DMARDs for Arthritis Q & A

Has anyone ever questioned or compared the efficacy of Plaquenil versus a generic Hydroxychloroquine formulation? Is there any way to verify that the medications being purchased through my local pharmacy are not counterfit?

Is enbrel made of fetus? That is what i was told. If so, how much percent are from fetuses?

I have arthritis and am being treating with methotraxate and enbrel which was working superbly until recently when I started having strange sensations in my head and experienced extreme fatigue which might relate to an increase to 15 mg for the methotraxate. I am concerned as these side effects somewhat negate the excellent results achieved so far. Could an addition of folic acid help. Many Thanks for your advise. Kind Regards Simon

Hi, I’m 19 and I was diagnosed with RA in November last year. Before I was diagnosed I was put on 20mg prednisolone, etoricoxib 90mg and co-codemol. Once diagnosed I was put on methotrexate and folic acid, with the aim of incresing the MTX up to 20mg and decreasing the pred. I was taken off MTX in January due to a chronic cough and little response, and put on sulfasalazine 2g. Since then I have been trying to decrease the pred. I am now on 9mg daily. Every time I decrease the dose of pred I have a flare which lasts for about a week. Does the fact that I am flaring as I decrease the pred mean that the sulfasalazine is not sufficiently controlling the disease? I have now been on sulfasalazine for four and half months.

My wife is in India and currently under the treatment of a rhematologist there. she is taking 7.5 mg of methotrexate every week. She is due for a follow up visit and the doctor had suggested that he may add Arava to Methotrexate. I have read articles to the effect that these two medicines don’t go well together. Grateful for your advice.

Can you take cough medicine or other remedies from over the counter, if you are taking enbrel injections (anti-tnf)?