If the side effect is nausea I will get sick, so I understand the weak stomach thing. I am on enbrel which helps and yesterday my rheumie gave me a prescription for mobic which I have not tried yet. She said that it can cause nausea so I may only try it if I am desperate. Enbrel has caused me to bruise very easily and it lowers the immune system so you become a hand washing freak but other than that I havent had side effects. Mtx did make me sick to my stomach. I do not have ins either and I have found that most drs will give you a break on their fees, drug companies will help pay for their drugs and walmart has alot of $4 presriptions. As long as I dont get something else I think I actually come out cheaper w/o ins. It is scary though. Take care, April

I take MTX. It has been effective for me, but yeah, it can upset your stomach. I'm switching from Oral to shots, which is supposed to cause less stomach upset, and my doc is adding leukovin(?sp) to counteract any nausea.

I too have nausea on most meds. I'm now on Enbrel doesn't seem to bother me. In fact it's the only thing I've found to control the swelling. Does nothing for the fatigue.

I think since you are so young you should look into antibotic theraphy. Along with that I take MTX shots weekly. I got sick to my stomach for the first month or so but then all those bad effects disappeared. You know you should check to see if there are research studies going on in your area. Google clinical trials for RA in your area. That may be one way to get on a new and up and coming drug. Often they compensate you, give you drugs and when the study is over give you more drugs for free. It is worth investigating since you don't have insurance. April, I think that might be good for you too! Also, I took mobic, it was very hard on my stomach and didn't help inflammation one bit.

Hi there! I am on Antibiotic Therapy and am taking 100mg Minocycline twice a day. I have never been on anything else! I took Ibuprofen in the beginning but I was able to go off any painkillers within a couple of months. Everything is pretty much gone now and my blood work is almost normal now too--- even my Anti-CCP and RF! I started Minocycline 6 months after onset of severe symptoms of RA.I am on Minocycline now for almost one year with no side effects. I am determined to beat this. Here are some websites for you if you should be interested in AP (Antibiotic Protocol).
www.rheumatic.org, explains everything about AP, www.roadback.org, the bulletin board is a discussion board for all people on AP. Also google info about Dr.McPherson Brown who pioneered Antibiotic Treatment and has a book out about it. Hope this helped. I had to "fire" my first Rheumatologist because all he wanted to give me was Methotrexate and I refused to go on it. This was for me the best decision I made about RA (that and going on AP.

I am on remicade, mtx, and a sulfa drug. It is working. I have not had any side affects, except with the mtx pills, which they changed me to the injectable, and now I have no side affects at all. Take care and good luck, ves

Hi I am on the MTX pills every wk.Also I take the Humira injections every other wk.Predisone every day.No side affects except for with the MTX but the nausea is passing. Not to bad anymore. Good luck.

I just started on methatexate. So far so good.. I take it with folic acid. Hope this helps.

Jo

I'm currently on methotrexate, folic acid, prednisone, and rituxan for my RA. I'm usually pretty natuios but i have a strong stomach.

I certainly think anyone who can should do the antibiotic therapy. I'm not on it because I take birth control pills. Perhaps at a later date when I feel fine about doing something like the Depo shot. But at my age I felt it was a little risky in case my ovaries don't respond after taking it for years. So the pill it is, but if I could, I'd be on the antibiotic therapy for sure.

Absolutely check your area for clinical trials! I was in a trial for nearly 4 yrs. The drug was Lymphostat B and it was effect (now FDA approved for lupus, I think). They recompensated for gas and covered all bloodwork, xrays, etc. The only downside is during the initial double blind when you may be on drug or may be receiving placebo. After that phase all subjects are on drug at various doseages, and in the last phase all were on the highest dose.
Thanks Bize and Onto for mentioning AP - I'm currently on just MTX and would like to give AP a try. The links posted are so helpful!

Thank you guys!

I didn't think about clinical trials, but that is a really good idea.

April I take Mobic and no stomach problems. It's like Celebrex but much cheaper. The mtx shots are supposed to have fewer side effects.