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mjohnson
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Joined: 23 February 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 11
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| Posted: 21 July 2004 at 9:29am | IP Logged
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I was on Arava for 3 years and it worked well for me. However, I have since changed insurance and I do not have prescription coverage. Because Arava costs $250/month, I have had to discontinue it. Most of the other drugs are also too costly.
Does anyone have a suggestion for an effective but relatively inexpensive drug? (I know, an oxymoron). I've tried most of them when I had coverage.
Marilyn
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IndySue
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Joined: 23 November 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 36
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| Posted: 21 July 2004 at 10:35am | IP Logged
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I sure understand....I'm on Methotrexate injections which is cheaper
then the pills...Good luck, IndySue
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mjohnson
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Joined: 23 February 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 11
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| Posted: 21 July 2004 at 6:47pm | IP Logged
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IndySue,
I've been on methetraxate for many years. With the Arava,I was able to decrease the meth from 30mg to 15mg, but I'm back to 25 mg. As time goes by, it is harder & harder to give myself the shots. I guess my constitution just can't take it anymore.
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IndySue
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Joined: 23 November 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 36
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| Posted: 22 July 2004 at 10:40am | IP Logged
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I too have been on it since 1996, and it is hard to do the shots, but I was up to 11 pills at a time, and my mouth was so full of sores...
sometimes it take 2 hands to give shots, but money wise, its worth it...
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Rustigger
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Joined: 27 July 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4
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| Posted: 27 July 2004 at 8:08pm | IP Logged
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When I was on methotrexate my doctor also had me on minocyn. Worked for me. Maybe a combo will also help you. This combo is relatively inexpensive since they are older drugs.
Good luck.
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IndySue
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Joined: 23 November 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 36
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| Posted: 28 July 2004 at 8:34am | IP Logged
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my doctor is using a conbination of Sulfasalazine, Relafen, Plaquenil along with Methotrexate injections....wow, sure tired of all this medication....I know many of you are too.....Indy
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mjohnson
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Joined: 23 February 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 11
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| Posted: 28 July 2004 at 9:21pm | IP Logged
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Thanks you for responding. I am now trying Humira, I had my first shot yesterday. I'm off methetraxate (for now), so I'm also off Leucovorin. I've also increased my prednisone to 5 mg. twice/day. Let's see if this combo works. And if I can get the Humira people to sell me the medication at a very substantial discount.
Over the course of 25 years, I tried gold shots, Plaquenil, indocin, a green pill that I developed an allergy to, but not before I lost 20 lbs., Remicade, Enbrel, Arava and others I have forgot.
Anyone ever develope a Baker's cyst? It happens behind your knee and the fluid drains down to your ankle, blowing it up to a very large size.
The good news is, that after 25 years, I still have plenty of mobility. Even though I have RA in almost every joint, (and I should be on disability by now), I still work everyday, do yardwork, and aside from a "pity party" every so often, I do pretty good.
I hope you all are, too.
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IndySue
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Joined: 23 November 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 36
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| Posted: 29 July 2004 at 8:04am | IP Logged
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sounds like you are doing pretty good...Bless you...I haven't been able to work since 95....but then I'm 67 years old and it was time to quit any wayI sure hope you can continue a few more years...I too have had my elbow and knees drained...as well as 7 hand surgerys... not much fun this stuff called R/A....
hang on....maybe a cure is just down the road....Indy
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mjohnson
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Joined: 23 February 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 11
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| Posted: 29 July 2004 at 7:26pm | IP Logged
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Indy Sue,
Thank you, I am doing pretty good. I'm thankful for many things - my sight, my legs, my car starting in the a.m., I just have to remember them.
In September, I am going to Boston to talk to a noted rheumatologist. I'm going to try to get into a study. The problem may be that because I've had RA for so many years, he may want someone who has been recently diagnosed for his trials. I may be "too far gone".  Hey, it's worth the drive (about 1½ hours).
The hand surgeon said as long as I can make a fist, I don't need surgery. Another thing to be thankful for.
I used to wear finfer splints from the Silver Ring Splint Co. You're probably aware of them. But, my fingers hyperextend too much now to wear them. I actually liked wearing them.
No, not much fun this RA stuff. You just gotta keep going on. mj
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IndySue
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Joined: 23 November 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 36
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| Posted: 30 July 2004 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
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Good luck with the R/A study...hope they accept you...let me know how its going....they opened one up in Indy, but I would have trouble
going that far...don't drive a lot on the freeways...
stay in touch enjoy your messages....Indy Sue
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National Databank Forum : Arthritis-rheumatology
Topic: inexpensive medications?
