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...

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LifeLongLearner
LifeLongLearner

I'm new to this group as I've recently been diagnosed with RA.  Symptoms started well over 4 years ago but I had all the reasons in the world for my pains - I thought.  Anyway, I've already got joint damage and pretty much constant pain, sometimes dibilitating.  I'm sure all of you know this same pain.


I'm currently on steroids waiting to be cleared by the infectious disease doc for suspected Latent TB.  My kidneys aren't all that great so they won't consider MTX and are going straight to bios.  Any experience with bios without MTX and success?  I see Simpani clinical trials worked well in conjunction with MTX but no data without.


Any help and guidance I can get from this group will be appreciated.


Thanks,


Mark

MarleneJ
MarleneJ
Simponi worked well for me without a DMARD, for 8 months. Then I started getting a few flares one month, the next month it failed completely, even wth a double dose. But I moved during that period, a very stressful time, so that might have been the root of the problem.

What about other DMARDs like Arava or Sulfasalazine? Mind you, the second would probably clear through the kidneys.

I was also on Rituxan for 3 years without a DMARD, and it was ok, although it failed early. My insurance wouldn't allow me to go to a 4 month infusion protocol, which my rheumatologist thought might have solved the problem.

I hope you find something that works!
jolinejoline
jolinejoline
Most drug trials have been/are conducted with MTX. IT's cheap and easy. MTX has a long history, so rather than blind studies, pharma can use MTX for the blinds. Simponi is an anti-TNF drug, so it's just another in the chain. However, like Marlene implied, some of these biologic drugs work just fine without DMARDS. Alas, Maelene didn't have good fortune in that respect, but hers is not the only voice here.

I have taken Rituximab infusions for over 3 years without a DMARD, and I am doing quite well. It's not perfect, but it's GREAT! I have "almost" full function, some pain, some "abnormalities," some loss of function, but here's what I say... "compared to what?"

There are a lot of complicating factors, some dictated by insurance. I wouldn't be afraid to try Simponi without MTX. That could be could for a couple of reasons: sometime people have bad reactions to MTX (and other DMARDS), and when you're on a single drug, it's a whole lot easier to track side-effects. Make sure you do that.
Debbie1966
Debbie1966
I am using humria once a week injections. So far I have had some relief but still have flares. Research fruits and veggies that are called night shades. I started cutting some of them out of diet. I take prednisone during flare ups and ibprofin when I don't have any. Only been doing humria for 5 months they say could take 6 so hoping it works.
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