Medicines

*Medicines

Prednisone: The mainstay of treatment is systemic prednisone and is given large doses when things are acute then is tapered off. I have to be on this right now. I am on a huge dose as we try to keep my windpipe from imploding. This will be tapered off as the inflammation in my throat subsides. I hope that my chemotherapeutic drug will keep the disease at bay so I can stay off of prednizone. For me, prednisone has been only kept for an emergency.

Methotrexate, Folic Acid, Mucinex, Biotin 

Methotrexate is a chemotherapeutic medication. I researched Methotrexate and difference between the pills and the shots. The consensus seemed that those on the shots had lessened side effects. I have been giving myself the shots once a week for the past 2 years. My body’s reaction to it at first was a lot of nausea, headaches and even more exhaustion. How could exhaustion be even greater that it had been, but it managed to be.

The Methotrexate Facebook page offered up some very helpful suggestions for the side effects. Hair loss, nausea and exhaustion.

To Help with Nausea:

• Take 4 folic acid pills every morning
• Take a Mucinex DM the night of my shot and 12 hours later 

For Headache: 

The suggestion was for coffee the morning after the shot but since that’s not in my wheelhouse, I take one Excedrin migraine pill with a swallow of diet coke. I figured that would give me the caffeine others use. After a while my body got used to this routine and I functioned quite well with this odd combination of pills. My body has now acclimated and I no longer use the Excedrin. When Excedrin was used I don't take Celebrex the same day.

Dosage Increase: 

The only time it really sends me down the rabbit hole is when the dosage gets upped, but the reactions eventually even out. 

Hair Loss:   

One biotin pill daily and the folic acid has helped me keep my hair. I get my biotin at Costco. 

General RP Pain:
I take Celebrex daily for the pain in my ribs, joints, face, well pretty much my whole body. For the nerve pain from pinched nerves in my neck I take Cymbalta (duloxetine) daily. I take Arthritis Tylenol in addition for the pain through my face and nose if it is still painful, it doesn't work the best but it's better than nothing. Maxtal is for my migraines. Epidural Injections in my spine, both C and L regions. I stay away from pain killers with aspirin in them as it totally eats my stomach.

Some people with RP are on NSAIDS. I can't be on them anymore but if you are using them here is a tip from my doctor at the spine clinic. When taking NSAIDS also take Famotidine (it is a prescription). I took 20 mg with the NSAID, it buffers your stomach.
NSAIDs include: Excedrin Migraine, aspirin salsalate (Amigesic), diflunisal (Dolobid), ibuprofen (Motrin), ketoprofen (Orudis), nabumetone (Relafen), piroxicam (Feldene), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn,) diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin (Indocin), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), etodolac (Lodine). In short they contain asprin.  

Inflammation is what feeds Relapsing Polychondritis best. Here are a few natural things that I take to decrease the inflammation in my body.

Supplements: 

Turmeric

Sour Cherry Juice
Fish Oil

Vitamin D

Cranberry

Probiotics

Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc 

Laughing is the best medicine 

but if you are laughing for no reason
you need medicine. 

-:-

*Remember these are just my suggestions from my own experience and I have no medical credentials for this, just tried and true.