I have been offered 2 drugs for arthritis, methotrexate and hydrochloroquine sulphate.Does anyone know of any other ones and what sort of side effects there are? Hydrochloroquinine sulphate gave me bad side effects so thats out, anyone got any advice on what any arthritis sufferers they know take?

isn't cannabis good for arthritus?? or have i got this wrong?

isn't cannabis good for arthritus?? or have i got this wrong?probably but i was thinking more on the line of prescription drugs from the consultant, drugs to stop by immune system attacking my joints.
I already have painkillers:)

probably but i was thinking more on the line of prescription drugs from the consultant, drugs to stop by immune system attacking my joints.
I already have painkillers:)

have you tried accupuncture ?

have you tried accupuncture ?
I will look at acupuncture am willing to try anything that will work . Though in the mean time I just want a little knowledge of other prescription drugs so that when my consultant gives me his next try at a drug I won't be in the dark.
I will try this one though Im not scared of lots of needles honest:o

I will look at acupuncture am willing to try anything that will work . Though in the mean time I just want a little knowledge of other prescription drugs so that when my consultant gives me his next try at a drug I won't be in the dark.
I will try this one though Im not scared of lots of needles honest:o

Well my Gran has accupuncture at the chinese place in Meadowhall and its helped her loads. (she has this thing about drugs)...

Well my Gran has accupuncture at the chinese place in Meadowhall and its helped her loads. (she has this thing about drugs)...Meadowhall does it cost alot?
I have a thing about drugs too but have conceded that I need them to manage day to day life the way my arthritis is progressing.Does she have it often once a week or a month?

My flat mate has a form of juvenile arthritis, she is on methotrexate and has been for a few years.

Don't quote me on this but I believe it means she can't drink alcohol, and it also affects what birth control she can take (sorry I don't know if you are male or female!?)

She is wanting to come off it for those reasons, and I also believe she says it can make her feel sick when she takes it sometimes.

Obviously it might affect you in different ways, or not at all, just thought I'd pass on what she's told me about it.

Thanks Lucymamba I think that my consultant is going to say I had better start methotrexate so its good to hear someone elses experience of the drug.
I was prescribed methotrexate but then got worried about side effects so I was prescribed hydrchloroquinine sulphate but that caused really bad side effects so they advised me to come off that one.They said they know alot more about methotrexate so in a way its safer to take than the other one.
I'm female though being on my own at the moment I don't need to worry about birth control:)

Meadowhall does it cost alot?
I have a thing about drugs too but have conceded that I need them to manage day to day life the way my arthritis is progressing.Does she have it often once a week or a month?


It works out to about 15 pound a session, which lasts about an hour or so atime but I think you have to prepay for the sessions.

I'm sure they'll give you a trial session at the reduced price.

My Gran goes once a week, usually does a 10 week course and then has a couple of weeks off.

I have been offered 2 drugs for arthritis, methotrexate and hydrochloroquine sulphate.Does anyone know of any other ones and what sort of side effects there are? Hydrochloroquinine sulphate gave me bad side effects so thats out, anyone got any advice on what any arthritis sufferers they know take?

Is it rheumatoid arthritus you have ? sounds serious, methotrexate has some serious side effects , low blood count, liver problems. I personally wouldn't take anyones word for whats good or bad for you when it comes to medication....just your doctor.

It works out to about 15 pound a session, which lasts about an hour or so atime but I think you have to prepay for the sessions.

I'm sure they'll give you a trial session at the reduced price.

My Gran goes once a week, usually does a 10 week course and then has a couple of weeks off.
Thats reasonable I expected it to be more I will be making my way to meadowhall very soon to enquire/book thanks .I've seen these acupunture centres/clinics in sheffield that look like they cost alot more.:thumbsup:

Thats reasonable I expected it to be more I will be making my way to meadowhall very soon to enquire/book thanks .I've seen these acupunture centres/clinics in sheffield that look like they cost alot more.:thumbsup:


best of luck :thumbsup:

p.s. its near Marks and Sparks.

Is it rheumatoid arthritus you have ? sounds serious, methotrexate has some serious side effects , low blood count, liver problems. I personally wouldn't take anyones word for whats good or bad for you when it comes to medication....just your doctor.
I know but my doctor thinks I should take it -methotrexate but I was hesitant because of the side effects which can look worse on paper so I wanted to know how people who were taking this or other arthritis drugs felt day to day.
They say its reactive arthritis(inflammatory) but its a bad case, they say taking these drugs will at the least stop it progressing further and should ease the symptoms. Its true that doctor knows best though- but i need reassurance.

Never take anyones word for it!!! Have you tried all other types of meds? I have chrones disease and took a while to get under control, didn't want to be on steroids constantly as I was becoming dependant on them (one of the main problems as well as side effects) had tried other meds to no avail and Methotrexate was my next option. Appeared fantastic, controled my symptoms but had constant colds, infections, viruses have never been so ill!?! but seemed a better option at the time. Suggest you do a bit of research, i can go through a lot of it with you if you want just pm me.

Was developed for cancer treatment in larger doses, is cytotoxic (toxic to living cells) and hasn't been around that long (about 6-10years) so no-one knows the long term effects it can have. It also has an accumulative effect and regular blood tests are given (every four weeks), to check the liver which is why you can't drink. Also affects the way antibiotics work and if needed have to take a different type.

Ask as many questions as possible, if you don't understand, ask them more questions. And don't let them make you feel as though your wasting their time by asking as so many do.

Good luck and remember the mind can be a powerful healer too.

nobike john has told me that methotrexate (MTX) was developed over 35 years ago for the treatment of certain types of cancer, it is routeinly used for the treatment of some forms of leukaemia but in high doses; a great deal higher than the doses used in forms of rheumatoid artheritis (RA) nobike john has been on MTX for two years now because of RA, it is a cytotoxic which targets the immune system because RA is caused by the immune system producing antibodies against yourself.

studies in the UK and USA over the last 35 yrs have looked at the long term use of MTX in the treatment of cancer and RA, no study has showed any major worries about taking it long term

it does affect the liver as it is a folic acid antagonist, so for RA suffers you take MTX once a week and folic acid for the other 6 days

you can drink alcohol as long as it is in moderation; no all night binges though

there is evidence that long term users of MTX have a slightly higher risk of developing lymphomas but you have to way up the risk of a deteriorating crippling disease which RA is and the extended quality of life MTX can give you as opposed to possibly developing a lymphoma

there are certain foods you cannot eat if you are taking MTX, ie soft cheeses, pate, foods containing uncooked eggs, shell fish of any form and that included crabs and lobsters

as MTX affects the immune system you will be more prone to oppotunistic bugs like colds

MTX does have some side effects but the worst of which usually pass after several months of taking the drug for nobike john that was tiredness the day of taking MTX

i trust this will be of some help

Best anti-inflammatory appears to be 75 mg Diclofenac Sodium but whether it is suited to your type of arthritis I don’t know. Mention it to your doctor and he will be able to tell you.

I don’t know whether it’s still available but another one is Votarol in capsule form.

I take codeine sulphate for mine. It takes the edge off the pain but can have some side effects which arn't to nice