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This is horrible disease to live with-and worse without proper pain management. I've read so many folks here who have poorly managed pain. I recommend seeing a pain specialist at your local medical center. There are different types of pain; nerve pain, muscle, bone, joint, skin-with drugs that help them-but you need a doctor who understands this. I go to Beth Israel medical center, NYC, pain and palliative care center.
I do have bad days, but when I have good days, I can walk miles, and be very active. Our quality of life is so precious.
: )
Nancy
God Bless
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682019.html
OTC Vit D RX Vit D & is helpful seeing a psychiatrist for depression & anxiety meds. Try my suggestion on contacting Abbott Labs Foundation for help with your meds.Don't give up. What do all think of Methotrexate? I'm thinking about asking my MD about it. Anyone having adverse reactions?
I feel your pain.I was diagnosed with RA 6 months ago. Have your DR.Call Abbott Lab Foundation for those who can not afford your meds. You can also call yourself. They even help those who HAVE insurance. The # is 1-800-222-6885.Good Luck! Does anyone get jittery from Prednisone? I can't sleep even with 19mg of Ambien! Any difficulty with methotrexate?
Please reply!!!
My hair lightened about 3-4 yrs after starting it. No joke. And I have terrible ringing in my ears, which eased off while I was off it. It takes 4 months to get out of your system when you stop it. I went back on it when I crashed - 200 mgs twice a day. Since I've flared back in July my rheumatologist started me on Mobic. I supplement all that with my "reserve" of Darvocet. I have a terrible problem reacting to medications. My liver doesn't tolerate NSAIDS, so he told my to try Mobic for a month. I'll see how it goes.
Chuck
I have had so much chronic pain in my life, arthritis, in the neck and spine and joints, and so much other that it is too much to list, got sleep apnea and narcolepsy from not being able to sleep, massive pain meds and all the negative things with them, went into anaphalectic shock twice from aspirin, so cannot take any anti-inflamatories as they are all chemically similar to aspirin, had massive amounts of steroid injections in neck and back, and doctors now believe they were the cause of me getting The flesh eating bacteria and lost most of the back of my thigh to that from waste to knee, 41/2 months in the hospital, MRSA 3 times, Staph infections twice and one surgery to remove it. Lost most of my teeth from one med, only have 5 left, am an insulin dependent diabetic, so the infections had something to do with this, and the steroid usage, so cannot ever get them again. Had facet and ganglion nerves burned out of my neck 7 times, a most horrible procedure. Cannot have any kind of surgery as because of risk to additional MRSA infections again, possibly lose more toes, or foot or limbs, etc.
And my reason for writing is, for 16 years I was told to do this by friends and family and didn't until this past year, finally smoked Marijuana and got more and better pain relief than I ever got from any and all the strongest narcotics, up to 360mg of Oxycontin a day, and actually was never a pot smoker in my life(age 54) And since the legalization of it in places like Holland, scientists have developed the most incredible pain relief strains, and not sure about writing about what is legal and not in here, but seeds can be found on the Net from Amsterdam and many other places, and grow guides, etc., unless you are lucky enough to live in a 'legal medical marijuana state', but it isn't hard to find, and you must find what works for you the foremost, and I would suggest trying it to all, it does help me, over the addiction probs with narcotics, and all the negative things with that. Just my 2 cents, peace to all
Chuck
I was diagnosed with SEVERE RA at the age of 22, 1-month after I had my son. The onset was within 3 days. I had my doctors so shocked, they ended up putting me in medical journals. I have been on EVERY medication there is within the last 8 years and nothing has worked for me. Next step... trials...
I was diagnosised with RA last year, I'm 38 years old. We had been down the road with many drugs. My doctor suggested Cimzia, I had been on methotrexate but my body didn't absorb it. Cimzia has really helped me. Gave me back some energy, less pain. I'm glad i'm on it but it is expensive. I have no medical coverage now and I'm not sure I will be able to afford $1716.32 plus all the other medications. If you have a drug plan you should try it.
