Need Help with NSAIDS

[GMOM]

Hi, ya'll. I haven't been around for a while, so I'll reintroduce myself. Diagnosed 1/2005 with PA, very limited P. Was very surprised by the extent of treatment. I've had pain in several joints for years, but just assumed it was the result of getting older. After a couple of rx failures, rheumy settled on 17.5 mtx weekly; 2 m. folic acid daily, 6 m folic on the day before, day of and day after mtx. He also has me on mobic daily, with protonix for stomach. Pain became tolerable, and things seemed to stabilize. Here's my problem:
New family doc as of last month. He's recognized as one of best in Texas, and I really like him. But he is really pushing me to get off of Mobic because stomach problems are getting worse. He substitued low dose of Elavil for pain, but I really can't tolerate that type of drug. They mess with with mind, and it's not too clear these days anyway. Off of the Mobic, I flare right back to beginning of treatment. On Mobic, stomach is really bad and doc thinks headed for ulcer. Have any of you tried the anti-depressants for pain? Did it work? I'm befuddled about what to do next...both docs pushing in opposite directions!
Thanks for any feedback on your experiences. Much love and blessings to all of you who suffer with this crummy disease!
GMOM

[sonchi]

what sort of stomach problem do you have? Pain, bleeding? would stop mobic for a while and let your stomach recover help?

let your doc know that you are not tolerating elavil and it is not helping with pain especially if you have tried it for a while. Did MTX help you?

[jdgarwood]

Hi, ya'll. I haven't been around for a while, so I'll reintroduce myself. Diagnosed 1/2005 with PA, very limited P. Was very surprised by the extent of treatment. I've had pain in several joints for years, but just assumed it was the result of getting older. After a couple of rx failures, rheumy settled on 17.5 mtx weekly; 2 m. folic acid daily, 6 m folic on the day before, day of and day after mtx. He also has me on mobic daily, with protonix for stomach. Pain became tolerable, and things seemed to stabilize. Here's my problem:
New family doc as of last month. He's recognized as one of best in Texas, and I really like him. But he is really pushing me to get off of Mobic because stomach problems are getting worse. He substitued low dose of Elavil for pain, but I really can't tolerate that type of drug. They mess with with mind, and it's not too clear these days anyway. Off of the Mobic, I flare right back to beginning of treatment. On Mobic, stomach is really bad and doc thinks headed for ulcer. Have any of you tried the anti-depressants for pain? Did it work? I'm befuddled about what to do next...both docs pushing in opposite directions!
Thanks for any feedback on your experiences. Much love and blessings to all of you who suffer with this crummy disease!
GMOM

Hi Gmom,

Have you tried Arthrotec? It's Diclofenac with Misoprostol for your stomach. It's the only nsaid that I could tolerate and it's still working for me. I take two 75mg per day. Here's a link to it on Webmd.

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-5081-Arthrotec+75+Oral.aspx?drugid=5081&drugname=Arthrotec+75+Oral

Joel

[crimekate]

Hi GMOM,

I tried Elavil (35 mg/day I think it was, for 8 weeks.) It did nothing. The tricyclic antidepressants are the big fad for "chronic pain", but not all pain is the same. If your pain responds to NSAIDS it's not likely to respond to tricyclics, as these treat different TYPES of pain.
Good luck....

edited to add: another thing to watch for on Elavil and other tricyclics is that a common side effect is weight gain. This can happen even at the low doses given to pain patients. That may not be something you want to deal with, especially if it's not working for the pain!

[GMOM]

Thanks so much for your responses.
Sonchi, My stomach problems are pain, serious belching, and constant naseua. Actually gaining weight (which I can't afford to do!) because the only way to get relief is to drink milk or eat toast or crackers. Ha...it's alot like being pregnant, and at my age that is no joke! Family doc says it's just a matter of time until it becomes serious. I thought the mtx was working because pain has been limited and I've had more mobility. But, since it all went bad as soon as I got off of Mobic, now I don't know. Was the relief from the mtx, or just from the Mobic? I'm not sure.

Jdgarwood, Thanks for suggestion. I'll ask my doc about your suggestion.

Crimekate, Thanks for sharing your experience. Sometimes I feel like such a wimp because I don't seem to tolerate so many of the drugs.It really helps to know that others struggle with these side effects,too. I actually think I can handle the pain better than the way so many drugs affect my brain. But then rheumy says that isn't an option because my joints will get so much worse if I don't deal with it now. Bottom line, 2 doctors with different directions, and I'm in the middle. But anti depressants are not the answer!
Thanks again for all of your help.
Blessings to all, GMOM