Have been on methotrexate 6 months with no improvement, is there still chance it will work.

[flaxton]

Hi all hope you are as well as can be, I have not blogged for a while been feeling rotten but keep up with you on a daily basis. I am on 25 mg of mtx by injection have been for 7 weeks prior to that 25 mg tablets for last six months. Have tried hydroxy but gave me chronic colic. My GP says it will have to be the biologics, can the mtx still work , any one taken this long ?

I can see the joint damage going on fingers and toes drifting, and I get constant flares if I drop the steroid below 10 mg, any comments advice most welcome.

Many thanks

Lorraine xx

[helixhelix]

Well the NICE guidelines for biologics demand that you try MTX for at least 6 months before you can be considered. And given that the purpose of the guidelines seems to be to restrict use of biologics as much as possible, then I guess that the answer's yes - enough's enough and you should be being given something that's more effective for you. Obviously that's just my personal opinion and you need to discuss with your rheumy team, but if you're seeing damage then don't carry on as you are too long. Pollyx

[Hidden]

I agree with Polly. Six months is the period of time to give MTX a proper chance but you obviously need to tell your rheumy that more effective treatment is required now. X

[flaxton]

Hi thank you am seeing rheumy on 5 August so hopefully can move on with drugs. As you know apart from the damage ,day to day living is hard.Thank goodness for this site and everyone on it.

Lorraine x

[earthwitch]

yes, I'd say enoughs enough. You might need to be reasonably assertive with your rheumatlogist though, and definitely bring up biologics if they don't.