Paractin

[oldatwenty]

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with parActin - a homeopathic type anti-inflammatory.

Thanks!

Noa

[allanah]

Hi Noa.

I haven't used it as I feel it's really important to check with your Rheumy team as some even herbal or homeopathic remedies can interact with your Rheumy medicine. Just be careful . Maybe your chemist will know?

[nomoreheels]

I'm with Allanah on this one Noa. Probably the wrong person to be replying as I'm so grateful for the meds I'm on as RD is such a tricky disease as without them I could well be quite disabled by now. I don't think it's worth risking my future health for a homeopathic product which may or may not do the job as well as the NSAID which works for me. Sometimes it's worth thinking about such things as the other aspects of the disease, how it can also affect our vital organs & that concerns me when people choose natural options. Something else occurs to me, who keeps a check on any possible damage occuring whilst using homeopathic alternatives over traditional meds? I wouldn't think doctors or Rheumies. I've not researched that but it opens a whole new can of worms for their future & good health to me. Must look into that. Sorry, gone off the subject somewhat but it does make you wonder!

[oldatwenty in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks for your responses -Yes I'm with you guys! despite hating meds, I just recently started methotrexate (and thank G-d hardly feel side effects) I will check with my rheumy about any contraindications, but I don't think homeopathic and traditional treatment are mutually exclusive. My aim is to get off of naproxen, and heard that Paractin might be an alternative.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has experience with it.

all the best!

Noa

[Elleanor in reply to oldatwenty]

Hi there

I've had ra for a year now and hated eer even taking paracetamol! I am a qualified homeoapth practitioner and must say the one you are interested in is herbal so can't comment. I know herbal can have contra indications so yes def check with rheumy.

I am on mtx planquinel and naproxen but take numerous homeoapthic remedies to support my body as I'm a practitioner. Ifbu had a patient with ra I would treat them also but make them speak to their rheumy first to get their approval also. There are no proven contraindications with homeopathy but herbal be careful. Hope this helps x

[oldatwenty in reply to Elleanor]

oh - ok - I didn't even realize there was a difference between herbal and homeopathic

thank you - will check it out!

[angel-delight]

Hi Noa, I agree with the others, you shouldn't mess about with medications. RD is such a serious disease and needs to be monitored carefully. I have been waiting a long time to start on another biologics due to results not being as they should, but I wouldn't consider taking anything other than what rhuemy advise. We are all different, it is best to be safe than sorry. All the best, hope you get the right meds.

[oldatwenty in reply to angel-delight]

I do understand the potential severity of RA.. believe me - I almost died before they caught mine. (the inflammation at my top two vertebrae were so severe that my spinal chord and brain were severely compressed - to the point that the surgeon said I was at risk of spontaneous death without warning) But everyone's disease is different, the diagnosis is not absolutely scientific, and my Rheumy is not G-d. Its just hard to know what the best course of action is 100%. There is so much that we do not know.

I respect doctors very much, and usually take their advice, but I am always somewhat sceptical - especially since one doctor really put my life in danger by misreading my first neck MRI. But then there was another doc that saved my life

You are right, it is better to be safe than sorry. I'm trying and I do have a good rheumy that I trust.

thanks for your kind wishes!

Noa

[angel-delight in reply to oldatwenty]

Hi Noa, I am sorry that you had such a bad experience and almost died. I am glad that you have an excellent rheumy, it is so important. This is also an excellent website, I have learnt a lot by reading everyone's messages and everyone is very supportive. Good luck getting your medications sorted. You did the right thing to ask the question. All the

best to you.x

[allanah]

hi old at, (I'm guessing you are about 20?) when you have just started the mtx it as you maybe know can take a few weeks to get into your system so you might have a few sore periods in that time. So i do think its important to have good pain relief whether your rhueumy agrees that's homoeopathic, herbal or mainstream, and at your age particularly so it doesn't affect your life style so much.

I think having that chat with the rheumy or gp about your pain relief will be very helpful. You may need something that is good far pain, but you can have a night out without feeling drowsy and you can have a small amount of alcohol possible(although I know the guidelines say don't drink on mtx, my rheumy and this is maybe just for me allowed me two glasses of wine per week, (but you must check others don't allow any! as in some cases it can affect your liver.)

If what i'm saying is striking a chord with you , you may even have to chat with your rheumy about your lifestyle at 20 i presume you go out and whilst your feeling tired and sore this might be difficult for you? And..( this was personal to me),I did not wish to abstain from alcohol all my life, and asked the reuhumy to switch me to another dmard on which i could drink and it still helped my pain and swelling. Now, as your just on it now he may not wish too, but its definitely a conversation i feel I had to have. Its a lifelong condition and for me the meds have to suit me, my pain and my lifestyle.

i hope the meds kick in and you have the chat about your meds and painkillers very soon, lot of love.

[oldatwenty in reply to allanah]

Hi Allanah, yes I am just twenty years old (and feeling younger than ever with this RA

the mtx actually does seem to work a bit already, which is great - but I hope to see even better results in a few weeks!

as for drinking, I actually had in mind to ask my rheumy. I'm not a serious drinker, but do enjoy a small drink now and then.

yes, having RA at 20 definitely presents different challenges than having it later on...

I can't say its easy, especially since I am trying not to spread the news to everyone I know. But my close family and friends are very supportive.

I will be sure to have another talk with my rheumy at our next appointment.

Thank you so much for your advice and support - it is so appreciated!

noa