OMG! When I read your post it was like I was reading about myself! I have almost everything you listed and the things that I don't have that you do are just swapped out for other problems like asthma and sleep apnea and various others. I go in for my surgery on my neck in April for my "protrusions" and had my endometrial ablation quite a few years ago. I am on 11 various medications daily which I feel is way too much for someone my age (45). And yes all this arthritis and other various disc diseases, etc., are hereditary as I got mine from my parents and there is 90% chance my kids will have it too. I found your post while searching for something my dad can take for his gout since they have discontinued his colchicine. Thank you for letting me see that I am not the only one in this kind of pain every day of my life! Yes it can be depressing. I am on anti-depressants as well (three different kind actually) so I know that feeling as well. You take care!
Yesterday i started on the anti depressant Cymbalta which is supposed to help with fibro and musclular pain as well.So looking forward to see if it helps.
Prednisalone on my dog years ago, make his teeth fall out and his quality of life deteriorated so much he had to be put down.
what is it doing to us? long term?
I just found out last night I have arthritis, so I know nothing yet, and it was an xray I had taken because I thought I had fractured my wrist 3 weeks ago, when I fell into a pile of rocks. Since then my index finger has swollen so much, I now realise its arthritis.I cant use my whole arm or hand very well.I have a spinal disc protrusion L5/S1, and awaiting a neurosurgeon to talk operation.It is hell to live with. It started 4 years ago with sciatic pain,I planned a suicide, and the pain and depression almost took my life, but I did get referred to an excellent psychiatrist.I had a useless doctor! I also have chronic colitis, and they prescribed sulfa salazine which I am allergic to (that was for that condition) so its interesting to see it also is prescribed for OA.So I take nothing for chronic colitis, except iron tablets for anemia from blood loss from bowels.
I thought the anti inflamms (meloxicam)i tried were the greatest drug on the earth, except for the reflux, so I take Lexium and it works straight away to get rid of acid.But I only take the meloxicam sometimes because it makes me bleed more- also have menorrhoea- excessive blood loss from periods. Had an ablation operation which didnt work..
Once your immunity gets low, look at all the new conditions that come.If only we could get healthy from natural remedies so the drugs we take dont lessen our ability to help the body fight.I am really concerned about anti biotics, and refuse to take them, as they lower the immunity so greatly, no wonder alot of other illnesses arrive. I always take inner health when i have had them in the past as they kill all the good bowel flora- acidophyllis replaces.Surely they would weaken any immune system giving way to illness.So build up your immunity.....God this is depressing that so many are suffering so much pain. I had chronic fatigue when i was 26(now 42), but now I believe it wasnt that at all, because my pain and aching now is the same so it could have been arthritis all along.Doctors are pretty stupid alot of times, why is there not a data base of symptoms that they all access from the public like this forum! They should read it, I'm printing and taking to the doc.
I wasted $1000 on chiropractic treatments which did nothing.
But we get sucked right into the conventional medicine path, the drug companies make trillions and so health alternatives are not promoted.Its always the bottom line isnt it?
Has anyone even tried naturapaths and natural healers? We need people to help us who are intuitive. Our bodies are amazing_though it doesnt feel like it. We can be diagnosed from the iris-eye, not 10 different blood tests and other tests.Arthritis shows up in the eye.Our body provides us with its own map of health.I had an iris test 10 years ago and she saw arthritis! Doctors- beat that!
I am now searching for what to do about the arthritis, I dont get to talk to a doc till next week about it, so its pretty scary!!! to be left with this information from the secretary but no advice.I am in so much pain every day, arthritis in my hand is pretty devastating as I work online- typing.So this will be the end of my job if i cant type.I am self employed run my own business.Hours became less because of my neck and back pain.Now more. My mum had everything i have now,she just kept taking more and more medications, she died with organ failure!!! so it seems its hereditary, and my 23 year old son has spondylitis.What a horrible gift to give our children, poor breeding.
