Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment » Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs

Is Codiene And Codone (as In Oxycodone) The Same Type Of Drug?

Alan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:16:57 +0000

I’m a 60-year-old person with rheumatoid arthritis. I’m tapering off 20mg Oxycontin per day and would like to take something for the breakthrough pain. Tylenol with Codiene (Tylenol #1) has worked in the past, but I don’t want to double up on the Codiene if they’re the same thing. Thanks for your help.

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My Dr. Thinks I’m A Drug Addict?

Alan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:24:52 +0000

I’m in severe pain due to rheumatoid arthritis, an im also young. I’m 24 but everytime i go to the Dr. for something pain he’ll precribed me narctotic pain relievers but only 5mg or he’ll tell me to take alieve or something. The problem is i literitly have to take (3) 5/500 Dolacet to feel ANY pain relief. The pills he precribes me dont relieve any pain so i either have to take 3 of them or drink alcohol to intestsify the Dolacet . But he acts like i only want to for fun or something. Has anyone else had the same problem? I think its because im young and male that he thinks im just useing them to get high or sell or something.

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Interpretation Of Lab Results For A Blood Drug Test?

Alan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:18:48 +0000

I passed out in my car and got into an accident. I had a prescription for oxycontin, and it showed up in a lab test as being 71ng/ml. I’m pretty sure a “positive” test shows up at 100ng/ml, but I’m not sure. I have a court case coming up, and I need to interpret these results but am unable to find a chart showing different levels and what they mean.
My dose was at 5mg extended release. I have a valid prescription, a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative spine disorder, a positive history for TIA, low blood pressure, seizure and migraine.
I’m afraid if I mention this (especially the seizure and tia) that they’ll take away my license for good, but I also want to show that there were potential other causes for this episode of syncope.
If anyone does blood draws and can read labratory testing results, I’d greatly appreciate your input. If you’re “not sure” or googled an answer, it really won’t help me- I need someone who can read and interpret lab results.
All I have is a public defender, so I need to do most of the research on my own.

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Diagnosed Bipolar 1 With Major Depressive Episodes And Rapid Cycling. Feeling Stunned. Advice Needed?

Alan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:22:52 +0000

Sorry if this gets lengthy. Feel free to scroll to the end — the real questions are there. Thank you.
Those of you who know me from R&S are aware that I have rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve been in a blue funk, assumed it was my disease, and sought the help of a therapist. She recommended I speak with the clinic’s psychiatrist, and the diagnosis, when it came back, completely floored me. Me, diagnosed with a mental illness? Impossible. Or so it seemed.
I’ve spent several days learning about this disease, and in doing so, saw my life with a new clarity. The violent outbursts as a youth, running away, quitting school, going through jobs, getting fired repeatedly, alcohol and drug abuse, a suicide attempt … it all fit.
Oh, how I wished my parents would have sought help for me when they saw there was a problem rather than issuing beatings. My life (and the lives of my children) could have turned out so differently. I suspect my mother is also bipolar, and I suppose my father had enough to deal with. Knowing this does bring some closure to a very traumatic childhood.
With age I seem to have mellowed a bit — the manic stages being less dramatic but the depression worsening with each cycling. Still, I find myself irritable and snappish, frequently tearful, always guilty … These are things I will discuss and work on with my therapist, but she’s on vacation and I don’t see her again until the thirty-first. I’m seeking answers now.
For those of you with bipolar or another mental illness, advice, please. While I absolutely respect my therapist, it is you who lives with mental illness. How do you cope?
What do I tell my kids?
Can I learn to control my snappish moods, or does this come about through the use of meds? What coping skills do you employ?
How did you get over the stigma of having a mental illness?
I frequently misunderstand what others mean when they speak, cannot catch sarcasm, have no humor and take things personally — How to get around this?
I have no friends, yet I am frequently lonely. I will do all I can to push others away from me, and will deliberately do something to make them turn from me. I would like to be surrounded by others, but I have rushing thoughts and rapid speech. It’s humiliating, and I hate it. If you have gone through something similar, how did you get over it? CAN you get over the rapid speech? If not, then how do you learn to live with it? These speech patterns are present even during my depressive episode — it never goes away.
If you were diagnosed later in life, as I have been — how did your life change after starting medication? DID your life change? Does it ever get any better or do the moods just level off?
My apologies for so many questions. Please, pick only one and answer it. I don’t expect anyone to answer all of them, but if you could just lend some insight and useful advice, I’d appreciate it. Thank you for your time. All sincere answers appreciated.

