Hi all you lovely people. Hope today is being a good one.
I'm just back from my rheumy appointment with the consultant (last month was the nurse who increased my methotrexate to 20mg) and he's added sulphasalazine, building up to 2000 over 4 weeks and hydroxychloroquine 400. Fingers crossed these will do the trick added to the methotrexate. On my way home I popped in to the GP to hand in the instructions from the hospital and the receptionist, who is very experienced, was surprised when I pointed out that these were in addition to my methotrexate and not instead of. Any thoughts?
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Sumdy
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A lot of people have a cocktail of two or three drugs and I know many people on her have the same cocktail of drugs.Methotrexate is the first drug then usually other drugs are added. Nothing to worry about
Yup, common cocktail. I did very well on it for 8 years. I don’t think the receptionist is as experienced as she thinks she is - and shouldn’t be commenting on drugs anyway!
Thank you Helix. I agree and fingers and everything else crossed that this combination will as YanniBacci said knock this horrible disease on its head x
Hi. Yes when I first diagnosed I was on Methotrexate plus Sulphasalazine then Hydroxychloroquine added later. When these failed I moved onto Biologics. I think it’s pretty much standard course of treatment. Good luck.
Its nothing to do with her she is the receptionist not a dr experience or not. I haven't read the other posts so I don't know what has been said, this is just my opinion. xxxx
At a medicines review with my GP he did seem surprised that I was on two DMARDS . Not sure how unusual that is but assumed double or triple therapy has fairly recently been used by rheumatologists (and, from what I’ve read, has a greater success rate in many cases.)
Yes Bookworm55. Thank you. I'm thinking I'll be getting a call from the GP surgery pharmacist next week querying things as usual and holding up the prescription. A relatively new job in our surgery and one which I'm not sure we need. Fingers and everything else crossed that the cocktail works some magic. Hope you're doing good 🙂
It’s a really good idea to have a prescribing pharmacist in a GP practice. When I had shingles I was prescribed all the normal anti viral drugs-but was the pharmacist who pointed out that I had to stop taking one of the regular drugs I was taking until I had finished the shingles drugs. I didn’t ask what would have happened...... but I’m glad I was told .
Yes I agree AC but as with all things a lot depends on how good they are at their job. Ours is very nice and I'm sure he's doing his best so I'll say no more.....🙂
If I were you ...until GP receptionists are clinically trained I wouldn’t discuss your RD medication with them,,,,the majority are kind caring people, but most GPs don’t understand RD drugs ...let alone the receptionist.
The three drugs you mentioned are regularly prescribed together....& seem to work well. Hope they work for you.
When I was on Leflunomide one of the GPs in the practice asked me what I was taking it for ...I stick to asking my rheumy nurse now.......she might know nothing about the plague...but she’s right on top of RD drugs.
Lol! Thank you AC. And again I agree wholeheartedly. But I didn't discuss the new meds. I was just handing in the note from the consultant with the new instructions. The receptionist made her remark after I asked for my repeat methotrexate. She thought the two new meds were replacing the methotrexate rather than being added. It highlights the fact which I've quite often thought that you need to be on the ball yourself. Have a good weekend AC 🙂
Hi mate I'm crossing my fingers for you in hope the new script works for you. You wont want to know this cocktail did not work for me, but we are all different. Good luck to you
Thank you Grayling. I hope you've since found something that does work for you. It's so important for quality of life that there are meds out there that doctors can prescribe to give us the relief we need. Unfortunately, from the posts on here there are a lot of poor souls not getting it. Have a good one 🙂
I couldn't tolerate sulphasalazine or dolquine (cheap Spanish equivalent to plaquinel) got to the stage where l couldn't leave the house! Had to be within 50 metres of a loo at all times. Was actually told off by dermatologist who told me no one had ever told him they had problems! Google dolquine.... loads can't tolerate it!!
I tend to agree with those who clearly know it is not a receptionist's business to query on medication prescribed by a qualified practitioner...unless they know a combination to be dangerous.
The only problem I ever experienced on that matter was actually with a dietician, but I promptly set the record straight with her, above her protestation.
I asked her to either walk the few yards to my GP's surgery or phone him.
She phoned and my prescription stayed as the GP prescribed it.
I've only ever had to have words with the receptionists once with regards to the duration of an appointment and I made it clear under no circumstances would I discuss any medical condition with someone professionally unqualified, much less in front of a waiting room full of patients.
I never raised my voice or became rude on either occasion, as their jobs can be stressful.
Quiet but firm does the trick.
Nowadays, as I understand, the general practice with receptionists is to ask if you'd like a single or double appointment.
Thank you and will do. Our surgery has recently changed how you book appts. etc. and you now have to go online and outline your problem. Say what you want from your doctor and someone will get back to you. I'm pretty sure it won't just be medical professionals who deal with it but I suppose that's the nature of their job. Hope you are doing ok dD 🙂
The online part sounds good, if you can manage with sausage fingers, or blown up Marigold hands, during a flare. Lol.
I've been flaring for a few weeks now, but see the nurse on Wed, so I'll get some relief within a week or two...or the address of the nearest knackers yard.
I was on the Sulf for a few years, but it lost it's efficacy and causes more probs than it's worth and I 'm going down the Mtx route now.
Should be a giggle, I imagine.
How're you getting on with your cocktail, any better or too soon to tell?
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Nauseated on Methotrexate
