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Rheumatoid arthritis questions
Autoimmune Diseases | Last Active: May 21, 2020 | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
Hey @ellenh, I’ve had no significant symptoms. Personally I’m terrified of getting lymphoma from DMARD’s. I refuse to start them. My rheumatologist has talked about them, but I shut down that conversation. No need for me to make that decision now as I’m doing ok. How about you? I’m sorry you had an awful reaction to Plaquenil! You’re not scared of side effects from biologics?
Replies to "Hey @ellenh, I’ve had no significant symptoms. Personally I’m terrified of getting lymphoma from DMARD’s. I..."
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Plaquenil is a DMARD. The biologics, I believe, are the ones that are concerning for lymphoma. I think DMARDs actually slow down the chance of lymphoma. But yes, I hate the idea of taking drugs for a disease that I don't feel I have. I asked my rheumatologist what the repercussions of not taking a DMARD now were and she said they were "significant." The purpose of the DMARD is to prevent damage to joints and the progression of the disease. So, she wants me to start before I start having symptoms. It's just a hard pill to swallow, so to speak.