Recurring shingles

[Jeremycfc]

Hi all,gone down with shingles, third episode in five months feeling lousy, I'm on sulfasalazine and mxt when I saw my consultant in January ( which I had to pay for privately) he suggested the possibility of switching to a biologic as the next step,he did mention one but i can't remember which one,wanted to ask what drug we're any of you good people switched to when methotrexate kept setting off infections, thanks and all the best Jeremy

[medway-lady]

I was prescribed Acyclovir after Shingles to stop it returning until I could get a vaccination. So I’d suggest you ask for a that type of thing if the RA med is working well. If not then it’s pretty much pot luck as they can make us more susceptible to viruses etc. Even with the vaccine it’s still possible to get it again so I was told to keep a pack of Acyclovir in the cupboard. I hope that helps.

[Jeremycfc in reply to medway-lady]

Hi,thanks for your reply, taking Acyclovir, usually takes me about a week to feel better,I'm hoping to get something more targeted for the RA ,here's hoping all the best 👍

[medway-lady in reply to Jeremycfc]

No I took it at half dose for years after the first bout of Shingles, because I was hospitalised with it.

[KittyJ]

Biologics can make us more susceptible to infections so changing from mtx for that reason might not work. NRAS have a publication about the medicines used for RA so it might be useful to look at that for when you next see your rheumy.

[Jeremycfc in reply to KittyJ]

👍

[Green230461]

I was put on humira. It worked for nine years. Now on baricitinib good luck

[Jeremycfc in reply to Green230461]

Thanks 😊

[Seatgeorge]

I got switched to Benapali seems to be working fine good luck

[Jeremycfc in reply to Seatgeorge]

Thank you 😊

[RAexperiences]

i hate to break it to you but i was fully vaccinated against shingles and got on a new biologic (abatacept) and got my first shingles attack. It was a very mild attack however so wuiet manageable. So not sure a biologic will protect you from attacks. That must be miserable. Best wishes.

[Jeremycfc in reply to RAexperiences]

Thank you, looking like my hope's were misplaced all the best 👍

[Angels54]

HI , I switched to Abatacept and was ok .

[Jeremycfc in reply to Angels54]

Hi thanks for your reply, have spoken to the nurses and they said that I've no chance of a biologic because my RA is well under control with my current meds,hey ho hope all's well with you all the best Jeremy 👍