A lady i have been talking to has fibro myalgia and she recommended that lyricia.
so thats what I thought I have, now i dont know.All these mis diagnoses I hear about.Maybe i will see a naturapath and get diagnosed properly- the body tells all.
I'm sorry I'm not here to help with drug suggestions. I'm just in the middle of a big pain pool feeling crippled and hopeless with no clue yet, bit scared and just needed to talk to someone.One thing that helps me to walk and feel ok is a muscle therapist. After I have treatment, I am mobile again, and can get out of bed in 5 minutes not 15.My hips seize up most days and I am stuck trying to get out of bed before wetting myself! She is really someone who does help and i think fortnightly or weekly treatments fix me more than anything I have ever tried.
Please dont give up people there would not be these illnesses without a solution, in the balance of life. we just have to find it.
There is a reason for everything, and hopefully we can help each other. There IS a VERY good reason we are here. Louise hay and others cured themselves of cancer, so with the right tools, we can beat this.
Maybe you have ankylosing spondylitus. Its a rhuematic disease without the rh factor. The symptoms are the same as rhuematoid arthritis. It can take up to 10 years to be diagnosed and sometimes never. I know because I am a 56 year old female who has been diagnosed with it 1 1/2 years ago. I was lucky enough to go to a doctor who knew about it. Its worth checking out.
I was diagnosed with OA in spine, knees, ankles, feet, toes, wrists, well everywhere, but most severe in lower spine and knees. I am to the point that I can't do anything for myself and my husband has to do all the housecleaning and cooking and errands, plus help me with a shower and even walking.
I am in so much pain I can't take it, and all my Dr. will say is to take ibuprofen. It doesn't do anything to take away the pain.
I am ready to just give up. I don't have any insurance as I lost that when I could no longer work. just at my wit's end.
I was on over 36 pills a day for Lupus, Fibro, Diabetes, and all the symptoms they cause. I did my own research and found multiple herbs that cure and take care of the pain of all of them!!!!!! Look up Neem oil for your skin problems Neem leaves to cure Lupus, Fibro, Diabetes, Cancer, and even AIDS!!!!!
Arnica, mugwart, aloe, chamomile, and emu oil help relieve the pain naturally.
I make my own soap and lotions because they do not have all the chemicals that the ones you buy in the stores do! THEY use LYE to make soap. Cos-tic LYE. Most of our illnesses are caused by what we eat the fertilizers they put in our food and the hormones they give our meat. Even to feed chickens cyanide in small traces so they lay more than one egg a day!
Don't believe me...... do your own research. Please do yourself a favor LOOK UP NEEM and see what it can do to relieve your pain! You can even grown your own tree, they grown quickly. So you don't have to pay anyone to heal you! good luck in life and I pray you are healed!
Also, have there been studies done on the RH factor? on how it affects different people versus how high or low it is? The reason I ask, is mine is always the high 600's or low 700's and I am always asked how severe is my pain. I feel myself fortunate for I am usually not in pain except when I have a flare up about three times a year.
And also suffering of G.B.SYNDROME from Mar 2008.At present My Doctor prescribed the following medicines for R.A.
1.Calcium Tablet 500mg -1/day.
2.Folic Acid.....5mg. -1/day.
3.Misprosto 100mg with
Diclofenac
Sodium 50mg Tablet...-1/day.
4.Sulfasalazine.u.s.p.1gm-Tablet-1/day.
5.Methylprenisosolone.ip.4mg.Tablet-1/day.
6. Physiotherapy 1 Hour/day.
Now i am recovered 70% from R.A.
Please suggest how to recover completely from
R.A.
