I have to do this regularly I tend to drop from 10mg to a 5mg for a few days as dropping down to 3mg could mean you get dizzy. Its trial and error. I am on Baritcitnib too and chest infections.
I had infections for the first 6/7 months of Baricitinib but mine were in the form of abscesses or a UTI. Like you I never had more than a few weeks without having to stop. Now either my body has got used to it or I’m just not noticing so much but I’ve been okay since Aug/Sept last year. I still get abscesses but they don’t affect me systematically like they did (fast heart rate, fever, dizziness) etc so 🤞🏻they will become less for you. Not sure if anyone else has had the same. Hopefully your rheumatology team are looking out for you.
Ah right, that’s interesting, so maybe I’ll get used to them and suffer less infections. I don’t see the consultant for a couple of months so I’ll see where I’m at with things then.
Have you been on the Rituximab long, how is it working for you and how many courses have you had please. I am due to start it in a couple of weeks and a little nervous as once it’s in your body it’s there for a good while unlike oral medication which you can just stop .
Hi …since 2019. Was on Infliximab for 7 years, then Etanercept for 6, Humira for 1 which didnt work. They r all scarey but I have gone for quality of life…I was in a wheelchair before. I have been told I can try Atanercept next, if chest infections continue. Rituximab does lower immunity.
This will be my 3rd biologics , I seem to do ok but after a few months it all seems to go backwards and more joints seem to join in, having said that never been as bad as you needing a wheel chair. Hope they sort something for you going forward .xx
Have you been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency?, sick day rules are for people with AI generally. I’ve been on steroids for 11yrs, and never adjusted dose for taking antibiotics, till I was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency. It’s a double edge sword, as increasing your dose will also reduce your immune system, putting you at a higher risk of infection. I would check with your rheumatologist. If you’ve been on steroids for a long time, it is worth getting a morning blood cortisol taken between 8-9am, and check if you are producing cortisol yourself.
Hi, I’ve never been tested but I was hospitalised NY day with a chest infection and they doubled my dose from 10mg to 20mg for a week. They said it’d boost the effect of the antibiotics. I’ll ask my Rheumatologist about a test when I see them in Sept..
I’m so going to get one of those tests, thanks. I didn’t know I could get one. I’m weaning down and on 3mg and haven’t had any issues yet but would certainly be interested to know how my body is going.
No that's too big a jump, I'm afraid. The thing is to taper it down gradually, it may take a while but it's worth it. Once off them, I never went back. Stick to your rhematologist's advice. Good luck!
If you have been stable on 3mg for say at least a couple of months it’s fine to up your dose to 10mg for one week and then drop back to 3mg without issue. I do it every now and then (after advice from my Rheumy) without issue.
I am in remission for RA and told to come off steroids was down to 3 mg came down to fast and had to go back up to 20 then reduce by 5 over 4 months am back down to 3 mg don't feel to bad but pain of osteo can only take paracetamol. When you've been on steroids for so long you have to come down really slowly and listen to your body. Just thought I'd say 🤗
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