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Supplements?

Posted , 11 users are following.

ChemicalsChris
ChemicalsChris

Hello.

After my recent RA diagnosis and starting MTX yesterday, Im wondering what supplements people are taking?

So far I have vitamin D, a fish oil capsule (but unsure which one to get), turmeric, a probiotic and b complex. Is there anything else I should be taking - calcium maybe?

any help appreciated smile

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • natasa24657
    natasa24657 ChemicalsChris

    Posted

    Hi Chris

    Are you taking folic acid. Krill oil tablets are good. I also take (trifled with glucosamine for joint care and magnesium and copper)

    • mary76396
      mary76396 natasa24657

      Posted

      I was taking folic once a week too (day after MTX) but had problems with

      ​liver so was taken off MTX for a while. I have just gone back on a reduced dose and told my rheumy that most of the people on this site took it every day (except MTX day) and she agreed, due next lot of bloods so will be interesting to see if it has helped.

    • mary76396
      mary76396

      Posted

      sorry not very clear, I take MTX once a week and folic acid daily...just in case anyone thought i was taking MTX every day lol.

      I am also on Cimzia injections once a fortnight, no side effects (thank God) but feel its really helping. I know when I am due another injection as I start to have pain/stiffness again and it goes off after the injection. ​I was also on Hydroxycloroquine but felt it did nothing for me. I have Palexia pain relief but only take it now at night if I have pain as I was having trouble getting up in the morning as I usually take Amyltriptyline (Endep) at night too. Last night was the first night without them and slept well....except my Husband said I shouted at him in the night as it was raining outside and I couldnt find my hood and said it would be his fault if I got pneumonia from getting wet (I will clarify I sleep inside-not in the garden)!!!!! might go back on the tablets tonight. haha

  • ama38049
    ama38049 ChemicalsChris

    Posted

    I would add vitamin C - MTX is lowering the immune system. Why are you taking so many supplements if you only started?... See how you feel and add these over time - otherwise you overload your systems and the supplements either go out as they came in or may even do some harm... good luck, anyways!
  • lynn15111
    lynn15111 ChemicalsChris

    Posted

    Glucosamine sulfate has been studied and is very good for joints.  Also CoQ10 and Pycnogenol.  RA people seem to be short of B6 in particular.
    • mary76396
      mary76396 lynn15111

      Posted

      My rheumy suggested I take B suppliments but I have arrythmia and it set it off again. If anyone has heart problems be sure to check the vitamin contents before taking them as compounds have Thiamin in and that can be dangerous. As soon as I stopped the B Vits the arrythmia stopped again.
  • martin_F
    martin_F ChemicalsChris

    Posted

    I take turmeric 95% curcumin with piperine capsules and I would say it's definitely making a difference in inflammation, stiffness and pain, you could try MSM, you can get info on this online.

  • timothy11402
    timothy11402 ChemicalsChris

    Posted

    I take the glucosamine, krill oil, turmeric (capsules) AND black cherry juice and pineapple juice. There is a body of evidence that those juices tone down inflammation and therefore pain. 

    Your doctor might want to put you on folic acid since you are taking MTX. Ask him/her.

  • goggi
    goggi ChemicalsChris

    Posted

    I take Vit D, Glucosamine&Chondroitin Complex, Turmeric, Biotin (for hair), Calcium with Magnesium and Zinc, Omega 3 fish oil. Often wonder what would happen if I stopped taking the lot!

    • shirlee86000
      shirlee86000 goggi

      Posted

      Hi I take

      Magnesium 250mg, vitamin d3 25ug, fish oil 1000mg, ginger root 550mg, Glucosamine 1000mg, tumeric curcumin.

      Probably too much really but my rhemotologist nurse told me not to take anything that's immune boosting, because I am on methotrexate.

      I am off it now for the second week as my enzymes were raised and have to go for another blood test tomorrow, they told me once my levels are back to normal then I will be tried on it again GULP I have hair thinning, my hands have these lump spots on them ( I have been told that it is from raised enzymes and will subside) but never the less I hate these side effects they scare the hell out of me, I never even took paracetemol only when I desperately felt I need it before I started on this medication, I took 6 a week so maybe they will drop it to 4 to see what that does I am not sure .

      Ginger root 550mg

      Glucosamine 1000mg

      Tumeric curcumin

    • shirlee86000
      shirlee86000

      Posted

      Woops don't know what happened there

    • goggi
      goggi shirlee86000

      Posted

      Hi Shirlee,

      I take it that it is the MTX that's on hold? Did s/he say the supplements are immune boosting?

      I only recently started the Biotin and the Turmeric. I'm exhausted all the time. Bloods must be okay as I have not been told to stop the MTX. I'm also on Plaquenil, Sulfasalazine, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol not to mention Amitriptyline at night sad

    • shirlee86000
      shirlee86000 goggi

      Posted

      Hi

      Yes the methotrexate on hold, I gave them my list of supplements and they said it was ok to carry on with them, typing this in the bus as on my way to hospital for blood test to see if enzymes have gone back to normal, fingers crossed

    • shirlee86000
      shirlee86000 goggi

      Posted

      Thank you

      Well I was just booked in for monitoring today but because of these funny very strange spots on the palms of my hands they fit me in with the consultant, which is great but he says he has never come across a side effect from methotrexate like it, it worried me a bit, he told me to stay off the beds for another 3 weeks when I was due to see him anyway and if no better he will book me in with a dermatologist, in my opinion it's got to be the methotrexate as I have raised enzymes and I personally think it's my body reacting to that but who am I to argue with a consultant. I have. Ever seen anything like it before they are like a square shape and raised with a red dot in the center, very strange

    • goggi
      goggi shirlee86000

      Posted

      Hi Shirlee,

      Was looking up the side effects of MTX and listed among the less common side effects is pinpoint red spots on the skin.

      It will be interesting to see if  those spots on your palms recede while you are off the meds.

      That side effect is also listed for Sulfasalazine. Are you on that med also?

    • shirlee86000
      shirlee86000 goggi

      Posted

      Hi thanks for replying, no I was just on methotrexate, my arthritis has come back with a vengeance this morning, I will just have to keep taking Ibrufen and paracetemol until I see the consultant again on the 7th
    • goggi
      goggi shirlee86000

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that Shirlee. Try an epsom salts bath. Also make sure to protect your stomach if you're taking alot of Ibuprofen. Take care smile

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