Sweetie, just wanted to pop in and offer you some big s! Have you spoken with your drs on the best way to step down off the prednisone (withdrawal can be horrible) - good luck with that process.

I guess w/regard to side effects - you won't know unless you try it - each individual experiences it differently. I agree 6 months with no meds is a terrifying prospect. Could you trial the Arava for a few weeks - if the SEs or total impact of it is worse than the MTX then I guess you could decide then to go through the two week drug removal process and reinstate the MTX? Also, don't assume why one drug is offered before another - sometimes drs favour some drugs just because they're older and have been around longer, or because of the cost, or because once a 2nd drug is required it's seen as more complex treatment, rather than because of the impact or effect directly on the patient, kwim? I think you're best in this case to ask your rheumy straight out why the Arava wasn't offered as a first-line treatment, that'll tell you heaps.

It must be so frustrating when the drs don't seem to be able to agree, because you've got multiple complicating factors all happening at once. But I refuse to believe that there isn't someone else out there who has been in a similar situation and this must be reflected in the medical literature somewhere! Can you ask one of your drs (pick the one that's usually the most helpful!) to consult a health library or even some sort of pharmaceutical specialist to clarify on your behalf? Sometimes all it takes is just a teensy bit more information to make the whole decision clearer.