Combination of drugs? What do people take?

I have a combination of inflammatory artthritis & OA.

For the last year I have been taking Hydroxychloroquine with Sulfasalazine added in 6 months ago. I also take amytriptyline 35mgs, Meloxicam 7.5mgs; paracetamol 1gm/60 mgs codeine at least 3 times a day.

I still don't feel that I am on top of the arthritis but feel that with this amount of drugs I should be. I'd be interested to find out what other people take.

[Beth58]

Hi Pauline, I think you'll find many of us are on a host of different medications for various forms of arthritis/pain plus other health issues. I'm sure your doctor wouldn't dish out medications without good reason, though some do very rarely make mistakes.

For my AS, RA and Osteo I take 2x500mg Naproxen, 6x50mg Tramadol and 20mg Amytriptyline. I also take a host of other medications for Stomach, BP, Kidney disease and Heart failure.

Over the years I've learnt to accept pain as part of my life and usually manage it quite well though it does get me down especially days the pain is bad no matter what I do and during flares.

It's helped that I've learned to manage my life better to include plenty of rest time between activities (standing in queues, shopping, tidying the garden or even hoovering) I'm left exhausted after the simplest of tasks.

I've also learnt exercise is a must to help maintain muscle strength in the areas affected by arthritis.

Hope this helps

Beth xx

[helixhelix]

This disease is so variable that there's no one recipe that suits all of us. I too take a mixture, basically 3 DMARDS and the drugs to support them plus painkillers & NSAIDS as necessary. But the important thing is to keep talking to your GP about pain relief, and your consultant about controlling the disease, until you feel that you've got to the best place you can be. I've learnt that unless I'm clear about how I'm feeling they assume that's all's well. I've got a couple of joints that have been permanently damaged, so it's a question of managing the pain. But for the rest I'm still aiming to get the disease into a medically controlled remission - and when I tell my Rhuemy that she says that it should be possible so we keep tinkering with the drugs I'm on. So keep on talking to the docs. And as Beth says don't forgot the things you can do to hep yourself too. Polly.

[Hidden]

Thanks both of you - I think because my RA markers are negative I query whether I do have inflammatory arthritis - although my rhuemy says I do!

I've lost over a stone in weight & walk 50 mins plus a day with the dogs, but haven't learned to pace myself enough! so I get really tired & achey! I'll learn!

Will keep talking to both GP & rheumy.

Thanks!

[Beth58 in reply to Hidden]

Pauline if your having problems getting the pain under control your consultant can write you up for steroid injections to help until the medications kick in.

I forgot to mention I also have 3mthly Kenalog injections which are a massive help to the pain meds. I also take Leflunomide to hopefully stop the progress of the disease, sadly I have to keep stopping it for a couple of mth due to other health isssues. xxx

[Hidden]

Thanks both of you - I think because my RA markers are negative I query whether I do have inflammatory arthritis - although my rhuemy says I do!

I've lost over a stone in weight & walk 50 mins plus a day with the dogs, but haven't learned to pace myself enough! so I get really tired & achey! I'll learn!

Will keep talking to both GP & rheumy.

I had a steroid injection a few weeks back which did help but has now worn off.

Thanks!

[helixhelix in reply to Hidden]

I'm sero-negative too, so yes I do have days were I still think it's all a horrible mistake.

Strange that you aren't on MTX? Did you try it and not get on ok with it, or are they holding it in reserve? Just seems that if you're only on 2 DMARDs, and still with pain/inflammation then there could be other things to try that might work better for you.

But well done for the weight loss - I wish I could say the same. And I envy you the dogs, that's next on the wish list but not possible just yet. Polly