New to site!

[bevyt]

Had a bad liver reaction to sulphasalazine and ive just stopped taking on the advice of the health line hydrixycholorquine because of lips swelling up and a rash appering so feeling pretty down , wanting to know how people have got onwith methotrexate as I think thats what Dr Mahmud will now prescribe me now .

[cathie]

There's a lot of alarming things written about methotrexate but try to remember that serious side effects are not that common. Since I stopped taking it at the beginning of the year I've regretted it, as it did keep my RA under control. You can take it in tablet form or as injections and I think many people tolerate this quite well. So I'd say try not to worry about it, read the literature and make sure that you get the regular blood tests so that you can be monitored.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya bevyt & welcome. I've been on methotrexate for 6 years now, first tablets now injections, & get on with it very well. As cathie says you will find conflicting opinions on the subject, that's the way forums work & we all have different reactions to drugs, but from my perspective it's helped me enormously. There are side effects & of course we all cope with those in different ways but I'm far more controlled than I was pre MTX.

As your Rheumy is considering this drug for you he obviously feels this is the best route for you. It's a commonly used medication & it will take a few weeks to get into your system but once it kicks in you should feel the benefit. .

Hope you enjoy the site & find us a friendly helpful lot.

[Trulyfedup]

Hello, it's good you have joined this site...when I first joined I wasn't sure how people would be and was a little nervous but everyone is so helpful and having the same complaint we understand all worries..I'm on MTX, three years on pills now , nearly three years injection...when I think back as how I was without all these meds, I was dreadful, the pain was indescribable so yes, it has helped me greatly but like all meds we react differently . I was off it for 4 months last year and the old symptoms started to come back so although, I still have my days where it's awful but on the whole I'm glad I can tolerate MTX....be patient though as it takes a while before it kicks in...sending you smiles. Mary xxx

[hatshepsut]

Hi, welcome to this forum! I've been on MTX for five years, first on tablets, then injections. I still have some side effects, but without it my RD is unbearable. So don't be afraid, just take things day by day, and remember it's very effective at preventing joint damage.

Hope you get something sorted out soon! M x

[pawsed]

I didn't get on with sulfa...... felt dreadful, stopped that now on the hydroxy.....only a couple of weeks in so no idea if its helping but no bad side effects so far. Been on the MTX for a little over a year, interesting amounts of nausea to start off with when on tablets, now I inject weekly which although a difficult thing to cope with mentally means virtually no side effects and a much faster delivery of the drug. I have to say, for me, it was life changing. I can move, I have less pain. Good luck with your treatment, sounds like you've got good support from your rheumy team.

[Singwolf]

I've been on MTX for over a year (not for RA) and I've not had any problems at all. Taking it together with Placquenile.