The only time I do not take mtx is if I am sick-running a temperature - or, when I was going to have surgery, I was suppose to be off the mtx.

I use Celebrex when I am having a flare. But, luckily, the biological I am on does a good job of keeping those to a minimum.

Well unless it's a slow acting med it doesn't seem to be making much of a difference so I probably won't take it tomorrow and just wait for Sunday to increase my MTX to 2 pills.

Plaquenil simply doesn't work as a back up to reduce flares.

It can take from 6 months to a year to work. So that flare you took it for last March, the Plaquenil might be working now. It needs to create a "steady state" and that means that adding extra won't work.

If I have a bad flare, I use additional pain killers or sometimes a bit more prednisone. But my personal opinion is that if you are having flares, then your meds are not working properly, .(Or not enough!)

Since you are only on mthx, you need to go talk to your rheumatologist about adding a biologic. When things start to interfere with being able to exercise, it is time to take some action!

I have been on almost every DMard and almost every biologic under the sun. Right now I am on Acterma and Arava and pain meds Nucenta ER twice daily and Oxycodone 15mg every 4 hours. I was on plaquenil for two years with Orencia. My Rheumatologist feels certain Dmards and biologics work better together. When I have a flare which is few and far between thank goodness I have to stop what I am doing take pain meds and rest in bed to prevent the fare from becoming full blown. I also try to keep a calm and cool demeanor as I find that getting upset causes a flare to come on. As Marlene J mention with a bad flare pain meds are in order. But not certain if you are not keen on taking Aleve if you would be amenable to taking narcotics. Or if you are concerned regarding Aleve and your liver. But all of these meds are excreted through the liver in one way or another so LFT's should be done on a regular basis. Hope you are feeling better soon. Oceans11, How do you feel with the increase in MTX? Keep us posted.

While on Plaquenil, sun sensitivity is normal for some people. I can't say about the skin rashes or itching...but sounds like it could be.

I take 200 mg 3 times daily and haven't noticed any problems. Worked great for 2 years.

I think sun protection is another adjustment for you oceans. I had to make it. Wide brim hat, sleeves and shorts to the knees. Don't like it but a sun burn hurts like heck now. I spend a good bit of time in the yard and on the river.

This past summer went to the beach for the first time since the gulf oil spill. First day, sitting under the umbrella except for getting in the water to cool off (yes, applied sunscreen and drank no alcohol) and that night my stomach and chest were dang near blistered. The reflection off the water onto me sitting in the chair under the umbrella. Grrrrrrr