Question:
Thanks for the info. If I under stand what I have read lupus causes low white blood count and the plaquenil helps stop this. The doctor took Sue off the plaquenil completely and told her to come to get blood work in one month and come see him in two months. We have about decided to find another doctor. I personally think she has to have something to help her. I know that lupus and arthritis will not cure its self. Denis & Sue
Response:
In article <10189-3DBB30B1-…@storefull-2371.public.lawson.webtv.net>, deniswi…@webtv.net (big dog) wrote:
Could you call the Doctor direct and ask those questions yourself. It is also wise to repeat to the Doctor what he says to you. There could always be miscommunication between Doctor and Nurse. Have had lupus 18 years and plaquenil has kept me going. Good luck to you both and we are sending our blessings Ruth & Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks for the info. Sue never talked to the doctor. His office called > and the nurse told her what the doctor said. I thought that the > plaquenil helped on the white blood cell count but he took her of that > also. This doctor has never told her about the side effect of any of the > meds he has put her on. I think we will have to find another doc. Sue > has a lot of leg and joint pain and a lot of fatigue. She also has > trouble with her eyes burning. Denis & Sue
Response:
> Methotrexate > Its use in lupus has not been thoroughly tested, but it is given commonly > for rheumatoid arthritis and has been shown to produce improvement of joint > pain and stiffness. It is only modestly effective for organ-threatening > lupus.<snip>
I can’t remember where I read it, either in Dr. Wallace’s book or in a paper that he gave me to read, but when I started the methotrexate two years ago he was informing of me the expanded patient population expecting to benefit from the drug – namely moderate lupus patients without organ involvement but with severe joint pain and other symptoms (those who’ve transitioned from mild to moderate I guess is the best way to put it). It has been a miracle for me despite the way I feel after taking it, but I have no <knocking on wood> organ involvement. I don’t know if that helps…I’ll do some poking around my personal lupus article library (a lot of free time at the medical library can be VERY dangerous with me around) and maybe if I can’t find anything I’ll check out the medical school library here…just let me know if you’re interested in seeing what I’m talking about (hopefully I will be able to retrace my steps). Best of luck to you both. take care, jules
Response:
I’m so sorry. I’ll see what i can find in the meantime and will be in touch in the upcoming weeks. My condolences to you and yours. take care, julia "big dog" <deniswi…@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:21501-3DBEDB37-1177@storefull-2373.public.lawson.webtv.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I would be interested in any thing you can tell me. I wont be on for a > couple weeks as my aunt passed away and I will be gone for a couple of > weeks. Denis & Sue
Response:
I would be interested in any thing you can tell me. I wont be on for a couple weeks as my aunt passed away and I will be gone for a couple of weeks. Denis & Sue
Response:
Hi Denis, Lupus on it’s own can cause low white counts. Mine are always low. But, some meds can also lower the count too. I think mtx is one of them. I don’t know if the dosage Sue was on would do that, or to that degree. I am not sure what dosage is normal or average, but the amt you mentioned doesn’t seem high, and she has not been on it for long. There are some people here who are on mtx. They will likely have more to offer. I am on Imuran at 150mgs. The side effects could be quite different. Please tell Sue that I am thinking about her, and wishing her well. BJ-Sk. Canada "big dog" <deniswi…@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:21501-3DB9FA1F-409@storefull-2373.public.lawson.webtv.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> First I would like to apologize for only posting when I have a problem. > I am not very good at this sort of thing and my wife is worse. Two > months back my wifes family doctor sent her to see a rummy as her blood > test showed positive for lupus. He took more blood and started her on > plaquenil and flexerill. Last month he did more blood work and added > methotrexate [4 pills once a week =10 mg for arthritis] When she went > this wednesday he changed the mtx to 6 pills or 15 mg a week. The doc > called today and said that her white blood count was dangerously low and > to stop all med except two mtx a week. Has any one had this problem or > know what med could cause this. Thanks for any info you can give. > Denis & Sue
Response:
First I would like to apologize for only posting when I have a problem. I am not very good at this sort of thing and my wife is worse. Two months back my wifes family doctor sent her to see a rummy as her blood test showed positive for lupus. He took more blood and started her on plaquenil and flexerill. Last month he did more blood work and added methotrexate [4 pills once a week =10 mg for arthritis] When she went this wednesday he changed the mtx to 6 pills or 15 mg a week. The doc called today and said that her white blood count was dangerously low and to stop all med except two mtx a week. Has any one had this problem or know what med could cause this. Thanks for any info you can give. Denis & Sue
Response:
On Fri, 25 Oct 2002 21:12:47 -0500 (CDT), deniswi…@webtv.net (big dog) wrote: >First I would like to apologize for only posting when I have a problem.