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Is It Possible That Someone Experiencing Extreme Stress Could Be Misdiagnosed With A Serious Mental Illness?

Alan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:34:57 +0000

Especially when the diagnosis comes at 45 years of age, with no previous history of mental illness?
My apologies for the lengthy additional details, but this is important. Here is a brief summary of what has happened in the past 4 years:
Single mom with rheumatoid arthritis, a painful, crippling disease.
Widespread osteoarthritis, in need of two total knee replacements, various other joint reconstruction necessary.
No pain meds nor pain management prescribed by doctors.
Currently taking moderate, fluctuating doses of prednisone along with 20 mgs. of methotrexate (a cancer drug) weekly.
Feelings of guilt over how this disease has affected my family.
Inability to engage in many previously enjoyed activities. This has led to a sense of loss.
Mother has been ill during this time and has endured 5 surgeries.
In the past 90 days the following has occurred:
Found a breast lump with lymph node swelling in the nearest armpit.
Enlarged thyroid with thyroid lump.
Have entered menopause.
Monthly income has dropped by more than half, with total income per month at less than $400 dollars. Very real possibility of homelessness.
Strange medical and emotional symptoms include panic attacks, night sweats, extreme fatigue, insomnia, irritability, frequent crying, increased joint and muscle pain, etc.
Feeling depressed and overwhelmed, I sought counseling. My therapist felt I was simply overly anxious and depressed, and recommended that I speak with the clinic psychiatrist. She felt he may prescribe something to ease my symptoms.
After only one hour with me, during which he asked only 10-15 questions to which I was not allowed to elaborate in my answer, he slapped me with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, wrote a prescription for anti-convulsants and sent me from his office.
Needless to say, this has caused additional stress, and I will be seeking a second opinion.
My question is, considering all that I have endured these past 4 years, is it possible that the diagnosis is grossly inaccurate?
Might one in my position be expected to suffer anxiety and depression, and experience similar physical and emotional symptoms?
Thank you for taking the time to read that.

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Do You Feel Like The Physicians Work For You Or The Other Way Around?

Alan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:34:22 +0000

My neice has Lupus Erythematosus and Fibromyalgia. She is always in severe and I do mean severe pain. She had been seen by a certified nurse practitioner and then began seeing a new physician and always had a Rheumatologist. Because she felt as if she wasn’t getting along with the CNP, she sought out a new physician. She visited the new physician 4 times, got her medications and had just sent a letter to the CNP to inform her that she no longer wanted to be a patient. The CNP however beat her to the punch. She received a termination letter from the CNP basically letting her go in 30 days because of communication breakdown and narcotics abuse. Now, from what my neice told me, she informed the new primary of her previously seeing a CNP and that she was not satisfied. However, you know how it is when you visit a physician. You all might mesh and you might not. At any rate, she had refills on prescriptions from all three physicians and she got them filled, not all at the same time. But, she was so hurt because she stated that morally, her CNP had an obligation to speak with her if she felt that something was wrong, and I agree. She had been seeing this CNP for over 6 years and truth be told, was only seeing her because of a friend of the family. She is known in the streets to give you whatever you want. However, my neice wasn’t seeing her for that. I felt that the CNP threw her away as if she was a piece of trash. A similar situation happened with a friend of the family and through the Michigan Automated Prescription System, the state of Michigan notified her primary to pull a report from this system. The system showed that she was seeing another physician and getting her prescription with him. Because of her being red-flagged of sorts, she too was also terminated from her primary thus causing her to be so despondent that she blew off her head with a .357 magnum. Because of the doctors termination letter, she tought that she would never ever be able to find another doctor. Okay, now my neice has the new primary, whom she just loves and has her Rheumatologist as well. But yesterday, she asked me. Abuela (Although I am her aunt), do you think that I will get in trouble? My answer to her was a resounding NO! You have a right to go and see any doctor that you want. I did of course reiterate that out of fairness to the new physician, you should let them know if you still have prescriptions and/or any medications that still need to be filled. I feel bad for her because her conscience is soooo heavy. If it where not for patients, physicians would not be in business. Why do they act as if they are doing us a favor and why do they often treat everyone as potential drug addicts? My neice’s fingers are so turned and twisted, you would think that she has Rheumatoid Arthritis and I know that Lupus and RA are in the same family. She is scared to go back to her Rheumatologist because of this new Mapping system. However, I told her that she has every right to talk with her doctor, whether it’s doctor 1, 2 or 3. And if her Rheumatologist no longer wants to treat her then dammit, find someone else. My father always said, one monkey don’t stop no show! What do you all think yahoo community? Did I give her the correct information. I love her and would never intentionally steer her or anyone wrong.

