Why is folic acid prescribed with metho .. just curious

[norfolkjo]

[DrWhoFan]

Folic acid helps with the nausea and mouth ulcers.

[helixhelix]

One of the things MTX does (apart from helping control your RA of course) is to reduce the level of folate/folic acid in your body. And you need this for all sorts of things (you might have been given folic acid to take during pregnancy ) as well as having too little also making it more likely that you'll get other side effects such as mouth ulcers and stomach problems.

So we top it up by taking extra folic acid. However, some research has shown that if you take too much folic acid then it makes the MTX less effective....so many rheumy's prefer that you only take what you need to control side effects and no more. So often you are started on one tablet a week of folic acid, and that's only increased if you need to. Which is why we all take slightly different amounts.

[norfolkjo]

Thanks . Feeling sick at the thought of being sick these days

[Hidden]

It can help prevent hairloss too, I belief.

[pharm3]

Hi there are a few reasons for folic acid but the most important are red and white blood cell repair and renewal while on mtx, it is also good for sickness, and general cell repair. A good natural source if you want to increase folic acid intake is green leafy vegetables. All the best

[cathie]

It might protect against liver damage too