I take MTX, Humira, and Celebrex, and Prednisone. Hoping to eventually taper off the prednisone. Been on Humira for five months, and it has cut my CRP in half from 7 to 3.5 so far. Also take other meds, but not for RA

For Inflammatory Arthritis I take:
Sulfasalazine 2500 mg daily (split: am 1500 mg, pm 1000mg), since 5/11
Meloxicam 7.5 mg daily, since 10/11
MTX 15 mg weekly, started last week; so too soon to tell.

For Secondary Fibro: Amitryptiline 10 mg daily, since 12/11 Helps with sleep, which in turn helps with pain.

I used to take Cymbalta for Nerve Pain, up to 120mg at one point. It never seemed like it helped my joint pain. Weaning off of it sucked. Previously I had tried weaning off several times, but the nerve pain came back. Oct 2010 to Jan 2011 I was treated by a physical medicine practice (PT and Osteopathic Manual Manipulation). I am ahppy to say that the nerve pain is non0existent! :)

Missouri Tiger,
OH WOW! Your CRP is still so high, assuming our labs are similar. On mine, normal is less than ..80mg/dl. I hope your numbers continue to fall. My rheumatologist said my CRP was very high but the highest was 2.5.

I went back and looked and when I added Enbrel to the Methotrexate, my CRP went down to .3 !!! I am looking forward to getting back on just the enbrel and see what it is. Since I'm not on any med, I won't be getting CRP until March I think.


When I was on Methotrexate, I took:
Methotrexate 20mg weekly
Enbrel 50ml weekly
Mobic 15mg daily
Folic Acid 1mg daily to ease the Methotrexate damage
Omneprezole to prevent stomach ulcer from Mobic

MTX, Humira, and Celebrex. Doing very well on this combo.

Hi, BCatz,

Yes my CRP is very high. Any thing over 3 puts you at a high risk of heart attack. Sigh. My RD was very pleased that Humira pushed it down from 7 to 3.5. I see her again in March. I RA is severe. Ugh. BUT, I am so much better than I was. CRP, idealy, s/b 0 to 1. That is my understanding, anyway.

I have a feeling that I will be meeting my huge deductible relatively soon! Roseisrose, Sulfasalazine ! That is the med that my Rheumy is going to try me on next along with the mtx. Any side effects with it that I should be aware of? So....I guess not many of us are successful with just MTX alone?

Mtx
plaquenil
Lexapro
Folic acid
Vitamin D

Have pred for flares. Seems to be working most of the time.

Some people get significant stomach upset with SSZ, but I've been lucky. Haven't had any major side effects from it. You have to avoid aspirin and aspirin-like products (since SSZ has a salicylate component). Initially I was getting headaches before my second dose of the day. So, with rheumy's permisson, I split it into 1 tablet four times a day dosing. After a couple months I was able to go back to twice a day dosing.
I also have been on Prilosec since 2008, that may be staving off any other stomach issues . . . .

Well I'm fairly new to the DX but thus far for RA I take:
MTX
Folic Acid
Duexis (new form of Ibuprofen)
For next 2 weeks Prednisone
My RA said if there is 0 improvement at the next visit then we are moving on to another medication

I also take supplements in attempt to help
Just started on the Nordiac Fish Oil Pro Omega Joint Plus
I asked my compound pharmacist & he said the musts are a good calcium with D & Magnesium & fish oil
The Joint extra has the Glucosamine & Collagen in it so I don't have to take it separate, which I was doing. We shall see

Anything else I take is not aimed at treating my RA
I can sure feel it lately & you all have my complete understanding.
Sammy

I take MTX, celebrex, tramedol and a muscle relaxer. I just entered a clincial trial for enbrel. I think I am doing pretty good, but my CRP is 4.2. I take the MTX on Saturday nights, so this morning I feel a bit crappy. Sunday mornings are quiet at work so it does work out pretty good.
The clinical trial is very interesting. I get a lot of tests and am getting ultra-sound test on my hand every four weeks.
Hang in there kiddo- I am doing much better than six months ago! You will too.

I take Enbrel , prednisone, MTX with folic acid

As always, thank you for your wise counsel and advise. I always feel better after reading your replies. You all fill me with hope and courage............Thank you.

I take MTX, folic acid, baclofen and diclofenac.

I'm not having huge pain control yet, but heading to a pain management doctor in a couple weeks, hoping for more relief!

HUGS!
Kellie

Methotrexate (with Folic acid - but no folic acid on the day I take the Methotraxate per Dr. Instructions- she said it can hinder absorption), Remicade, Arava, and Prednisone.

Stay positive and don't give up hope! It can be frustrating trying to find the right combo. I have been through the wringer, but I am finally finding relief. Be well!

I take MTX, Plaquenil, and Orencia, Vitamin D and folic acid, plus ibuprofen and pain meds as needed. I'm not doing awesome, but I switched to Orencia about 2 months ago and am hoping for more improvement with time. Thinking back, I experienced a similar initial improvement with MTX (plus plaquenil- that was the first drug I started on), before I started on biologics. I think for me, the MTX made a big improvement in my fatigue, and that was a huge relief. When I had erosions show up on my xray one year after diagnosis, my doc started me on my first biologic.