hiya alot of you seem to b on a few different meds, i... - NRAS
hiya alot of you seem to b on a few different meds, i'm only on mtx at the moment, what r the other drugs for. is any of them to keep u calm
I'm only on MTX so far and I take Amitriptyline 10 to 20mgs which is an anti-depressant that also gets used for chronic pain and is non-addictive and mildly sedative at this dose. Otherwise just ibuprofen (meant to take 3 a day but I haven't been been lately because I don't like relying on it too much and it's not good for tummy) and co-codimol (x1 at night).
Hi jaqui,
I sort of laughed at your question, not that's it's really funny. It is actually very valid. I was very panicky and anxious when first diagnosed and my RA consultant put me on cymbalta for pain n depression include anxiety/ calm etc. Funnily my gp had suggested amytriptiline, but rheumy not in favour, had taken that years ago for depression and foundit great very cheap old reliable.
Anyway, my point is there is lots of help out there for anxiety re this condition, counselling might help, tho I don't like re hashing my life to strangers personally. Many people find it good.
Talk to your gp aboutthis asap because anxiety leads to depression.
Take care, Gina.
Hi Jaqui, I take a mixture of meds depending on how the conditions are at that particular time.
Leflunomide... Disease Modifier
Diclofenac... NSAID
Amytriptyline... Anti-depressant, muscle relaxant in low doses 10-20mg
Tramadol... Pain killer
Nefopam... Pain killer
Co-codamol... Pain killer
Lansoprosole... To protect stomach lining
Plus I take a host of other meds for BP, bowels and kidneys.
There's no point in compairing meds, there are so many available and doctors have their own preferance, plus, pharmacies in the UK are directed to give the cheapest available drug. It does however, give you an idea as to what's available and what patients tend to prefer for pain relief, but we always have to remember what works for one doesn't always work for another.
Beth x
Hi Jaqi
Lots of RA people take a mix of drugs to control the disease, drugs to control the pain, drugs for associated problems (such as anxiety) and for side effects (like stomach protectors). However, usually in England the docs like to build up slowly so that you take the minimum needed to control your symptoms. So don't worry that you're just getting MTX, they'll be monitoring your progress and if you need other drugs for the disease you'll probably get them in due course. I started with just MTX and am now on three different DMARDS.
But if you feel miserable, anxious and depressed then do go and see your GP about it as others have suggested too. Being diagnosed with this disease is a lot to deal with, so it's normal to want some extra support either through counselling or chemical routes. Please don't suffer in silence, as asking for help so that you can feel more positive will also help you manage the disease. Polly
thank you, i do feel miserable and depressed, but i'm not one for taking loads of different tablets. so its a no win situation
Jaqi dear one, You have already been given the diagnosis. Please don't say you are not one to take loads of different tablets. That is cheating yourself from getting the help you need, that your well-educated doctors and health professionals know is best for you.
None of us wants to take handfuls of pills, but none of us want to deal with RA either. Bottom line is, we have to. You have to. It is our responsibility to do our best, to be the best we can be and if we need help to do this, so be it. We take it.
Imagine being dealt a hand of cards. You can play what you have, make the best plays you can with the cards you've been dealt, or you can fold. Nobody chooses to fold. That's giving up. No, we do whatever we can to get better and to live our life to the fullest possible.
All of us here, hang-out here, to talk to each other, to report our pains, yes, but also to encourage new ones' like you. As you stay here for days you can see, we aren't refusing to do what has been suggested. We share the positives too. he comical too. Share whatever you want to, we'll listen (read 
) And we'll give you unbiased advice and suggestions. We all want to see each other be better, so we encourage each other. There are always new ones, so there is a wide range of ages and experience here.
We are teens, 20-somethings, wives, mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers. Even some men here, though they are in a minority.
You can guess some ages by what we talk about. Point is RA has no age boundaries.
Of course, I am sorry to know one more person has been diagnosed. I will do all I can to help make sure you live as fully as any other perfectly normal person. It is possible, so please do not despair.
Talk to your GP. He is well trained and experienced to listen to anything, and do what he/she can to help. Take your meds as prescribed, with a glass of milk and immediately forget them and do the next thing to do. The pills will go where they need to and so, let them
Please feel free to ask me anything, tell me anything. I will feel so much happier if I know you are. OK? All the best, God bless. Loret
Lots of people have already answered your question really well. I just thought you might find this link interesting.
nras.org.uk/about_rheumatoi...
I also know a lot of people take people take anti-drepressants too. If this something that you think you would benefit you please go to your GP.
Becky
I was always told by my rheummy they like to use three lots of meds to work together as a triple therapy, so MTX goes with hydroxychloroquinine and sulfasalazine and/or anti tnf's. Apparently they all work together.
I also take things for side effects, anti sickness pills and acid reflux pills.
Tk xxx
Hi there, I take MTX and Enbrel. I use Nurofen for pain but use the gel capsules to stop my stomach getting upset and only ever take them after meals. I used to have anti sickness pills when on MTX tablets but don't take them as on injections for mtx now, but if I do feel sick, take a spoonful of one of the proprietry brands such as pepto bismol which our pharmacist recommended.
I also take Zantac when needed for acid reflux.
I did find the Hydroxychlorquine did nothing for me at all so came off it after 6 months.
I have to take meds for asthma, thyroid, angina etc but these were all happening before I had RA which has just added to the general prescription list!
My GP wouldn't give me anti depressants - seemed to think I could get over the dumps myself which I can do normally. She did refer me to the clinical psychologist at the hospital some 6 months ago - still waiting for an appt. Just as well it wasn't urgent! lol.
LavendarLady x
Hi LL,
I know someone who has waited 14 months for psychologist appointment.
Hydroxy didn't work for me either!
TK xxxxx
Hi. I have some sympathy with those who try to minimise their use of tablets where possible. (Many of our RA medications are vitally important and I accept that.)
I asked my GP about talking therapies, and he put me on a CBT programme which you do online. After an initial assessment with a therapist, you follow a weekly course and you don't have to face strangers with your problems. You have a catch up chat with a support worker on the phone each week to monitor your progress, and make sure you are ok.
It was called Beating the Blues. Its an NHS treatment. It obviously may not work for everyone, but I believe it has worked for me.
So maybe it is worth looking into?
You can find a bit about it here, but you have to get referred through your GP:
Hi Again,
All of the above advise sounds good.
I do think that many people especially when newly diagnosed, may need a little help dealing with it mentally, it is bewildering and frightening at least initially. Personally, I needed an anti depressant, I knew I did! Lack of apetite, not sleeping, weeping, obsessing, lack of motivation, irritation, they were not symptoms of RA, they were depression.
I am glad my Consultant recognised it, and I hav'nt looked back, just gone from strength to strength.
FYI, at the moment.I take one Cymbalta a day, I take Plaquinil once a day. Methotrexate 15mg once a week and a Humira injection twice a month. I only ever take paracetamol for pain. If a joint gets particularly sore I take diclac with Losec to protect my stomach, but I rarely need that at the moment. I never take codeine.
I take the occasional xanax to sleep!! (my calming med)
The above has changed over the last few years and there was times I was rattling with pills, steroids included, but since Humira, things have been going well. The damage that was done, before things were controlled was done and I am living with that.
Take Care and stay in the day your in.
xx Gina.
