Greetings Cindy_CAO - A big *Welcome to the KA family.
IF I were you with minimal symptoms then I would not take any anti-TNF drug. I would go check out the diet forum, try the low starch diet and also would check out the alternatives forum and try taking LDN, low dose Naltrexone. LDN has NO side effects. It keeps the spinal inflammation under control, and for me, means that I don't have to be on the anti-TNF drugs and also I very very rarely need to take painkillers - last time I took a pain killer was in Sept after being stuffed down an MRI tube for 45 mins x 2, twice in one day, and then again for another 45 mins the next day! That left me in a bit of a state - and I had to drive back to where I was staying, a very difficult cross country drive of narrow winding lanes and roads for 2 hours! (Shuddering journey).
Your rheumy will never have heard of LDN and won't be at all interested in prescribing it. But for information, check out:
www.lowdosenaltrexone.org For me it has kept my AS in significent control and has also controlled the pain in my spine - before the LDN my spine was in a 'constant' painful inflammatory state. (And IF I run out of my LDN I sure do know about it...)
For some Remicade is a miracle - but they have never tried the LDN so one would not know how they would fare with the LDN instead of the Remicade - or any other of the anti-TNF drugs.
BTW whilst on LDN one does need to be aware of taking supplements and vitamins,
nutritional support - I'm not very good at taking them 'smile'. Also, to not eat red meat, especially lamb. I love lamb and occasionally I do eat it, but know also, that...dada...I will suffer as a result, by throwing a mini flare! (My own fault!) Samae with too many starches, like bread, potatoes and pasta, they are a real no-no. I very very rarely eat potatoes, dislike most pasta, so am not tempted by pasta, but, do love GOOD bread, so have to be careful. Oh yes, pastries and sugars are other foods to be avoided. Again, TG I am not a pastry or sugar/sweets fan. So, no hardship for me there.
So again, to address your immediate question, IF I were you would I take this drug? No.
Go well -
ex-pat Molly C (France)
Keeping on Keeping on
(Last time I took a 'drug' was for horrible gut problems, caused by...MSG that a friend had put in her gravy...was put on Sulfasalazine. SSZ completely stuffed me up and I was sick as a dog for over three weeks. Really, really sick. Lost half a stone. Came off the med, and, bingo, started to get better. No more MSG and assuredly NO more, EVER SSZ! It was daft of me to agree to take the stuff. But, NEVER again.)
