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...
I'm wondering if any of you have successfully weaned off of some of the DMARDs (not prednisone). I'm luckily in drug induced remission - and my rheumy and I are both keen to wean down the drugs. I've been in a great spot for 18 mths, after being hit really hard with the onset of RA.
At the height of it, I was on 20mg MTX weekly, 400 mg (2 pills) of plaquenil /day, and weekly enbrel. We've weaned down to 12.5 MTX weekly, 200mg plaquenil and the same dose of enbrel weekly (1 shot).
Have any of you weaned off all of the MTX successfully? Have any of you weaned Enbrel (and what does that look like - spreading the time out between the shots?)
I'll continue to discuss this with my rheumy - I'm not doing this on my own - she's the one who has been decreasing the dose every few months. She's very good about spending time to talk through options and go through research. But - I wanted to check with all of you to see if anyone has been in a similar situation. I don't want to mess with a good thing, as I'm so fortunate to have my health back, but I also don't want to be on so many very intense drugs, if I can reduce, or eliminate. I worry a lot about the side effects, and longer term side effects.
Thanks for any of your thoughts
At the height of it, I was on 20mg MTX weekly, 400 mg (2 pills) of plaquenil /day, and weekly enbrel. We've weaned down to 12.5 MTX weekly, 200mg plaquenil and the same dose of enbrel weekly (1 shot).
Have any of you weaned off all of the MTX successfully? Have any of you weaned Enbrel (and what does that look like - spreading the time out between the shots?)
I'll continue to discuss this with my rheumy - I'm not doing this on my own - she's the one who has been decreasing the dose every few months. She's very good about spending time to talk through options and go through research. But - I wanted to check with all of you to see if anyone has been in a similar situation. I don't want to mess with a good thing, as I'm so fortunate to have my health back, but I also don't want to be on so many very intense drugs, if I can reduce, or eliminate. I worry a lot about the side effects, and longer term side effects.
Thanks for any of your thoughts
I don't think you can wean Enbrel as it's a set dose weekly - not adjustable. I've heard there are 25cc shots that some people take 2x weekly but I only had the sureclick. My doctor said that each time you stop and restart a biologic, you take a risk at the body suddenly identifying it as an "invader" and having it become ineffective. (at some point, that happens naturally anyway I guess)
Enbrel put me into full remission. It's been 15months since my last dose of it and I have found some small symptoms returning. I haven't gone back on it, but expect to when my symptoms merit it. I think I'm at the point to take plaquenil though...mild dmard for mild symptoms.
it's good you are looking at this ahead of time instead of assuming you are in remission and quitting all medicine only to have them not work the 2nd time you take them. I've read of that very often.
Best wishes!