Connect
treatment for Rheumatoid
I saw my rheumatologist last week , he said as I am allergic to sulfa drugs there wasnt much choice as I couldnt afford the other newer drugs, so far I cant take leuflonamide, methotrexate, and hydroxy ( though he did say to get my eyes tested and if the test was ok I should go back on hydroxychloroquine but I know it initially affected my eyesight ( not as bad since I stopped ) So is it true there are no other drugs ??
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.
Connect
@tisme Can your doctor or his staff help you find out if you are eligible for assistance in paying for any of the biologics?
I am in Australia some drugs are subsidised by the government others are not seeing my family doc on Monday see what he says about it
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@tisme
My wife has had rheumatoid arthritis for many years. She has been on and off biologics. After her heart gets fixed, I am hoping she will get the newly approved device for RA from Setpoint Medical. It was approved in August or September and the randomized trial required at least a 20% improvement in inflammation.
They put a small device on your Vegas nerve behind your neck and once per day an electrical signal is sent. It might be worth exploring with your rheumatologist. Here is their web site:
https://setpointmedical.com/
I can't believe that your doctor would suggest going back on HCQ if it affected your eyesight! The damage it does is irreversible, can carry on even after you stop taking it, and it can make you blind in the centre of your vision and then spread outwards.
I can't take it, it went straight for my eyes and also gave me serious skin hyperpigmentation after only 10 weeks use.
If you really can't afford any of the other drugs, then I have my RA in remission, as shown on my blood tests, taking a cocktail of supplements which have all been proven to assist with RA. I take MSM, curcumin (not turmeric), liquorice root and cats claw.
The liquorice can affect your heart and the cat's claw can affect your kidneys.
These are properly tested drugs and it infuriates me to know that doctors all over the world are just bunging people on drugs that risk their eyesight and expose them to serious risks of infection, without being allowed (in the case of the UK) to suggest common cheap supplements that are known to work.
Talk to your rheumatologist about Rituxan treatments. It’s a cancer chemo drug but was also approved for mild to severe RA by FDA several yrs ago. I take for RA every six mos. 2 treatments 2 wks apart via infusion abt4 hr each treatment. It has helped me 100%. Most of the RA prescription drugs did not work for me. I’ve tried many of the drugs. Starting with “gold” prescription to placquinil (hydroxychoraquine), Ariva, embrel shots, but would have to stop due to bad side effects. Rituxan infusion treatments has been a miracle drug for me. Very expensive $100,000/treatment before insurance applied. It’s considered medical, not prescription. I pay approx $800 for each treatment after insurance pays their portion. Total treatments for the year is 4 treatments. I’ve been on this drug for abt 10 yrs. I also have a slight allergic reaction abt 10-15 mins after they start the infusion. My oncologist put a protocol in place before they start the infusion, they give me Benadryl and prednisone via IV. Then about 15 mins later start Rituxan. All goes well with that protocol. Good luck looking into this drug with your doctor!
my family doc said there are drugs I can take they are expensive but I can get the government to pay I need a rheumatologist to state I cant take the other drugs.