Can someone please tell me the side effects of mtx.

[sylvi]

[WiseSarah]

Hi Silvi,

I was on MTX for 3.5 years and have just come off as I'm trying for a baby. I have had some hair loss which has been really noticeable since I came off the MTX and my hair started growing back! Even my hairdresser commented on all my baby hair. I used to have an upset tummy on the day I took my pills and quite often spent the day on the settee dozing. The only other thing and more seriously, was recurring chest infections. In the 3.5 years I had 12 bouts of bronchitis and needed an inhaler too to try and clear my chest. Those are the main ones that spring to mind. Are you on MTX already? I was on 20mg.

Love Sarah x

[sylvi]

I'm on 20mg,and i'm asthmatic.This infection i have won't go away and its making me feel ill.I didn't realise that mtx would do that.

Looks like my drugs will be changed then.

Thanks Sarah

Love sylvi.x

[Custard in reply to sylvi]

How long have you had that chest infection?

I'm also asthmatic and on MTX just raised to 17.5mg. Currently fighting a cold that went to my chest and I've noticed that im recovering a bit slower than normal but am getting better...

Just now ondering how long I should leave it before alerting the GP.. this is actually probably a question FOR my GP lol

[sylvi in reply to Custard]

Speak to who ever is treating you with the mtx, and see what they say.

sylvi.x

[Beth58]

Hi Sylvi, don't want to alarm you but are you not supposed to stop MTX while being treated for chest infections?

Early in my treatment with MTX (was about 10 yr ago) I developed a cough with chest infection and the doctor told me to stop them for a few days until the infection cleared.

I also had some hair loss so had my hair cut short and quite bad nausea/sickness which is why I stopped taking them.

Hope you feel better soon

Beth x

[Hidden]

If you go to tags and methotrexate I put a list of main side effects a while ago. hope that helps xx

Take care x

[sylvi]

I don't take my injection when i'm on antibiotics. I had a good nights sleep by my standards and i feel refreshed. My chest is still tight and weezy. Some of my joints ache this morning. This thing with mtx has alarmed me. I will look at what you have put on summer.

Thank you everyone for giving information.

Sylvi.x

[phil-b]

i take mxt 20mg and i hate the sickness for a couple of days and it gets me down.dont forget thats these DMADS we are all taking lower our immune systems so its easier for us to get infections and harder to get rid of.dont forget RA is our immune systems attacking our bodies rather than protecting them.

[LavendarLady]

Hi Sylvi, You can't normally take MTX whilst taking antibiotics but there are some which don't react or cause problems with the MTX - my GP put me on those last year when I had 4 lots of antibiotics for the infected wisdom tooth. There was no way I could go 2 months without my MTX or I would have been back in hospital again! The dosage of MTX we take is usually too low to cause any problems with antibiotics. It is the very large doses given to cancer patients which cause the problems as per my consultant, GP and pharmacist.

I am also asthmatic and take 20 mgs of MTX by injection each week. I haven't found it affects the asthma but with MTX which lowers your immune system (whcih is what is attacking you and causing the RA) you are more prone to colds, coughs etc. I up my asthma inhaler to 3 times a day if I have a cold and if it is really bad, don't take the MTX or anti TNF that week.

Are you on MTX tablets or injections? The tablets do have side effects such as nausea and sickness. If on tablets, you may find it better to switch to the injections as they don't cause so many side effects.

I have also had thinning hair with MTX but would rather put up with that and get my clever hairdresser to help with extensions to thicken it up, that do without the MTX which usually enables me to function if not at 100% at least something approaching 90%! most of the time.

Hope that infection clears up soon. Have they given you a chest x ray at all?

Lavendarlady x and Big hugs.

[sylvi]

LL,I have had a chest x-ray and it came back clear. The mtx that i'm on are injections, I have been given a new set of mtx, and they don't have to be stored in the fridge,we got one of them out of the box and looked the instructions about side effects. One of the side effects are breathing problems. I have pains in my shoulder blade as well. I'm also sensitive to the light as well. Some of the side effects are quite frightening to read. I am always using my inhaler a lot as when i get up and move about i get breathless and have to sit down, This inactivity is getting me down.

I will be ringing my rheumy next week about getting some blood forms and i will see if she has spoken to my consultant about me.

Hope your well,

Love sylvi.xx

[muffin]

Sylvie, I was prescriped methatraxate when diagnosed 8 years ago. It was increased to reach 20mg. a week. I was wretched, I was short tempered, felt awful all the time and could fall asleep any time, it also make me sick. My Specialist changed it to injections which improved reactions, but after 6 months or so, they came back. I do not take it at all now. I take Enbrel thankfully and hydroxicholoquin and pain relief and life is wonderful!

Explain your problems to your Specialist and get it altered, life is not worth living when it has the side effects of mtx. find your new life NOW.

Muffin.

[mistertea]

I've been on MTX for 2 years (increased from 7.5 to 15mg) and have had no side effects and I'm now in remission because of it. (My bald patch is growing but I think thats hereditory!)

I also know a number of other people for whom MTX has been very successful.

I realise it doesn't work for everyone, but all drugs have a huge range of listed side effects, because companies are obliged to list anything that is reported even if there is no proven link.

I know people who've refusted to take MTX because of horror stories they've read on the internet - my experience has been good, so whilst others have had problems, I'd hate people not to try them if prescribed.

Beware of the Nocebo effect, where you come to expect side effects because of your expectations. If you've got time give 'Bad Science' by Ben Goldacre a read - it changed my outlook towards medicine and life!

[lynn-bel]

Hi - I'm now on 25mg a week, been on MTX for almost 12 years. I take care of myself so I don't get infections much at all but realise that when I do, I will be worse with it than I would without the MTX. Get nauseous for a day or two after taking it and tired, but generally I'm one of the lucky ones in that MTX seems to suit me (or rather it suits my condition!). Hair always been fine and thin and at 63 it will get thinner anyway. Nails are not as good as they used to be - dry and brittle and they always used to be one of my assets!

I take something with ginger for the nausea - in tea or grated on to something to eat. I also take Lanzaprazole (sp?) one a day before dinner that my GP prescribed to help the stomach problems. But if you have really bad time with MTX see your RA consultant and write it all down as iti happens so you don't forget to ask!

Best of luck with it all. x

[Jetblack]

Hi Slyvi,

I am on 15mg a week,starting dose and asthmatic too. Today was my third week of mtx, this past week has been hard, the pain has been horrendhous, and the tiredness and irritability wow! Bad stomach upsets, first week, and two days this past week, normally feel sick, but I am on Lithium Liquid on top so two toxic meds together, if you feel up to it, speak to the rhumy, i was told by mine, if this does not help of could not totlerate the side effects there are others, hang in there x