Hello there,
Hoping you are all doing ok on such a rainy day! Thank goodness Spring isn’t too far away 😊
Just to ask if anyone has been able to increase their neutrophils naturally, via diet or iron supplements? Since being on Tocilizumab, my levels have dropped from around 5 to 1.85. I have read on here that has happened to others.
I’m hoping I don’t get taken off it before it’s started to work, that’s all.
Best wishe
Mine is up and down but no one ever mentions it. Are yours low all the time now?
Thank you for this question. I would like to know an answer to this too. Mine have also dropped on benepali. I was taking sulphazalazine previously and when I started benepali, I was told to decrease the sulphasalazine slowly then come off them alltogether. I understand taking both together can cause neutropenia in some people. My levels hover just above, on, or just below normal. My rheumatologist isnt concerned, unless they dropped below 1. However, I am , and it makes me fearful of continuing with biologicals. I read that exercise helps and eating foods containing vitamin B and follic acid might help. I am wary of supplements unless levels are monitored through blood tests. I have not found anything to raise mine, over the past year on biologicals. Sorry I cannot help. Good luck.
Opps . I replied to Kitty J below , when I meant to reply to your question, here. However, it is the same thread. Sorry.
Sorry I don't have an answer but would also be interested to hear of anything. My neutrophils have been low all along. Rarely getting above 2! My rheumatologist is ok as long as I am above 1 and that I am not suffering from any infections. I was told eating marmite can help and I take B12 which was allowed but neither made any appreciable difference.
mine regularly drops to below 1, I’m on methotrexate and Idacio injections. Not been advised to add supplements, generally told to miss a dose of the methotrexate and repeat blood tests, which usually improves the neutrophil levels. The joy of RA, the disease which keeps on giving.
I’m on tocilizumab and have the same problem with low neutrophils. Mine are usually about 1.5. The consultant is ok with this as long as they don’t drop below 1. I only inject once a fortnight, on his advice, and that mostly keeps them the right side of 1. Don’t know if that’s an option for you? I have been on it for nearly 6 years and it works well so I am keen to keep on it if I can.
Now I’m curious too as I’ve been on Kevzara which I believe is a version of Sarilumab for about 3 months and haven’t yet had results of my blood test or neutrophils. But am having my B vitamin level checked this week as I seem to get lots of mouth ulcers since starting this drug although it is settling more now… at least I love marmite!
I'm so glad Tocilizumab has started working for you and hope you have long-term success with it. It was a brilliant drug for me for a while - I think probably the most effective I've been on. I'm now on Abatacept injections and leflunomide.
For my neutrophil and lymphocyte levels I take Floradix, an iron supplement, every other day. I also take 800mg of high potency garlic and 5,000 iu of Vitamin D every day. Then about once a week I take Vitamin B12 (24 ug) in a vitamin B complex tablet.
My levels are never very high - I'm just about above the bottom reading - but thought you might be interested. Wishing you all the very best.
The only way to increase neutrophils is to either come off the drug you’re on or stop having RA………
No supplements will change how your neutrophils behave when you're on biologics which are doing a specific job and if they go too low you’re usually advised to stop the medication until they recover their numbers. You can’t stop having RA unfortunately so you can do your best for your general health by eating a healthy, well balanced diet. There’s very little point in giving Holland and Barrett et al lots of your dosh as unless you have been diagnosed with any vitamin deficiencies, or eat nothing but processed food, you’ll just be excreting your money down the drain.
If your rheumatologist isn’t worried about your levels you need not be either as he/she will let you know what to do if they go too low.
Being put on Biologics 
Grapefruit and methotrexate
Tocilizumab infusions
Enbrel injections- more painful than usual
Goodbye Simponi, going to try baricitinib
