Hi all I'm new to this great site, I've been taking methotrexate 25mg for 10 weeks now and my symptoms are just getting worse.

[Adamski78]

How long before I notice any diffrence feeling depressed .

[dtech]

It varies. Sorry to be vague and don't give up hope. I was on mtx from first diagnosis and with other drugs: sulphsalazine, plaquinal and naproxen it took about three months. If you are in pain have the rheumy drs suggested a steroid jab?

[Harpey]

I was told it would take 12 weeks to see any effects from the MTX but I had a steroid injection to try to settle everything down in the meantime. Can you talk to your Rheumy or GP to see if there's anything else you can do?

Hope you feel better soon.

[francherry]

Hello and welcome. I'm not taking MTX but understand from someone I know who takes it that it can take a while to feel the benefits. Agree with the others a steroid jab is a good idea - I've always found it makes a difference. I would definitely talk to your rheumy or rheumy nurse about the fact things are getting worse too. Take care and let us know how it goes. Fran

[farjer121]

Hi there.

As everyone else has said, we are all different it will be gradual and can be up to 4months plus before you notice anything.

Also if your on tablets they can take longer as its not as effective... I have been on it for 6plus years, on 25mg tablets for past 3yrs and in May switched to 20mg injections.

MTX memory loss may also occur... dont know if anyone else has suffered this... doctors say theres no evidence, nurses say patients report this to them! Its called Chemo Brain as MTX is a chemo drug.

All the best

[Prairie]

Hi there hold in there and speak to your rheumy nurse as to how you feel. It took me a while before you feeling any benefits...it helped me with joints and reduce pain but wiped me out where I had no quality of life I spent most days in bed with no energy and very low mood so after I spoke to my rheumy they advised I came off it and try something else. We all tolerate medications differently. I would have a chat and take each day at a time. Good luck and let us know how you get on....Nicola...

[Pollywollydoodle]

Hi,

Methotrexate didn't work for me- by week 12 I was feeling rubbish from the methotrexate as well as RA! My liver function tests gradually became more raised and they reckoned that I was one of the unlucky ones who could not metabolise the drug. Rheumy nurses are usually very good with advice and in the intervening time (3mts) while the methotrexate came out of my system, I was given a six week course of steroids from my consultant which made a huge difference. I was then put onto plaquenil and saw a difference after 3wks and was stable and largely pain free by 3mts. Hope you can get sorted.

Polly x

[oldtimer]

Unfortunately, treatment for RA is trial and error. RA is a collection of conditions which involve inflammed joints, but other things as well. I'm sure as they learn more about it, smaller categories will emerge, just as they have done for psoriatic arthritis, pseudo-gout, etc, which require slightly different management.

But at present they are all lumped together and we work through various medications hoping that one of them will work.

So if this one isn't working, ask to try something else.

[Adamski78]

Thanks to every one that replyed to my question, I've already had 2 steriod injections that haven't made any diffrence at all out to see my consultant tomorrow as can only use 50% of my left hand keep you posted x