Stopping meds with COVID 19

[Bookworm55]

Has anyone stopped their meds while they have COVID 19 ?

Have just tested positive for COVID 19 having been ‘pinged’ by the app and taking a pcr test. No symptoms so far. My RA is generally very well controlled by 12.5mg of mtx plus sulfasalazine but I am seriously wondering whether to stop the mtx for the 2 weeks that I’m contagious. I did this before after my 2 vaccine doses with no noticeable pain or inflammation.

Grateful for any thoughts.

[Hidden]

Conflicting information on this best check with clinic. Hope you stay well x

[Bookworm55 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Will try clinic tomorrow. I do remember the nurse advising me to stop meds if I caught COVID -way back in Feb last year but wasn’t sure if advice had changed.

[Mmrr]

I do hope you have a mild dose and are on the road to recovery, best che k with your Dr about stopping taking meds ?

[Bookworm55 in reply to Mmrr]

Thanks ! All good so far.

[springcross]

Sorry to hear that, good luck and I hope it's a mild one. Check with your Rheumatology department.

[Bookworm55 in reply to springcross]

Thank you.

[Pinkypie2018]

I was told to stop methotrexate and my biologics for the 10 days but continue to take sulfasalazine. However I didn't feel well enough to restart them until 3 weeks later. But do check with your own team and hopefully you stay symptom free.

[charisma]

Hope your case of Covid remains mild and is over fast. With any infections, I was always instructed to stop MTX but not HCQ. I did not have Sulasakazine together with MTX.

As ever, check with your Rheum Dept or GP.

[Bookworm55 in reply to charisma]

Thank you.

[Sheila_G]

I hope you recover quickly and have a mild dose of it. All the information we get is conflicting. I am totally sick of it all. No-one seems to be helping us, no-one seems to know anything really. Who do you believe? I have no idea any more. Sorry! Just had a feeling of helplessness.

[Bookworm55 in reply to Sheila_G]

I know what you mean! When I ring the Rheum nurse (answer machine) I have a feeling that the answer will depend on who phones me back! I decided to stop mtx after my vaccine doses without consulting the rheum dept - having read the different advice that people on this site had been given. I was fine but have no idea if it was the right thing to do so I’m not advising others to do that!

[Sheila_G in reply to Bookworm55]

I missed the week before vaccine but I think I will miss 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the booster. I don't know if it is the right thing to do but I had to do that when I had my gallbladder out and I was ok. I don't even know if it is worth having a booster if the first 2 didn't give me antibodies. I haven't had a test but from all the talk about dmards and the vaccine I am not optimistic. So many worrying choices.

[Bookworm55 in reply to Sheila_G]

Interesting you should say that about antibodies. I have come up with no direct contact for my positive COVID test and none of my contacts since have tested positive- inc members of my household. So is it the lack of antibodies that meant I was more likely to catch COVID or is it vaccination antibodies that have given me what is so far a mild/asymptomatic infection? Both or neither?🤔 Who knows?

[Sheila_G in reply to Bookworm55]

It's all quite baffling.

[Bethany02]

I stopped my benepali for three weeks and was ok

[Bookworm55 in reply to Bethany02]

Thanks.

[Otto11]

Hi I currently have Covid & have had a call from my Rheumatology nurse to stop my Abatacept for at least 10 days & longer if I still have symptoms or still feel unwell. I hope you start to feel better soon. It’s pretty rubbish x