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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Now what?

SusieG
SusieG

After being down drugged to only 4 MTX + Plaquenil, ALT & AST numbers only slightly better so doc said drop to 3 MTX.  I am waiting for a call today as she was on Easter vacation.  I left message that, no, I would not drop to 3 as 4 is like I'm not taking anything at all.  Daily pain and in almost all of my joints.


I'm hoping to initiate the pre-authorization process necessary to get biologics on board or Xeljanz.  Thus my question to y'all:  any experience with Xeljanz?  I know everyone has their favorite biologic and what has worked for them.


californialynn
californialynn
Good for you for not dropping the dose. Who knows......the liver function tests may improve again!

No experience with Xeljanz myself. I use MTX and Humira.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
No, but wishing you best of luck and keep us posted.
SusieG
SusieG
Linzsey, did you read what I wrote? Where did you get the impression you got? I was talking about options because mtx won't work for me.
MarleneJ
MarleneJ
I was on Xeljanz for 5 months and it did nothing for me. I had no side effects, but it didn’t work it all.

I am now of the opinion that a lot of oral meds just go right through me. 2 1/2 weeks left till I can test for Celiac’s. So, maybe Xeljanz not working was more about me, than the drug?

I would try injectable mthx, and certainly get started on a biologic. You won’t know til you try it.
SusieG
SusieG
I'm curious to see what she suggests IF she calls me today. I am anxious to get another DMARD on board before I lose ANY progress I had made since diagnosis and MTX albeit in lessening dosage.
SusieG
SusieG
So Linzsey, like you, my liver will not tolerate MTX and I see doc on Monday. What DMARD are you taking that is not raising your liver numbers?
depotblue
depotblue
the twin to methotrexate is Leflunomide (Arava) - have you tried that one yet? then there's plaqueil and/or sulfasazaline (seen folks take them together) and there aint no more dmards after that unless you want to technically count xeljanz which my rheumatologist counts more in the dmard class than the biologic class but still bills out at $4,000 per month....

sorry Susie. I hope you feel better soon.

depot
Kimhurts
Kimhurts
I'm on Xeljanz. I'm on it in conjunction with MTX, but it can also be used as a stand alone. I've been on it for 3 years, maybe 3 1/2. It works for me, but I do still have flares. I'm in the middle of dealing with some lung and lymph issues, but nothing linked to Xeljanz or MTX that we know of.

Xeljanz is a real alternative, but may not work for you because it is all about which receptors need to be hit. I think Xeljanz is a JAK inhibitor.

I saw that people mentioned the price. Pfizer has co-pay assistance cards available online. If you are on Medicare you can't use them, but there may be other ways to get help with Xeljanz if you need it. Send me a private message if you end up on Xeljanz and want any further info.

It is nice to have a biologic that is just a daily pill. I feel lucky that it works for me and I can get it. I hope you have the same lucky streak.

Kim
SusieG
SusieG
Dear Lord it's so complicated and interconnected and frustrating, right? I'm not taking ANYTHING right now on doc's orders and as much as I believed only 4 MTX were not working, they were obviously better than nothing because I'm hurting more every day. Depot - I'm certain doc will not try me on Avara being so protective of my liver :)

I am feeling so fortunate to (so far) only be dealing with RA joint pain and that's why I'm anxious to get SOMETHING in my body ASAP so other damages/issues don't get a foothold. Does that make sense or just in my mind?

I don't know what doc will recommend on Monday, but I was able to determine that my co-insurance for Humira or Embrel SHOULD be capped $250/month.

Fingers crossed - oh wait - can't do that right now OUCH!