Yeast infection and RA meds

[Dexmarc]

I seem to be having symptoms of yeast infection and was wondering if anyone else has ever gotten yeast infection from the RA medication they take. The medications I take are methotrexate and Humira injections. I take other medications for other medical problems I have, but I wanted to see if anyone on this blog has ever been told that they have a yeast infection from taking their RA medications. Maybe by knowing that, I can figure out which medications may be causing my problems.

[oldtimer]

It's unlikely that your yeast infection is actually caused by a medication you take. What is likely is that your body's response to this infections, like any other infection, will be less.

This is because of the way in which the treatment works - to reduce your body's response to the fact that your own body defences are attacking your joints (and sometimes other parts of your body). It does this by reducing all your defences, so that you are more at risk of suffering from infections that you might otherwise shrug off with your immune system working at full blast.

It is one of the disadvantages of the treatment, but (usually) better than unchecked Rheumatoid Disease!

[Dexmarc in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you for your response. I really should know this since I’ve had RA since 1990, but have never had these symptoms before.

[helixhelix]

I agree with oldtimer. The combination of Methotrexate and Humira can lower your resistance to fungal infections, including yeasts. And it also means they can spread further and more rapidly than they would in other people. Take yourself off to your GP and make sure they know what drugs you are on, and get it sorted before it becomes intractable.

[Endless]

I have yes but I’ve noticed it’s when I’ve been on antibiotics because the combo of the RA drugs and those means that’s the good bacteria that we all have, is also killed, so it becomes very difficult. I’ve had an ear infection for three weeks, with three different types of antibiotics and fungal infection just got add to the fun... 😥