IC and Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds

[ErinBear]

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone out there has the combination of IC and RA. I have been taking sulfasalazine and plaquenil for years to control my RA. I recently stopped taking the sulfasalazine in an attempt to deal with an ulcer that has not been responding to treatment, only to discover that that sulfasalazine apparently has been greatly irritating my bladder all this time and I did not realize it until then! The bad news is that my RA is a lot worse, though. I don't want to go back on the sulfasalazine. But I will need to go back on something as this isn't working. I guess I'm wondering what treatments have worked for other people without (hopefully) flaring-up their IC symptoms.

Thanks in advance for any information you can share.

Hugs,
ErinBear

[Bianchi]

I have IC and RA. I am on prednisone and methotrexate. I used to be on plaquenil, but it made me kind of sick to my stomach. The methotrexate takes a few months to kick in though, but in the meantime the prednisone is working. I hate to be on it too long because of the side effects. Therefore I am hoping to stop it in a month or so. So far any of the medications has not affected my IC, I am even wondering if the prednisone is helping.
Bianchi

[ErinBear]

Hi Bianchi,

I imagine the prednisone is probably helping...it often does....but it sure does have a lot of side effects, as you say. I just took it for a couple of weeks and was glad to get off it. I also have friends who have taken it for a long time at higher doses and have had a lot of trouble with some of the side effects from it. Are you noticing any positive effects from the methotrexate now? I sure hope so. I'm sorry you have RA too. I send hugs your way ((((Bianchi))))

Thinking of you,
ErinBear

[photomom]

I take plaquinel for lyme and it helps wonders with my nerve damage and IC! Bextra was the best before they took it off the market!

[ErinBear]

Hi Photomom,

Thanks for your note! I'm glad the plaquenil is helping with your Lyme Disease symptoms and other problems - that's great news! It does help me some, although the sulfasalazine was helping me more...but it's not worth it to take the sulfasalazine if it is making my bladder so much worse. I was hoping to get in to see my rheumatologist sooner but he doesn't have any appointments available. sigh.

Thanks for your note....

Take care,
ErinBear

[Bianchi]

:) Hi Erin, the methotrexate has not helped yet, but the Dr. told me it would take about 6 months or longer. I am hopeful, however, since I have a friend who also has RA, and has been on that medication (methotrexate) for over a year, and she told me, she now can tell it is really helping. So it may take a while, but its probably worth it.
Take care, hang in there.
Bianchi

[ErinBear]

Hi Bianchi,

Thanks for your reply - I had no idea it took that long for the methotrexate to start helping! Wow, that's a long commitment. I sure hope it will start helping you soon. ((((Bianchi)))) I send you my best wishes - hang in there!

Take care,
ErinBear