Is there anyone else on Etoricoxib (Arcoxia)?
Posted , 4 users are following.
This is my third attempt at reducing my Pred to below 5mg. I visited my doctor last week and she was surprised that I was in so much pain when my ESR was down to 5, and said that I should try to reduce again slowly. I was a bit reluctant to do this as I was worried about the pain getting even worse and having to go back up to a high dose again to fix it. She said try Etoricoxib (90mg) and see if that helps, while you gradually reduce the Pred. Well, the effect was quite dramatic, almost like taking Pred for the first time. Within 24 hours I was almost pain free!
I am now on the 5th day of Etoricoxib and have just started alternating between 5mg and 4mg of the Pred. On the second day I had quite bad stomach pains, not in the usual place for me but lower down, more like the bowel so, on the third day I cut the tablets in half (45mg) and they were still quite effective on the PMR and the stomach pains were much reduced. I think I will now try a few days off them and see how I get on then maybe take one when I am having a bad day or when I need to have a good day because of other commitments.
The leaflet enclosed says they are for rheumatoid arthritis.
Mr. A
0 likes, 6 replies
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
Like you (and many other people) I had great difficulty in reducing below 5mgs and had to increase back up to 10 on a couple of occasions. I would then take about 6 weeks to get back down to 5 and on the second occasion I was advised by the rheumatologist to stay at 5 for about 5 months before trying to reduce again. I then followed Ragnar's regime, tapering painstakingly slowly and have now reached 2mgs. I may have to stay at this dose for some time as I'm battling a bit of increased discomfort in the early part of the day in the top of one arm.
I do hope this helps you. The main thing is don't tolerate any stomach problems with this new tablet but rather return to your GP, and if you feel comfortable on 5mgs then perhaps you should try staying on it for longer before trying to reduce to 4. Very best wishes.
MrsO
Mr._A
Posted
Now am on half a tablet (45mg) of Etoricoxib for the 5th day and my stomach problems seem to have disappeared (the tablets are not coated by the way) and the PMR pain has returned slightly but still much reduced from before. Yes, I make sure I always have my live yoghurt every day; I prefer to have it in the evening after my meal.
Many thanks for your advice. I think I will give the Etoricoxib a break for a while and see how I get on.
Good luck
Mr. A
Guest
Posted
Etoricoxib comes under Musculoskeletal and joint diseases and is listed in non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs. It is for Osteoarthritis, RA with ankylosing spondylitis and acute gout.
Lets hope this sunshine continues - the spirits definitely lift and hopefully the pain though I am a lucky so and so being down to 1.5 mgs. But struggling!
Cheers to everyone
Margaret
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
I'm so pleased that you are down as low as 1.5. You mention you are struggling a bit and, being on 2mgs myself with a bit of increased discomfort, I was wondering what part of you is struggling? Did you manage to become pain-free when at 2mgs? I was fine at 3 where I stayed for a few months plus, but am waiting for the 'fine' feeling to kick in again at 2 where I've been for several weeks . It's only the top of one arm mainly but as my legs, touch wood, are still ok then I'm trying to tough it out but can see I will perhaps be on this dose for some considerable time. However, as you say, the sun is shining brilliantly (I'd almost forgotten what it looked like!) and that has got to mean better days for all of us.
Very best wishes.
MrsO
EileenH
Posted
The vast majority of the data sheets which are included in the BNF can be found on the Internet by googling the drug name and going through the things that come up - don't ever stop at page one as the information may well be the 40th listing! And since everyone who reads this obviously has access to to tinternet it'll save you the £30 and remains up-to-date. The BNF is published annually so you have to keep getting it to get the latest info. In addition, you will also find information from other sources, support groups in other countries (Canada and New Zealand spring to mind as ones with excellent rheumatology/arthritis information) and medical sources such as the Mayo clinic which may have information which is not biased by the desire to sell the company's drug. Even the data sheets miss out some information which might be interesting - for example, they do not usually include any info about the experiences with a relatively new drug after its launch onto the market.
Caution - do beware some of the \"alternative therapy\" sites but you'll soon learn to identify the maybe slightly dodgy ones!
happy searching,
Eileen
Guest
Posted
I was a gambolling lamb (mutton probably as am sixty eight - the programme won't let me put my age in numbers and pops in a face) on 3 mgs and fairly sprightly on 2mgs but have pain in my right shoulder and neck and hips. Though think the left hip is normal old aged arthritis. Saw the rheumy at Addenbrookes in January and he suggested I go down to 1 mg over the next two months but didn't say what to do about the remaining four months before my next appt. So being a cautious soul will take the 6 months to get down to 1. I asked my husband (dr) whether I would be producing my own cortizone with the 1.5 as a top up (or the other way round) and he said yes. I know you are not supposed to stop completely without medical supervision. Sadly I cannot blame my rotund shape on steroids anymore but have to admit to the deadly sin of gluttony plus a large dose of sloth.
The sun seems to have decided it has shone enough and disappeared leaving grey, damp cold which eats into you. Not good for the spirits or the pain.
Good luck with your reduction programme and lets hope you soon hit the 'nul point'
Margaret