Comments on: Has anyone heard of chemo being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis? http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/arthritis-information-and-treatment/709 Best arthritis treatment news and resources... Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:07:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: gect3 http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/arthritis-information-and-treatment/709/comment-page-1#comment-213 gect3 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:32:15 +0000 http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/?p=709#comment-213 I hope you are not getting confused. All the newer biologic agents that are IV are being called chemo (for billing purposes): Remicade, Orencia and Rituxan. These are all good agents, along with the other biologic agents, Humira and Enbrel, and can really help control your disease. Methotrexate is a chemo agent in high doses. One must understand the risks of the drugs, but not forget the shorter life span and disability related to not treating RA. Good luck. I hope you are not getting confused. All the newer biologic agents that are IV are being called chemo (for billing purposes): Remicade, Orencia and Rituxan.

These are all good agents, along with the other biologic agents, Humira and Enbrel, and can really help control your disease.

Methotrexate is a chemo agent in high doses.

One must understand the risks of the drugs, but not forget the shorter life span and disability related to not treating RA.

Good luck.

]]> By: quijibored http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/arthritis-information-and-treatment/709/comment-page-1#comment-212 quijibored Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:20:19 +0000 http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/?p=709#comment-212 Methotrexate which is one of the older chemotherapy drugs has been used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis for forty years. When used against RA methotrexate is considered a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). There are other multi-purpose drugs also used for treating both cancer and RA. hope this helps Methotrexate which is one of the older chemotherapy drugs has been used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis for forty years. When used against RA methotrexate is considered a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). There are other multi-purpose drugs also used for treating both cancer and RA.

hope this helps

]]> By: Live_For_Today http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/arthritis-information-and-treatment/709/comment-page-1#comment-211 Live_For_Today Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:04:58 +0000 http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/?p=709#comment-211 I wouldn't be using chemo to treat rheumatoid arthritis with all the new drugs about to come onto the market in a couple of years. I'm taking part now in a new drug trial and you can check out the trial at google by typing in the drug name called "Golimumab", and this drug has proven to be very successful world wide in all countries and before I went on it, I couldn't even shake hands with someone, or slap someone. Now I am a totally new person with no pain what so ever. I wouldn’t be using chemo to treat rheumatoid arthritis with all the new drugs about to come onto the market in a couple of years. I’m taking part now in a new drug trial and you can check out the trial at google by typing in the drug name called “Golimumab”, and this drug has proven to be very successful world wide in all countries and before I went on it, I couldn’t even shake hands with someone, or slap someone. Now I am a totally new person with no pain what so ever.

]]> By: zrepmd http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/arthritis-information-and-treatment/709/comment-page-1#comment-210 zrepmd Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:24:17 +0000 http://best-arthritis-treatment.com/?p=709#comment-210 Refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be treated with chemotherapy. Cyclophosphamide and other agents have been used in past. There has been research on the use of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant for life-threatening cases. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20, a protein on the surface of B-lymphocytes, has been used successfully in the treatment of RA. By definition, many of the patients receiving these drugs are having a very difficult time with RA, and unfortunately most will not respond well or for long. I have treated a few patients (as an oncologist for their rheumatologist), and have had some success, some failure. Rituximab is well-tolerated after the first dose infusion reactions are over. God bless, best wishes Refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be treated with chemotherapy. Cyclophosphamide and other agents have been used in past. There has been research on the use of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant for life-threatening cases. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20, a protein on the surface of B-lymphocytes, has been used successfully in the treatment of RA. By definition, many of the patients receiving these drugs are having a very difficult time with RA, and unfortunately most will not respond well or for long. I have treated a few patients (as an oncologist for their rheumatologist), and have had some success, some failure. Rituximab is well-tolerated after the first dose infusion reactions are over.

God bless, best wishes

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