methotrexate, along with other drugs.. is it safe?

[Kapil-A]

Hi, I have been on Sulfasalazine 3gm/day and HUMIRA ( TNF blocker) every 2 weeks now for over 3 months.. my ESR got controlled but CRP has never come back in the desired range.. now doc wnats me to start with methotrexate along with it.. i m a little scared.. can someone help me with this.. and how long these drugs take to cure my AS.. Would my medicines be ever stopped

[helixhelix]

It is possible that you will need to take some drugs for the rest of your life. Everybody is different, and some people can slowly come off them or reduce the dose, and others can't without the disease flaring up again. So just take it one year at a time, and try to live as healthily as you can as that's probably the way that will give you the best chance of coming off drugs. But right now there is no cure for AS.

And as for the risk of the drugs. They all have some risks, even aspirin, but they are generally very low risks. Methotrexate has been used for a long time, and most people have no problems with it at all. I've been on if for 7 years. It is actually been in use much longer than Humira which is a new drug, so methotrexate has a long track record of success. If you are taking it alongside Humira then you are probably only going to take a very low dose, maybe 10mg a week.

[Kapil-A in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks a lot

[Eiram50 in reply to helixhelix]

Hi HH

Is that a standard dose (10mg Mtx) to take alongside a biologic?

[helixhelix in reply to Eiram50]

Seems to be what a lot of people on here say they take alongside a biologic...so just going on what I've read here (so no doubt people will pop up saying they are on more!)

[Eiram50 in reply to helixhelix]

I wondered, thank you

[Kai--]

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Wishing you the very best. 😌 🙏 🍀 🌺 🌞

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[BoneyC]

MTX has been the best drug for my RA. I was one of the first to take it it and that was nearly 40 years ago. Dx at age 6, started MTX age 16, no internet, no leaflets and I didn't feel concerned about taking it at all. You might find it's good for you too.

[Yogi-bear123]

MTX with an anti TNF helps to stop your body making antibodies to the biologic....I sadly can't tolerate MTX...good luck!