the drugs do work....

...well sort of.... I think.... I hope...
I swallow 90 tablets a week, and take seven different drugs to control rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-

• methotrexate (mtx) - a disease modifying drug (DMARD) that works (probably) by suppressing my "over-active" immune system - RA is caused by the body's immune system attacking the joints (and sometimes lungs, eyes and heart). Unwanted effects of mtx include nausea, diarrhoea, hair loss & liver damage. It is highly toxic, and because it's so toxic, the dose of mtx is built up gradually over a period of six months - this means it doesn't start to work until you've been taking it 3-4 months


• diclofenac - an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) - reduces inflammation in my joints - unwanted effects include drowsiness, stomach irritation and increased risk of heart attack. Known in our house as "dic" - as in "Have you taken your dic yet?"


• depo-medrone - a steroid that has powerful anti-inflammatory effects - but very serious unwanted effects, including muscle wasting and osteoporosis, mean I can't have much. I currently get a long-acting steroid injection every 6 weeks, but I can only have a few each year.


• omeprazole - helps prevent the stomach irritation/bleeding caused by diclofenac


• folic acid - helps suppress some of the side effects of taking methotrexate


• codeine - opiate pain control - 'cos RA is a very painful disease. Unwanted effects of codeine include constipation and drowsiness, and withdrawal when you stop taking it


• paracetamol - non-opiate pain control - unwanted effects include liver and kidney damage


• I also have available, fentanyl patches - powerful opiate pain control in the form of a slow release patch.

I'm taking it on faith that all these drugs are doing something. Although I still feel lousy a lot of the time, I assume I would feel lousier still if I stopped, but I'm certainly not going to stop just to find out.... it's a bit like - does the light go out when you close the fridge door?