take prednisone, apparently...

or show up with nsaid allergies and get pure narcotics since it seems like every narcotic is cut with an nsaid.

i take nsaids weekly, not daily. i work in other things that don't work as well like playing dead (known as 24 hours ice and elevation) which does not work for working folks. and I am back on methotrexate, my lungs, and that small thing called "breathing" be damned. so we all make trade offs. even my crappy lungs are going along with this risk. if the folks with pred are taking adrenal and osteo and sugar risks and the folks with shit lungs are taking breathing risks then those who can not or will not take narcotics are taking heart attack and stroke risks. pick your number.

or as my rheumatologist would be known to say folks with RA have higher incidence of heart and stroke, irrespective.

depot

The greater risk for NSAID use with most RA patients I believe is probably liver damage and stomach damage as well. I know particularly in the past due to such high doses of NSAIDs needed to control pain may people would bleed out via stomach or liver. With my body being so messed up genetically already I am at higher risk for stroke due to my vertebral artery issues and with my dads genetics at play. I am also at higher risk for heart attack too, so no biggie. I'm kind of use to having that stuff hanging over my head most days. I figure everyone gonna die someday anyway. AtleastI have a better idea that most what will kill me, lol!

Great article! I too have the greater risk of heart attack and stroke due to both genetics and the fact that I have sleep apnea and RA. I have always felt that when God wants me home, it's time to go. But He has given me strength to get thru all that has been thrown at me and now I have found out I have gallstones, so this will be another interesting trip thru life! Have a great weekend all!

I just read this too. But since I am allergic to NSAIDS, I guess I won't worry about using them the first 5 years straight with RA.

I would give anything to have something besides prednisone as a back up med. Especially since Xeljanz is not working yet. Or ever! Sigh!

This bothers me so much.
I take either ibuprofen, or Mobic, or sometimes Celebrex daily. I never mix them but it's always SOME FORM OF NSAID daily!

Based on reading this, there is possible evidence that naproxen is better. I can switch to that, but this is scary.

Sometimes it's like being backed into a corner. Steroids mess with my glucose. I'm still waiting for treatment with a dmard. Now the one helper, NSAids, is a big no-no! UGH

Well, we already have a higher risk for heart attack and heart failure just because we have RA. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/581319

But I wonder if the lack of exercise and weight gain due to chronic pain have more to do with it than simply the Dx of RA.

Years ago, before biologics, I took about 3200 mg of ibuprofen per day just to move (800 mg, four times per day). That was about 20 years ago. I eventually had kidney failure (but think that was due to Methotrexate, but who knows).

These days, I try to live a lot more healthy. I have recently lost 12 pounds, and my goal is a total of 20. My BP has gone down significantly since I lost this weight. I am trying to do some exercise (Tai Chi), and I have drastically changed my eating habits.

Bottom line is this: We may be at a greater risk for heart attack and stroke due to our RA or even due to NSAIDS, but there are things that we can do to help counter those risks.

Trooper, I was just thinking that with Mobic, most of us get 15mg per day. It's pretty easy to reduce that to 7.5mg. I would think that reducing the dose by half would at least cut some risk. Not sure if it'd be enough inflammatory coverage though.

Well crap.
Darned if you do & darned if you don't.
I do take IBup. 800mg.
I'm also the only person I know who can get that dose.
Docs don't like it but since it helps they let me have it.
Ran out of prescription thanks to my former Jeykl & Hyde RA doc.
2 OTCs of Advil gave me a awful stomach ache I do not get with the Prescription. That's half my script dosage.
I can say did not rely on it till the J&H doc. Prolonged my treatment.
Less is better attitude so I take what I can get by on.
I gotta be able to move, now more then ever. So I'll pray for the best.
Why do I have a feeling my Motrin may be reduced? Jeez I hope this Orencia works & kicks the heck in.
Mean time what is good for you that actually reduces pain?
Please don't say Kale.
Sammy

Sammy, the best for pain is general anaesthesia. Good luck getting it regularly, though.

I wonder if the new information will make it easier to get Celebrex. It sounds like it is really no worse than many of the OTC anti-inflammatories, and if it's less likely to rip up your stomach, it might be the best option for many. I can't even look at naproxen without horrid stomach pain- was on it in college when it was prescription-only and used up my tolerance. Same with ibuprofen: I can take it once in a blue moon, with a meal, and with antacids close at hand. Voltaren gave me hives, and Tylenol I can keep down for 10 to 15 minutes on a good day. Aspirin, I can take 8 or 10 a day for weeks at a time, no problem. We're all so different.

that's too bad alto. that's right we are all so different.

that's why when the the prednisone is going to kill you adrenal wise posts go up everyone responds. or the narcotics cause addictions my doc said posts go up we all respond.

I abhor any use of prednisone except for my lungs and I refuse narcotics (I don't do well on them reaction wise). so without an nsaid of variant variety weekly I would be sorry out of luck. very out of luck. i would be down to muscle relaxants and voo doo.

i have a caste iron stomach and don't have a single reaction to nsaids. so if the liver numbers do not get affected by them they seem like a WAY better solution for me than prednisone or narcotics. i guess it is all just individual luck.

next week the news will have an article on pred kills you early and narcotics make you a junky early

depot