't work anymore. I'm also on Sulfasalazine, Plaquinel, Rituxan, and Medrol. I'm just wondering if there is anyone else on cyclosporine our there or a similar cocktail. If they have had any success stories or any complications. I know I need to monitor my kidneys and b/p while on the cyclosporine. I'm hoping these changes will get the RA under control.
I would thoroughly rethink taking Cyclosporine. My husband had to take it as part of his anti rejection medication regimen as at the time it was the best medicine out there to prevent his new heart from rejecting. He took it for 8 years and now he is on kidney dialysis. It destroys your kidneys. Yes, all these damn drugs can have some serious side effects, but the last thing you want is your kidneys to eventually fail. Unless there have been improvement and less kidney problems now on this drug, I would say find something else.