Medication failing :(

[Ouchyjenna]

I'm have been taking benepali since Dec 2017. It never took the pain away completely but definitely eased it a bit and I would find the medication would wear off as the week ended just before the next injection.

They added infludamine but the migraines were awful on that so stopped that in October.

Since then I've been in a full blown flare, the absolute worst. My blood have also started to show higher levels of inflammation again. After speaking with the advice line they have send me a prescription for methotrexate 17.5 to add to the benepali. I'm sure the benepali isn't working and I'm really scared to take the methotrexate because of the nausea and sickness I had last time I tried it. I don't know what to do? I feel like they are just chucking medication at me and not listening to me. :(. Has anyone had this sort of problem and adding the methotrexate improved things.

Feeling so down and sorry for myself at the moment.

[helixhelix]

One of the reasons they like people to take methotrexate along with a biologic is that it can stop your body building up antibodies to the biologic and stopping it from working. Whether adding in MTX after 2 years can reverse this I really don’t know. Sorry.

Have they never discussed changing the biologic? As sounds as if its never been brilliant for you.

If you’re in full flare then I’m sure the last thing you want to do is exert energy pushing your hospital. But I think you need to be asking for an urgent appointment with your rheumy to discuss this. Presumably the nurse knew you didn’t do well with MTX before? As odd to start you on 17.5mg straight away.

[Agoodlife]

I do feel sorry for you. I feel piling meds upon meds doesn’t always help.It is always impossible to know. There are so many unknown. Factors. Both medical and individual.

What I have understood from the forum is that many not tolerating Mtx have a hard time with Benepali also those changing from an other biosimilar

[Barrister]

I didn’t feel that Benepali was working until Methotrexate was added. I’m now injecting 20mg Methotrexate each week and it has made a difference.

Clemmie

[Ouchyjenna]

Thank you so much for replying. I actually feel so overwhelmed when people reply on here and share advice, because I've been feeling very alone and sorry for myself so thank you. I called the advice line and they have fitted me in tomorrow for an appointment to discuss my options

[Ouchyjenna]

They are changing me to imraldi adalimumab. Fingers crossed it helps