Arthritis Drug Side Effects: April's Story

Is it possible that April had psoriatic arthritis all this time, and that the skin plaques did not show up until years later?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE:

Years after the TNF blockers like Enbrel, Humira and Remicade were first marketed it was discovered that psoriasis could be a side effect. The FDA has told doctors to:

"Be aware of the possibility and monitor for the emergence or worsening of psoriasis during treatment with TNF blockers, particularly pustular and palmoplantar forms of psoriasis."

Paradoxically, these drugs are used to treat psoriasis and can be helpful. It is hard to understand how drugs used to treat this skin problem can also trigger severe psoriasis in people who did not have it to start with.

Is it possible all these miseries are immune system disorders? I suggest April do some background research on Vitamin D3, which is essential for a healthy immune response. Taking 5,000 IU a day can do no harm and just might make a difference.

Research in small studies shows D3 also reduces incidence of many cancers, especially prostate and breast, by up to 75%. Since it is so cheap, there's little motive for Big Pharm to study it. Instead some are trying to develop similar chemicals that do the same job, be patentable and sell for high prices.

People in our gluten intolerant support group with RA have been helped by a gluten-free diet. Medical studies have suggested a commonality between RA and celiac disease, and also psoriasis. I would assume that you have been tested for gliadin antibodies. If you haven't you should insist on the test. Also, Healthier Without Wheat, by Dr. Steve Wagnan, might be helpful for further understanding of this.

I was losing motion and strength in my arms over several years. Pain came with attempts to raise my arms or to handle small physical jobs.

At the same time, I found my memory slipping and overall balance going up and down stairs fraught with fear of falling. I fell several times going UP the stairs as well as down. I began a regimen of curcumin capsules and a homemade
mixture of turmeric and mayonnaise for use as spread on bread. I had and continue to have great improvement both in pain relief and motion. I can raise my arms completely overhead without pain. I also noted that the statin drugs I had been taking seemed responsible for some of my disabilities. At 77 I rather not worry about cholesterol and concern myself more with quality of daily living.

My ability and confidence in walking and managing stairs is greatly improved.

My best friend had rheumatoid diagnosed at age 21 when he left the Marine Corp. He thinks he might have had it as early as 8yrs when he used to sit in the corner and cry from pain. They were very poor and he had TWO paper routes and other jobs then to help support the family. He was told it was "growing pains". My feeling is that he probably had strep, a virus or fungal infection left untreated and it encapsulated/lingered and triggered his immune system to go haywire.

He was on crutches at times but kept right on working to support (by then) his wife and two children to provide for their future since he never knew how long he would last. Then came the drugs, methotrexate injections, then Remicade which had to be discontinued because of Lupus symptoms. Back to methotrexate. For the last year he was on Orencia infusions once a month which, like Remicade makes his hair fall out, his blood pressure is hard to control even with 2 meds, same with cholesterol.
After surgery and an infection in the hospital he got daily 2hrs infusions with Vanco-
miacin and AM and PM Cipro orally. He had to discontinue the Orencia for 3 months and had no pain at all!!! Could it be that these strong antibiotics finally killed the
old and new bacteria or fungus???

I now make him take Probiotics, aloe juice and persimmon "tea" because the antibiotics caused severe stomach problems and acidity and lots of vomiting after discontinuance of Omniprazole. Thanks to the People's Pharmacy we found out that it interfered with Plavix absorption/optimization and Plavix costs $160/30 pills! Dr. still makes him take methotrexate PILLS, 6 tablets once a week, even with Orencia. I don't like it but it is not my body either.
Good luck, April

I used prescription creams and pills, including Prednisone, for kind of an ulcer on my leg. The medication finally gave me a terrible itchy rash first on my chest, then on my arms and finally over almost all of my body. I thought my skin was going to fall off, it hurt - I could not sleep.

The dermatologist wanted to send me to a hospital. I declined and saw a Holistic Health Professional. He put me on a special diet (gluten-free) and a cleansing program. Within two months my skin was almost completely clear. The itching came back after a few months, but with strict diet and a soothing lotion it soon disappeared and never came back. I still watch my diet.

My son is 20 yrs old and has servere Crohn's disease, the G.I. is pushing Humira as a treatment but the side effects are so frightening, how do you decide to take something that may give you such horrid side effects?

The prednisone and methatraxate he has been on are doing him no good at this time. With Humira he may be able to say his Crohn's is under control but now he has cancer... there is no easy answer.

8/10/07 I had 3 disks replaced in my neck (with carbon cage and cadaver bone (which I did not want). By September I experienced psoriasis on my hands found out what it was (after being tested.) By October I was told I had RA and by November I had bladder cancer...

There is no history of any of these things in my family. It makes me wonder what could be the answer to all these things... someone else's DNA???? The surgery was done at southern baptist in Winston Salem NC.