Do meds really stop working?? Or is it that our condition has worsened so they can't keep up??

[Deminem]

Hi all

I read this here a lot. Never sure whats really going on when we(including me)say...My medication isn't working well anymore, or indeed stopped working.

Is it even a possible scenario? Can meds just stop working, or is it disease progression. That our condition is in a flare so what med worked before, is now groaning under pressure of the new situation. Maybe it's a resistance issue? I don't know!

Any thought, ideas?

D

PS Above is my soul cat Luna when she was cat napping, much like her mother(me)does more frequently these days

[Simba1992]

This is the unfortunate truth, meds usually stop working at some point, then you need to try something else and there are a lot of options out there when you chosen the med route. Often though it may help for longerlasting efficacy when you combine dietary modifications with the meds.

[Deminem in reply to Simba1992]

Hi Simba

Thanks for reply.

You say they stop working, do you know why this happens?

D

[Simba1992 in reply to Deminem]

What I have read it seems that science does not know. Different individuals react very differently to meds. For some the effect and efficacy is quite short lved whereas for others over 10years. New research on this front is however going on.

[Hidden in reply to Deminem]

I think your system just gets used to them

[LadyL0u in reply to Hidden]

Me too...

[Eiram50]

It makes some amount of sense to me that your body would become tolerant to any medication if taken frequently and over time? I think the bit about fearing is two fold - the disease is always there, working away in some level and it again makes some sense that if the meds become less effective, through tolerance / resistance then the disease, possibly more active, resulting in flare?

Now wondering if that even Made sense ?!!!

Marie

[nomoreheels]

It's a quandary. Half of me thinks it's not beyond the realms that our body becomes resistant the longer we're on a med but then again it thinks why hasn't MTX failed me after years on the same dose? Then again yes, if the disease isn't held well it can progress. It's not an easy question to answer. Certainly my first DMARD, hydroxychloroquine worked well for the first year then just stopped working, or couldn't cope with the disease activity, whichever! Heck I don't know, it makes my brain hurt! 😖

[Deminem in reply to nomoreheels]

LOL, your funny!

It usually is an easy answer, once you know it you think..of course.

Until then it's mind bending!

D

[Simba1992]

I think there is always a very specific reason why our body works the way it does, even in illness it's always a question of survival of the organism, even though we as of yet don't understand how. When we interfere with meds the body tries to get rid of these foreign intruders, form antibodies. Some of us have bodies that really put up a fight in others the war is drawn out. But sure enough our bodies want to get rid of the meds.

[medway-lady]

No idea but love the cat mine is in the kitchen waiting to be fed.

[Deminem in reply to medway-lady]

Thanks Medway-lady

Seems we have a lot in common, cat lovers, RS/AS, I'm in Kent, and I've no clue either

[Gnarli]

Reckon it's just another b*ggeration this rotten disease piles on us. It's probably spite.

Just had to say your cat is utterly lovely and am very jealous. I was born in mid Kent but moved away more years ago than I care to remember. Wishing you well

Jan

[Deminem in reply to Gnarli]

Thanks babe, she was a purrrfect cat inside and out!

D

[Gnarli in reply to Deminem]

Still miss my two.

[Deminem in reply to Gnarli]

Aw I no, I'm with you, you never do forget them or really get over the loss.

Your Avi puppy dog looks a charmer too I must say!

D

[Damaged]

Hi Deminem, I believe our immune system kicks into overdrive, initially due to virus (or hormones) still unclear. Not unlike a virus that mutates in response to antibiotics. Our immune system adapts to the drug then makes adjustments to work around the drug.

I would like to know how many others have never responded to drugs?

I am really struggling with side effects. It was my birthday yesterday so perhaps I overdid it! This abscess is getting worse as well. I have scheduled surgery for September 7th. Once that infection clears if I continue to feel horrid I will stop MTX again. It does not help me and I feel awful. I spent the day reviewing Dr Chatterjee's blogs. He is in U.K. On a program call Doctor in the House. Very charming and so straight forward. My concern is his statement that illness is an illusion ? Pretty painful illusion. He believes that all chronic illness can be corrected by lifestyle changes. Not yet convinced but cannot hurt to try. He recommends a 21 day elimination diet. No gluten, dairy or eggs. This is for migraines. Great site. Part of Interpreting your genetics summit.

[Deminem in reply to Damaged]

Hia Damaged

Happy belated birthday!

That's interesting and sounds plausible as to why meds may stop working.

I don't know the background of your abscess situ, but it sounds a pretty awful time your having. Ah Dr C, yes, I have seen bits of his programme. One where he quite upset a lady saving she's imagining being ill lol!

I have met ppl who say illness is mind over matter. And they aren't usually the ones with cancer or a broken foot for example. I'd love to show up then and say.....Hey your just imagining you have a broken foot, lets go for a long hike and you'll feel sooo much better!

I hope your surgery goes smoothly on the 7th. Do you have to stop MTX before surgery for recovery reasons? I recently stopped taking Benepali bcz I felt it wasn't doing anything except making me feel ruff. I did feel better for a couple of weeks when side effects from it wore off. Then my AS came back in a scary way. Showed me that the Bene was doing something, at the same time as making me feel ruff in other non AS ways. So not the best one for me. I hate how we have to literally lose years trying to find the med that works best for us. It's such a delicate balance, and then to think it just stops working is like a cruel twist of fate, or more like sods law imo!

D

[Damaged in reply to Deminem]

I honestly feel I just want to get on with it. Although diagnosed in 2015 I have been ill for years. This is why the drugs are just not helping. The "too late" category. I considered wrong diagnoses but CCP being 300 that is unlikely. It does not preclude having a connective tissue disorder as Nuclear AB was also positive.

I have been seeing fourteen specialists. I am just done with all the tests and drugs. I love my Rheum so been sticking to the plan. But two years without positive results !! Time to change approach. So considering this targeted treatment approach. Not sure if it will help but something needs to change. This is not living.