New to RA and this. Site

[Penny66]

I am penny jo. I was diagnosed with Ra on MAy 17, 2016.. I am on plaquenil and gabopentin. My reuhmy wants to put me om methotrexate. I don't think this med is right for me. I don't do well with nausea and vomiting. Can you give me some ideas for meds that work almost the same way as methotrexate.

[Hidden]

Hello Penny66! You might be able to try sulfasalazine instead of MTX.

All the best to you

Sue

[Penny66 in reply to Hidden]

Thanxx

[Sa61]

I was on it. I read to take it in the evening. I also split it in half. Taking one part in morning other part in evening. I had no nausea.

Later on my hair started to fall out more than usual.

Dr switched me to leflunamide and then 5 months later added xeljans no nausea and it works great for me. Leflunamide you need to take with food or milk😀

[Penny66 in reply to Sa61]

Thanks

[Mg-123 in reply to Sa61]

SA61----Did you take folic acid with it...my hair growth was amazing on methotrexate. My Rehmuy.. recommend that for that reason. Others haven't..but mines did.

[Mg-123]

I'm on it ...I didn't have any of those symptoms...but different strokes for different folks. My friend told me that this was the best choice as well as my Doctor. Yes !!! my friend has RA #8yrs. I think this was the best choice for me..I was diagnosed in 2013.

[Penny66 in reply to Mg-123]

Thanks

[Ambertabbycat]

Hi Penny66! I was on methotrexate for 8 years and did not experience any nausea or vomiting. I also took Folic Acid daily when I was on it. Maybe that made the difference. It worked well for me, until I needed to increase the dosage. Then I experienced other side effects. Switching to a biologic next week, Enbrel.

We do all respond differently to different medications. I hope you can find the one that works best for you quickly. Take care.

[BethFog]

Penny, I did not do well with oral methotrexate, but am doing much better with half dose injections. I have not experienced any nausea and vomiting.

Beth

[Penny66 in reply to BethFog]

Is the methotrexate helping you? I have ra symptoms from the neck down to my toes. I think I've had ra for atleast 5 years before being diagnosted.

[BethFog]

This go around I'm only in week 3 so I'm not to therapeutic timeframe yet. The biologic I'm on is Kineret. I had to come off it for 4 weeks due to what they thought was pneumonia, but now suspected to have been pneumonia compounded by the start of Rheumatoid lung. I was diagnosed in 2012, but I too think I had it long before and discounted symptoms to something else. I have severe disease that has been difficult to manage . my joints affected are shoulders downward.

Rheumy added the half dose of Mtx back when I resumed my Kineret. Gotta recheck my lungs in 6 mos by CT... My shortness of breath with exertion definitely limits living my life to the fullest...

I truly understand your concern and frustration. My thought process at this point is what do I have to lose..? I've been through all types of biologics....

[Hidden]

Methotrexate has been around for 40 years. I've been on it for 11 years. I take the pills because the shots made me sick. Methotrexate is basically a chemo drug so you experience many of the same side effects such as nauseous and possible hair loss. There are two important drugs you should take to eliminate these side effects. One is Folic Acid (NOT the OTC) but a prescription. That eliminates being nauseous. The second is Leucovorin which you take the day after you take your weekly methotrexate. This helps control that the methotrexate is being absorbed properly. I do have times that I get nauseous but I take Zofran which many patients who are under going chemotherapy. I tried the newer drugs but I have asthma and kept getting respiratory infections so I went back to methotrexate. The most important thing to remember is everyone is different. You know your body better than anyone so you need to find what works best for you with the least amount of side affects. Good luck.

[Penny66 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[Debb721]

I am on methotrexate and have no side effects!! I don't know how I would survive again without it. Try it!