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Stelara + methotrexate

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/20/2018 5:14 PM (GMT -5)
Is anyone using methotrexate in addition to stelara? I had my 6 month scope after starting Stelara yesterday and the news wasn't good. What is left of my colon (surgery for ostomy was in April) is showing active disease. GRRRR. The small intestine looks ok, thank goodness.
My GI is recommending adding methotrexate to see if it helps, if not he said we can try Cymbalta. I don't see what good it would do since I've failed on Humira and Stelara. I think he was just grasping for straws.., . He did mention the possibility of removing the rest of my colon but that seems drastic at this point. I'll talk to him again after the first of the year and try the methotrexate. I already told my husband I'm going to try medical MJ and that might mean switching doctors since this one isn't on board with it.
Sorry for rambling, I'm just trying to wrap my head around what turned out to be the worst news I could get yesterday...
Posted 12/20/2018 9:49 PM (GMT -5)
I always needed what would be considered "dual therapy" for things to work. Going all the way back to 2002 when I started Remicade, I was on Remicade with 6MP, which is similar to methotrexate. I did do the Stelara and methotrexate thing for a year or 2, and it did help my Crohn's. Unfortunately I also had issues with cancer that complicated things.

I would say it is worth a shot, to be honest. By themselves, the biologics wouldn't work great but worked better for me with 6mp or methotrexate.
Posted 12/20/2018 10:35 PM (GMT -5)
"My GI is recommending adding methotrexate to see if it helps, if not he said we can try Cymbalta."

Cymbalta? Do you mean something else?

In what way did Humira not work for you? No response at all? Antibody formation? Problem with side effects? Worked for a while then stopped working?

Medical mj *might* help with symptoms, but I wouldn't bet on it healing inflammation.
Posted 12/21/2018 7:53 AM (GMT -5)
Lamb, sorry to read you are still having issues, it get frustrating. I have to wonder if you heard your dr correctly when he said we may try Cymbalta. I know what this medication is & have never heard of it being rx'd for crohns. Go to Drugs.com & look up Cymbalta & you will understand why Beave & I are questioning Cymbalta.

My gi always uses the combo method when it comes to bios. I know over the years in this forum the members that used MM said it helped them deal with some of the pain & kept them calmer. It had no effect on the disease.

Take care.
Posted 12/21/2018 8:14 AM (GMT -5)
Hi lamb! Just happened on your post. I actually work in a job analyzing medical claims and their future financial risk. I am seeing Cymbalta being used in CD more and more, though I believe it is still off-label. There are several articles on Medical news Today and CNN, etc.about experiences with it, but most are older. I have not seen enough data to show it is curative versus palliative versus curative for CD side effects. I would have a discussion with your GI.
As for the combo of drugs - I am seeing that all of the time now (not just for CD). We are all so individual, I think the combos give us more ability to treat the individual versus the disease. I would give it a try. My GI always talks combo when we talk about me moving to bigger meds.
As for the MJ---I tried it. It did nothing for me. But we are all different.

I hope you get toward healing and feeling better soon.
Posted 12/21/2018 9:51 AM (GMT -5)
OMG, I meant cimzia. Sorry about that.
Posted 12/21/2018 11:06 AM (GMT -5)
Lamb, I wondered if you were using your phone when you posted, lol. However, I do know Cymbalta is often rx'd off label for pain, so thought was in the back of my mind too.

I hope the combo works for you. When I was on Remicade & Humira my gi had me on Imuran to help boost the drug & help ward off antibodies from developing.
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