Enbrel?

Hi, ! Congratulations on your remission! I am slightly surprised that your doctor is thinking of taking you off your meds, though. How long have you been in remission? Many doctors will keep patients on treatment to maintain remission and also to avoid joint damage that can occur with RA, even when a patient is considered in remission. If you're wanting to specifically wean off of Nabumatone, you can talk to your doctor about that. It's always nice if we are able to cut back on pain meds, when possible. I am not familiar with any of our members weaning off these specific meds, but if there are some members with experience weaning off these meds, I do hope they see your post and chime in here. We have many members that have weaned off prednisone, but that's a pretty different situation from what you are dealing with. The best input I can offer is to talk openly with your doctor and don't stop any of your medications cold turkey, for your safety.


Best, Erin, RheumatoidArthritis.net Team Member.

Hi . First, let me echo in saying it is great to hear you have achieved remission. Second, let me say that I was about to also echo Erin in relation weening off the medications, but I now have reason to pause. In the past I have posted about research finding that those who stop medications while in remission are more prone to recurrence and damage (see here for an example: https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/stopping-biological-drugs-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-can-lead-to-twice-the-relapse-rate/). I know Erin has certainly seen me post such information. My current pause is because there are now a number of studies that have found that tapering or stopping treatment for those in remission may be feasible. This study/clinical trial found that relapse rates are significantly higher for those who tapered or stopped treatment, but that remission was regained with reintroduction of treatment with most patients: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(21)00220-4/fulltext#:~:text=The%20study%20shows%20that%20treatment,rheumatoid%20factor%2C%20anti%2Dcitrullinated%20protein. Here is another study finding that tapering is feasible: https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13075-020-02165-4. Also, this very recent article argues that tapering could be successful for some patients (note the use of the word could), but that "it is uncertain whether discontinuation of csDMARDs is realistic and sustainable:" https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2802926.
Each person, in consultation with their doctors has to make these decisions for themselves, but I wanted to provide you with an array of research/information on the topic. That said, I can tell you that my wife, Kelly Mack (a contributor here), was diagnosed at age two, almost 45 years ago - before modern treatments, with the damage to show for it (she has used a wheelchair since her teens). She knows the toll of uncontrolled RA and would never risk what may happen with ceasing treatment (she notes that even the studies that speak of possibly tapering or stopping treatment hedge their bets and have patients who do not re-achieve remission). Her case, however, is an extreme and just one example. Every case is different and thus, so is the balance of the pros and cons. Hope this information is helpful and please feel free, if you like, to keep us posted on how you are doing. Best, Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)