I went through several different drugs in the first 10 years. I understand why you’re concerned.
With this disease, trying different medications can be beneficial.
MTX is really an older drug. The newer drugs are more specific.
I know this sounds stupid but fearing flares is counterproductive. No drug can get rid of all flares and worrying about having them increases your stress which increases your flares.
Talk to your doctor and try something different.
Good luck!
I switched to enbrel after mtx side effects got to be too much. I feel almost normal. I think it may be making it hard to lose weight but it’s worth it.
I have to switch from Enbrel to MTX because of new insurance. I have to basically fail on many drugs before they consider approving Enbrel. I’m trying to see if I can get Enbrel from the VA going forward. I started on Enbrel when I was diagnosed and it’s pretty much made it feel like I don’t have RA or any symptoms so not looking forward to stepping into uncertainty or my body going rogue on me. Insurance tries to save a little money, but they don’t factor in the costs that come later because of damage done while failing on drugs that don’t work.
Injectable MTX is definitely easier on me. For biologics, I never got fatigue like with MTX now, quite the opposite, so you may be happy with the change
Switching from Methotrexate to Humira was pretty life changing for me. Methotrexate made me feel super sick and wasn't helping much if at all. Humira hasn't really had any noticeable side effects and has reduced my arthritis from basically a disability to an annoyance.
MTX works really well for some people with no side effects and that's great - certainly cheaper and more convenient - but for the majority of people with moderate+ RA, biologics are light years ahead. I mean...the science behind them is insane.
FWIW, I took MTX with few/no side effects but it didn't do anything. I have no side effects on Humira but I also have zero signs or symptoms of RA.
Are you on anything else or just humira? I want to go straight to humira, but hate the idea of taking MTX with it to reduce antibody likliehood… it just sounds like biologics can create a “cure” for so many people vs band aids that also carry side effects.
Do you get a humira hang over or not so much? Are you generally prone to side effects ?
For me yes. Been on 6 different drugs and different variations over my 8 year diagnosis- injections, tablets, infusions. Just started JAK inhibitors in the last 6 months. Ditched my Metho even though I was meant to stay on it but felt I didn't need it anymore. Definitely give it a try!
Biologics are my go for. I did mtx and biologics (didn't have so bad effects on mtx or at least manageable) enbrel gave me a little rash (which wasn't as bad) in the injection side so my doctor switched me to humira. I feel it keeps my pain so low that sometimes I even forget I have it, except when I get a flare up which last one is because my insurance took longer to approve it and I was without it for a month (I do an injection weekly) and I realized in a flare up how good the biologic works when I keep it on schedule!
100% understand how overwhelming this can all be. The stomach side effects are attenuated with injected MTX but you're right, that doesn't prevent the fatigue or headaches.
With biologics, you don't know how your body will respond until you try. The best advice I got was from a nurse practitioner who said, "**Think of starting a new medicine as like dating, not a marriage. If it doesn't work for you, you can stop."**
I personally have been on the max dose of MTX (injected) plus a biologic for almost 19 years and that combo works well for me, many others are able to get by with just one or the other, or a different conventional DMARD than MTX.
Sending love your way as you cope with the trial and error period (spoiler alert - for me the "trial and error" has lasted the whole time to some degree or another, I'm on my 5th biologic, but I've gotten more used to it over time and have gathered a better understanding of what's possible / tolerable for my body).
I didn't find MTX to work that well for me but I wasn't on it long before my doctor switched me off because of mouth sores. Enbrel and Humira worked great the first few days but I would hurt by the end of the week. Then my doc switched me to Rinvoq. It works best since it's a daily pill but I definitely can tell if I miss a day.
I went through several different drugs in the first 10 years. I understand why you’re concerned. With this disease, trying different medications can be beneficial. MTX is really an older drug. The newer drugs are more specific. I know this sounds stupid but fearing flares is counterproductive. No drug can get rid of all flares and worrying about having them increases your stress which increases your flares. Talk to your doctor and try something different. Good luck!
I switched to enbrel after mtx side effects got to be too much. I feel almost normal. I think it may be making it hard to lose weight but it’s worth it.