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Pharmacy Question Please Help?

Alan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:39:24 +0000

A 60 year old woman with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis complains of fever and ringing inher ears. One month ago she was started on three (3) 325 mg aspririn tablets three times a day after meals. One week ago she was still symptomatic. Blood salicylate levels were measured at 10 mg/dL. She was instructed to increase the dosage to four (4) 325 mg tablets three times a day after meals. Objective data: Confused, febrile woman with tachypenea and arthritic changes constistent with rheumatoid arthriti. Plasma salicylate level is 100 mg/dL. Plasma electrolytes are consisten with metabolic acidosis.
A. At low doses, aspirin is eliminatd by first order kinetics. At higher doses, aspirin is eliminatd by zero order kinetics. Why did the plasma concentration of salicylate increase 10 fold when the dose of the drug increased only 1.3 fold?
B. The pka of aspirin is 3.5. What could you do to speed up the elimination of the drug from the body so the patient is no longer intoxicated?

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Whats Wrong With Me!?

Alan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:36:52 +0000

when i was 3 i was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (jra) i am now 13 and am in the 8th grade and i have missed over a month of school. doctors cant figure out whats wrong with me at first they thought it was just my jra i have done x-rays,MRIs (magnetic resonance Imaging), and have been put on every drug you can think of! Now i don’t know what to think……will they ever figure this out will i have to repeat the 8th grade!?!?!

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A Little Help From My R+s Friends?

Alan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:52:06 +0000

Can people with Rheumatoid Arthritis who take methotrexate still be blood or organ donors?
Obviously, I have RA and take methotrexate (a chemo drug) along with prednisone and ibuprofen.
For years, I’ve held an organ donor card and have been on the national bone marrow registry. I used to give blood, but no longer do because of anemia.
I’m wondering if all of this makes it impossible for my organs or tissues to be donated after my death.
Any ideas?
***I posted this in the health section about 20 minutes ago. So far, no answers. Everyone here seems pretty knowledgeable, so you are the people to ask.

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What Do You Think Of This As An Urban Legend Assignment?!?

Alan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:36:56 +0000

English 9
Miss Myers
Urban Legends Assignment
Victoria Evens, age 67, also known as Vicky to her family and friends went out to the drug store late one evening to get her prescription medication. She had rheumatoid arthritis in her left hand but it only came and went. After she walked inside and waited in line for about 20 minutes, she walked out of the doors only to find that three large men all wearing black were trying to steal her car!
She quickly walked to her car and pulled a pistol out of her handbag. She screamed, “I have a gun and I’m not afraid to use it!” The men had puzzled looks on their faces but ran away quickly. Vicky calmly walked into her car and was only slightly shaken. She’d taken to keeping a gun in her purse for safekeeping

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