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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suffering From Rheumatoid Arthritis And Hypertension. Taking Calcium, Folitrax And Defcort. What Are The Side Effects? Swelling And Pain In The Finger Joints

i am 50 yr old female . i am suffering from rhumatoid arthiritis from past 1 and half yrs i am on hcqs 400 per day calcium and defcort 6 mg half tab alternate day but still finger joints of hand are slightly swollen and some pain in ankle doc has advised folitrax 7.5 mg per week i am worried abt side effects i am also hypertensive and on medication . please advise abt the line of treatment and precautons and side effects
Mon, 10 Dec 2012
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello
Methotrexate is one of he very important drug in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.
In fact this drug should have been started right on first day when your RA was diagnosed.
Although methotrexate has various side effects but generally it is tolerated very well.
You may take methotrexate in the dose of 15 mg once a week along with folic acid 5 mg once a week.( it helps in reducing the side effects of methotrexate ).
The most common side effects of methotrexate are
Nausea
Liver damage
Lung disease
Sores on skin and in the mouth
Hair loss
A regular blood counts and liver function tests are done on regular basis to look for any serious side effects.
Thanks


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Suffering From Rheumatoid Arthritis And Hypertension. Taking Calcium, Folitrax And Defcort. What Are The Side Effects? Swelling And Pain In The Finger Joints

Hello Methotrexate is one of he very important drug in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. In fact this drug should have been started right on first day when your RA was diagnosed. Although methotrexate has various side effects but generally it is tolerated very well. You may take methotrexate in the dose of 15 mg once a week along with folic acid 5 mg once a week.( it helps in reducing the side effects of methotrexate ). The most common side effects of methotrexate are Nausea Liver damage Lung disease Sores on skin and in the mouth Hair loss A regular blood counts and liver function tests are done on regular basis to look for any serious side effects. Thanks