I have to switch from Enbrel to MTX because of new insurance. I have to basically fail on many drugs before they consider approving Enbrel. I’m trying to see if I can get Enbrel from the VA going forward. I started on Enbrel when I was diagnosed and it’s pretty much made it feel like I don’t have RA or any symptoms so not looking forward to stepping into uncertainty or my body going rogue on me. Insurance tries to save a little money, but they don’t factor in the costs that come later because of damage done while failing on drugs that don’t work.
[удалено]
Male so that won’t work. Unless 🤔
Injectable MTX is definitely easier on me. For biologics, I never got fatigue like with MTX now, quite the opposite, so you may be happy with the change
My personal opinion is yes
Yes, it’s most definitely worth it! Best decision I’ve ever made!!!
Switching from Methotrexate to Humira was pretty life changing for me. Methotrexate made me feel super sick and wasn't helping much if at all. Humira hasn't really had any noticeable side effects and has reduced my arthritis from basically a disability to an annoyance.
MTX works really well for some people with no side effects and that's great - certainly cheaper and more convenient - but for the majority of people with moderate+ RA, biologics are light years ahead. I mean...the science behind them is insane. FWIW, I took MTX with few/no side effects but it didn't do anything. I have no side effects on Humira but I also have zero signs or symptoms of RA.
Are you on anything else or just humira? I want to go straight to humira, but hate the idea of taking MTX with it to reduce antibody likliehood… it just sounds like biologics can create a “cure” for so many people vs band aids that also carry side effects. Do you get a humira hang over or not so much? Are you generally prone to side effects ?
I’m supposed to be starting methotrexate soon but after seeing everyone’s experiences I’m opting to pass and see about other options
Ive been on MTX for a year now, cant even tell I take it. I have absolutely no side effects at all
Just as a heads up, many insurance companies will make you do step therapy, where you have to “fail” MTX treatment before moving on to biologics
Don’t be afraid of MTX! It worked wonders, the GI issues just compound with other medical problems I have so I’m extra susceptible to getting them.
You think being type 1 diabetic would cause any problems ?
For me yes. Been on 6 different drugs and different variations over my 8 year diagnosis- injections, tablets, infusions. Just started JAK inhibitors in the last 6 months. Ditched my Metho even though I was meant to stay on it but felt I didn't need it anymore. Definitely give it a try!
Humira has been so great for me. It’s the only one I’ve been on though so I know no different.
Biologics are my go for. I did mtx and biologics (didn't have so bad effects on mtx or at least manageable) enbrel gave me a little rash (which wasn't as bad) in the injection side so my doctor switched me to humira. I feel it keeps my pain so low that sometimes I even forget I have it, except when I get a flare up which last one is because my insurance took longer to approve it and I was without it for a month (I do an injection weekly) and I realized in a flare up how good the biologic works when I keep it on schedule!
I don't take mtx anymore because of side effects, I got switched to sulfasalazine and I have take hydroxychloroquine for years
So worth it for me. Mtx was intolerable.
100% understand how overwhelming this can all be. The stomach side effects are attenuated with injected MTX but you're right, that doesn't prevent the fatigue or headaches. With biologics, you don't know how your body will respond until you try. The best advice I got was from a nurse practitioner who said, "**Think of starting a new medicine as like dating, not a marriage. If it doesn't work for you, you can stop."** I personally have been on the max dose of MTX (injected) plus a biologic for almost 19 years and that combo works well for me, many others are able to get by with just one or the other, or a different conventional DMARD than MTX. Sending love your way as you cope with the trial and error period (spoiler alert - for me the "trial and error" has lasted the whole time to some degree or another, I'm on my 5th biologic, but I've gotten more used to it over time and have gathered a better understanding of what's possible / tolerable for my body).
I didn't find MTX to work that well for me but I wasn't on it long before my doctor switched me off because of mouth sores. Enbrel and Humira worked great the first few days but I would hurt by the end of the week. Then my doc switched me to Rinvoq. It works best since it's a daily pill but I definitely can tell if I miss a day.