Regards,
S.RAJAN.
r/a, as you can tell i dont know a thing
my doctor is putting me on mtx 2.5 mg
also folic acid.what do you think,here's a little background. i've been going through this for at least 20 years i'm always in pain
in one place or another. the pain used to last for maybe 2 weeks now the pain last for a month or more, nothing i take helps. all of a sudden my hands decided to go up on me
and wont let go, i think my legs are going
up next.can you help
I too have OA in every joint in my body,my elbows and knees being the least painful of the lot. I've had OA for about 10 years now. I'm 50. It started in my hip and now after 10 years I have it everywhere! I've had surgery to replace worn vertebrae in my cervical spine but after 4 years the pain has returned.
I can definitley feel your pain! I was on 800 mg of Ibuprophen 3x daily and Vicodin for breakthrough pain.
My PCP now discontinued the Ibuprophen (alot of reflux) and started me on Ultram. It seems to have changed how I perceive pain but if I overdue it walking or sitting or standing it has no effect whatsoever. That's when I cry.
People, including doctors, have no idea what or how this pain feels unless they have it themselves. It's debilitating, it's depressing, it's disgusting.
I do feel your pain, honestly!
Brittney Urban
good luck all
In October 2009 I was diagnosed with lower lumbar degenerative disease. Since then I have also been diagnosed with OA, restless leg syndrome and ocular roscea, and in the care of a primary physician and a rheumatologist. Currently my meds for OA include: Hydrocodone and Meloxicam 15mg - both as needed. I cannot take Celebrex as it is a sulfur-based drug and I'm allergic to that type of drug [tightness in the chest and severe indigestion]. Has anyone had experience with taking Meloxicam for OA? It would be most helpful to hear from you.
Thanks.
Teresa Fusco
I was using relafen, prednisone, ibuprofen, folic acid.My Dr want to try another treatment with Rituximab but I don't becuase I want to have a baby soon, so I decide that I just going to stop any medication at all.
I started taking Salazopyrin (sulfasalazine) last night for the first time, only 1 tab though.
What can one expect taking this drug, felt a little dizzy sometime after.
I am also on Lyrica twice daily, venlor once daily, tripeline once daily, zopivane at night, some quinine based tab once daily, MTX 1ml(25 mg) inter muscular once weekly and tramal or tramcet as require for pain.
One hell of a mix, as what to expect with the new tab I do not know.
Had RA now (diagnosed properly) since 2005/2006, I missed the two year window though, my fault.
At 41 this really gets to you sometimes, been bed ridden on two occations and in hospital twice as well for the RA.
I had to change jobs to suit, no longer on the floor but in the engineering office (company helpd out a lot)of a aircraft maintenance organization, large aircraft.
By far the RA is worse now than in the begining.
Hope new cocktail works.
Regards,
Marc.O
When I started I couldnt walk unaided my husband had to lay me down in bed as I was unable. I could not even pull up my doona if I got cold at night.I was seriosly thinking my future was not worth it,but now I am 99% pain free.I do have a slight curve in my left fingers but slowly they are getting straighter.I'm not having any side affects but I always have my monthly bloods done so my doctor can keep a good eye on any changes
Last year I was experiencing some very bad pain in my back and body.. I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue. I was put on Tramadol, and Lyica from one dr.. Then i was refered to a different dr and was told i have sever arthritis in back back and hips so then was also put on lodine and plaqunil. so four different pain pills some days they help but some days they don't. Does anyone have any advise on what steps to take next? oh yes I am also only working pt and started working out. So sick of being in pain and stiff all the time. One dr said next step may be medical marijauna, not sure if I want to take that step or not. Iam also have applied for SSI and have been denied. Any help would be greatly appereicated. Thank You, DonnaMarie aka always in pain
Warm water swimming at a local high school $2 a day three times a week has been a Godsend.But not during this... Anyone have any suggestions ?
Pam
Please help
Don't discount the great alternative supplements available today. They can really change your life.
Take Care.
We are looking for an alternative form of this drug that we can afford.
Lee Reid
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