Should I Stay On My Medication/Treatment?
Is it safe to be on these heavy-duty immune-suppressing drugs when we need our immune systems to be as strong as possible right now during the pandemic?
I asked my doctor this question and she told me to stay on them. But perhaps I would rather trade being able to walk and use my hands for being able to live and fight off the virus....?! (I'm on Humira, Arava and Prednisone...currently tapering off the Prednisone, thank god.) Hope to taper off the chemo (Arava) and then "just" be on Humira.
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Hello
I can certainly relate to your questions and I'm sure many others in our community are feeling the same way as well. It was a very good idea for you to speak with your doctor about the situation for sure. That, for me is always who I tend to defer to when it comes to decisions during a crisis like this. But really what it comes down to is if you trust the answer that you were given by your doctor.
Riding out this storm and doing our best to make decisions within the boundaries of limited information is difficult. We don't have a crystal ball to look ahead and see the consequences of our choices. Now, I'm no doctor and I certainly resonate with the desire to taper off medications, but in my opinion, this might not be the right time. However, I do think that you might want to open the conversation again with your doctor if you aren't satisfied with their response. I think doing the best you can to take the proper precautions without "rocking the boat" would be the best route (again, just my opinion.) Mostly because if you go off your Humira at this time, there is no guarantee that in time, if you wanted to go back on it, that it would be able to work for you again.
This time is not an easy one for anyone. It seems like I have new questions and new anxieties almost every day. You are not alone. We are here for you and I hope that you are able to speak with your doctor again if you disagree with their directions. They might be able to elaborate a little more on "why" they think you should continue. Take care of yourself. -Leanne, Community Moderator
Hey
! Alongside the amazing advice from Leanne, I wanted to share the following article with you: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/news/medications-coronavirus/ - it contains information about immunosuppressants and COVID-19 (and some other issues that we face during this time). There's also a great list of questions towards the end of the article, which may be useful if you do decide to have another conversation with your rheumy about this. I hope you'll be able to come to a decision that you feel comfortable with. Keep us updated and stay safe! Warmly, -Catherine, Community Moderator
