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R Arthritis and medication - is it too much?

Posted , 4 users are following.

annemarie75
annemarie75

Hi,

Just wondering if someone can advise me on whether my mother is on too much medication! She's 59 and was diagnosed with RA about a year and a half ago. She mainly seems to suffer from pain in her foot with occassional swelling.

She is currently taking the following medications:

- Hydroxyctloroqine 200mg a day

- Folic Acid

- Salazopyrin 500mg a day

- Methotrexate 2.5mg x3 every week.

She also takes Levothyroxine 100mg per day for an underactive thyroid.

And Ranitidine 150mgx2 per day to counteract any side effects from the 

IBUPROFIN 3x a day that she has recently been told to take!!!!

Is this not way too much medication!! She has a blood test every two weeks and also has a vitimin D deficiency, but isn't taking anything for that!!

I am very concerned about the medication she is taking and especially so about the Ibuprofin.

She is also on Olanzipine and Citalpram for mental health problems.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • jo17130
    jo17130 annemarie75

    Posted

    I know it looks a lot but its fairly standard. I'm on a similar mix but instead of the ibuprofen I'm on naxproxen, and paracetamol and codine, plus still coming off steriods too. Its the best way to get it under control - agressive drug therapy - and once you are 'settled' (can take 6 month - 2 years...) they'll reduce the painkillers, but only when the inflamation is rare. Then some people are lucky and stay at that level for a long time, some for a bit and then it all kicks off again so new drug mixes are tried. If its working, don't knock it! Appreciate it must be worrying though. 

    Jo

  • bob_2020
    bob_2020 annemarie75

    Posted

    Hi annemarie i was diagnosed with RA in my hand and wrists just start of september there i am 49 years of age drugs i am taking 3 month course of steriods 200mg a day hydroxyctloroqine 15mg x6 every week methotrexate and folic acid as jo says there treating mines agressively so ur mum will be with the amount of drugs shes taking also
  • Light
    Light annemarie75

    Posted

    I take more drugs than these for RA... and some much heavier ones, though some of yours I'm not familiar with. And I don't take Ibuprofen.

    But if she's got a Vit-D deficiency why isn't she taking supplements? I'd think that would be quite important to prevent osteporosis and it's so simple to do..

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