Mom age 80 uses scooter to get around has RA. Almost damaged kidneys with prednisone. Is it worth taking methotrexate at her age?

[Peaches1958]

She reacts to most meds in a bad way. She is not allergic to eggs yet arm swelled up bad from flu shot

[minxy1960]

Hello ,sorry to hear about your mum,i serously would'nt give her MTX at her age ,i was told it was to slow down the process of RA and at your mum's dear old age i fear not only because it would make her sick ,but i guess the RA has done its worst to her.This is just my opinion . Take care Angie xxxx

[Scottishlad]

My friends mother has recently started methotrexate at the age of 89 after being diagnosed with RA.

It has helped her a lot, so much easier to get out bed get dressed and get going in the morning. She is able to cope with household chores much better.

I would think it is worth trying.

[Hidden]

I think if your moms doc recommend it, and mom wants to try it then why not? I think it's a very personal decision. If she does have a bad reaction she can always stop it everybody reacts different to it. My mom is 86 years old and I would say okay let's try it. Just my opinion. Good luck! It might just improve the quality of her life

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

There are days after I take the methotrexate that I don't feel well, however it is help my pain immensely. The pain is worse for me than the side effects of the methotrexate.

[Dotty7]

Hi Peaches

I'm not in my 80s admittedly, but I take 20mg of methotrexate with no problems or side effects at all, and it makes me well enough to lead an active outdoor kind of life. I am sure that if your mum decides to try it her doctors will monitor her very closely, given her history of problems with medication, BUT it may make all the difference to her quality of life.

I wish her good luck with her decision - making.

All the best,

Dotty

[Jill60]

Simple answer of Yes, your mum may outlive us all, I hope, she deserves the treatment

[allanah]

I do think this is your mums personal choice. My uncle who is 80 has prostate cancer and is still prescribed his mtx. It helps him move around and frees his joints up extremely well.

I think , you should talk to your GP as he will know if your mum is fit enough to have the drug and would recommend her seeing a rheumatologist, but you say you know she has RA so generally she should , if suitable, have started treatment.

It's very difficult to describe RA to my friends and family as it does of course affect and damage your joints if not controlled. But it can also affect the rest of the body, the illness itself makes you so unbelievably exhausted, the fatigue is awful. The stiffness too especially in the morning is awful, so for me it's these symptoms that I need the treatment for.

Also I would ask the GP about good strong medication for pain, that would suit her age and state of health as when the pain is less you manage better. And a lot of the pain relief drugs have at I inflammatory properties which would also be beneficial , if her gp thinks her kidneys would tolerate them.

I think you sound like an amazing daughter worrying about her mum, my daughter started to look after me and help me when she was 13 years old, it made me very ashamed and guilty to have to keep asking for help, but now a few years down the line , I don't even have to ask, she just knows! So I bet she is so grateful to you!

And on the last note of me blabbing on, a lot of people don't get the side effects of mtx, they generally give you a drug called folic acid with your mtx and it has the added benefit of reducing the sickness feeling in most people and my doc said it generally passes anyway, although of course there are some who don't tolerate it.

Good luck to you both on your decision and hope you talk it over with your GP.

Have a great weekend x A xx

[Hidden]

Hello BOB here

Possibly yes,

probably no

The GP is the best one to discuss this.

Personally I feel that why cause more damage, there are other treatments that can be offered, many of them cause problems also.

Remember NSID have the same problem All these medications are used as Is the risk worth taking for the condition that we have, I have been on NSID now for thirty years and my kidneys are showing first stages. They want me on methotrexate and I am not happy at 63 years. old

BOB

[earthwitch]

It would need to be on the advice of the rheumatologist. I don't know about the UK, but I do know a few friends of my mothers in another country are taking anti-tnfs at that kind of age - it isn't going to take away the damage already done, but it does seem to give them enough relief to make it worthwhile. She does need to have a good discussion with a rheumatologist about it though