Methotrexate: Does it matter which day I take it?

[Choccy8]

Hi everyone. I'm due to start Methotrexate this week having hung on to get my Covid jabs in first. The instructions from my rheumatology team are to take the Metho on Friday. I know I need to take it on the same day each week, but is there a reason why I should take it on the specified day, or can I choose my own day? I'm not working, so that isn't a factor. I wondered if the advice to take it Friday might be thinking of people who are employed during the week and needing the weekend to recover. Any other advice on taking it, eg with or without food, would be gratefully received. Thanks very much

[CarolMcl]

Due to possible side effects it's better to take it when you know that the following day is a relaxing one, so yes he may have been thinking of a Mon to Fri worker. Have you also been issued with folic acid? Also better maybe taking it before/after evening meal so hopefully any side effects occur whilst you're asleep

[Jaxine in reply to CarolMcl]

Hi there,

Yes you're right Friday night is a good idea if you're working during the week due to possible side effects ie nausea, head aches , tiredness.... for you I'd take it a day that best suits you I used to always take in the eve before going to sleep so I could sleep through it! Good luck

[PMRpro]

I think you are right about the idea of Friday being helpful for people who work so they get the grotty days on days they don't work. I know people who don;'t work who take it Sunday night so Monday is the rubbish day after a nice weekend. My rheumy said he finds people do better taking half the dose before bed and the other half next morning as that seems to reduce any nausea problems - I certainly had no nausea, my problems lay elsewhere!

[TwoH]

I always took mine on Wednesday so that my weekend and most of my week was good.

[svfarmer in reply to TwoH]

Me too although I have never had any side effects - hopefully you won’t too x

[Lupus1980]

It's just a day in the week.. the medication distributes evenly and it's easy to remember. My Vitamin D is taken on Mon & Fri.

[Pumpkin72]

The most important thing is you take it on the same day of the week, my rheumatology team suggested Monday but after discussion we went with Sunday evenings, one so I could sleep through any nausea and 2 I worked from home on a Monday so if felt rough I was at home rather than at work

[Krazykat26]

You can pick which day is suitable for u. I take mine on a Sunday morning but I don't really experience any side effects now (I've been on mtx since December 2019). Best of luck..I hope it helps 🌈😽😽xx

[Kath1]

I take mine on Tuesday night as Wednesday is a quiet day for me and I can rest if I need to. My advice is have a nice dinner so you are comfortably full, take the meds and have a nice sleep. Good luck

[WinterSwimmer]

I was working when I was prescribed MTX and I hated taking it on a Friday as it effectively wiped out my weekend. So I began taking it mid week instead. Also, they said to take it in the evening - but I found that the worst side effects came on after about 12 hours so I developed a strategy of taking it in the morning (and adjusted my folic acid accordingly). That way, by the time the worst effects came on it was already nearly bedtime. I reckoned that less of my life was lost in feeling crappy by that strategy than by taking it on a Friday night....

However, you will work out a way to take it that works for you. Very best of luck with it and I hope it helps you feel better.

[Jhpc]

I took mine on a Sunday, never had any side effects that I was aware off. Takes about 3 months to have any effect.

Was advised to stop taking it if your unwell, go back on it when you are well again. Yes I was on folic acid too.

Good luck with it.

[hopegalore20]

I took Methotrexate for quite awhile to treat my Dermatomyositis. I took it on a Wednesday Morning (and I missed out my Folic Acid that day, as advised). I took the Oral Form of this Medication, then eventually was put onto the Self Ejecting Pens. I was eventually weaned off this medication as it did not help in the treatment of my condition. I was then put onto Mycophenolate Acid, then Mycophenolate Mofetil. Now on Prograf.

I hope this medication works well for your condition, and you continue to improve greatly.

Stay Safe 👍

[Choccy8]

Thank you so much everyone for all the replies and advice. Sorry not to have replied individually, I've been having a bit of a rough day. Thanks for all the good wishes - first dose taken this evening, so fingers crossed!