Stop that! There’s no reason to apologize for asking questions and worrying about your loved one. We understand – life is hectic enough without feeling unnecessary guilt. I don’t know enough about MTX to answer this fully. It is a chemo drug and therefore could conceivably cause the low cell #s. However, it’s also used to help that particular symptom. The disease itself could be the culprit – but unfortunately, as far as I know, the only way to know is to see if she bounces back from MTX to a better level. Even that will only be circumstantial because sometimes these drops come and go over very short times (I speak from personal experience on that one.) I’ve never had anything stronger than plaquenil and I suspect that were it not for that drug my "dips" in blood counts would be more worrisome. But I’ve had two that we’ve known about – down to 2.4 the first time, 2.6 the second. Within 3 weeks they were back up of their own accord (though they are never in the normal range.) 2.0 is typically when docs start worrying. Did he happen to give you the actual count? Do you know if it was the total WBC count or just lymphocytes? How has she felt through all this? (that’s more for my edification than trying to understand what’s happening.) KCat – I am not a medical professional. The contents of this post are based soley on my experiences and opinions http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/mypage.htm http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/aslfaq30.htm ("`-”-/").___..–”"`-._ (`6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.’`) (_Y_.)’ ._ ) `._ `. “-..-” _..`–’_..-_/ /–’_.’ ,’ (()),-” (()),’ (((.-’
Response:
big dog wrote: > First I would like to apologize for only posting when I have a problem. > I am not very good at this sort of thing and my wife is worse. Two > months back my wifes family doctor sent her to see a rummy as her blood > test showed positive for lupus. He took more blood and started her on > plaquenil and flexerill. Last month he did more blood work and added > methotrexate [4 pills once a week =10 mg for arthritis] When she went > this wednesday he changed the mtx to 6 pills or 15 mg a week. The doc > called today and said that her white blood count was dangerously low and > to stop all med except two mtx a week. Has any one had this problem or > know what med could cause this. Thanks for any info you can give. > Denis & Sue
Hello Denis, Apparently… http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202356.html Methotrexate can lower the number of white blood cells in your blood temporarily, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding: <snip> but the same warning is on Imuran http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202077.html but not plaquenil (AFAIC) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202288.html Other than the others’ wisdom, one has to weigh possible negatives to the symptomatic relief and/or whatever they are hoping to achieve with any particular medication. Here’s the final word, sort of http://www.lupus.org/education/brochures/immune.html Although immunosuppressive drugs can have serious side effects, they can be of great value in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They may help to: prolong life preserve kidney function reduce disease symptoms reduce damage to vital organs, such as the kidneys and lungs. sometimes even serve to put the disease into remission. Methotrexate Its use in lupus has not been thoroughly tested, but it is given commonly for rheumatoid arthritis and has been shown to produce improvement of joint pain and stiffness. It is only modestly effective for organ-threatening lupus.<snip> Hope this helps some. Best, J
Response:
Thanks for the info. Sue never talked to the doctor. His office called and the nurse told her what the doctor said. I thought that the plaquenil helped on the white blood cell count but he took her of that also. This doctor has never told her about the side effect of any of the meds he has put her on. I think we will have to find another doc. Sue has a lot of leg and joint pain and a lot of fatigue. She also has trouble with her eyes burning. Denis & Sue
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