Stopping all meds?

Hi, ! You have the right to pursue any treatment option you would like (well, as long as it's legal, of course). It's always a good idea to talk with your physician before starting or stopping any treatment. Even if he/she doesn't agree with your decision, letting them know what's going on is a good idea, just to be safe.


It sounds like you have tried a lot of treatments and still haven't found one that's right for you. That stinks and I am so sorry you are in that situation. Have you shared how you are feeling with your doctor? Has he/she been receptive to your concerns?


Please know you are not alone in any of this. Many of our members can relate to feeling tired of trying medications that don't seem to work.


Should you choose to cease using your medications, keep in mind that some medications may require "stair stepping" down and not going "cold turkey".


I am so glad you reached out here and I hope you get some helpful feedback and encouragement from other community members.


And whichever path you choose, I hope it works for you and brings you some measure of relief.


Best, Erin, RheumatoidArthritis.net Team Member.

Try to hang in there. I, too, have wanted to quit medication and find a "natural" treatment but I haven't found one. Rheumatoid damages our bodies, and if left untreated, it will follow its course of destruction. I increased my Leflunomide Friday and spent Saturday sick. Now, whether it was food poisoning or the 5mg increase; I am not sure. The prednisone I was taking gave me superior relief, but I'm currently weaning off of it. I have good days and bad days. My life used to be riddled with stress, frustration, and an unsupportive family. Today, I have taken my life back and can fully concentrate on my health. I wish I could recommend a sure cure or at least a help...but in all my research I've found nothing.

Hi . As Erin said, everyone has to make treatment decisions for themselves. I do want to share some information from a few of our contributors. My wife, Kelly Mack, was diagnosed at two years old, over 40 years ago, before the modern treatments existed. She had both knees and hips replaced as a teenager and has used a wheelchair since her late teens. A couple of years ago she started a new treatment that brought her inflammation numbers into the normal range for the first time ever. The damage that has been done can't be fixed, but it makes a difference. You mention your current treatment causing problems. This is a serious consideration and I thought you might be interested in this article from our contributor Michael and what he calls the risk to risk ratio in determining if a treatment is worth it: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/the-risk-to-risk-ratio. Finally, our contributor Tamara wrote here about her decision to be on meds: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/decide-start-medications. Every case is different and I want to stress that the decision is yours. I also want to stress the importance of getting as much information as possible to make the best decision for you. Best, Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)

Thanks for the reality check. I realize how far I've come on this journey. So much better than when I started. I will keep that in mind and be grateful for my doctors and my medicines and the benefits they have made to my health. Thanks again for letting me vent.