Methotrexate steriods & nausea

[brit2013]

Hi. I've been on methotrexate since December tablet form & steriods since November lately in the last 2 weeks ice increased from 15mg to 25mg & suffering stomach cramps & feeling quite sick x

[Hidden]

Ask your consultant if you could try the subcutaneous injections. They bypass your stomach, so fewer, if any side effects. A qualified nurse will show you how to do them. They come either in an ordinary syringe/needle combo, which I have, or a pen, which most people find easier.

[oldatwenty in reply to Hidden]

a pen? really? i never heard of that! I'm starting MTX injections tomorrow... perhaps its something I should ask about..

[nomoreheels in reply to oldatwenty]

See if you can open this link Noa, it tells you all about it. I've just switched & it's easy though it has left me with bruising! medacuk.com/news/metoject-p...

[Jacki08]

Hi Brit------ I have terrible nausea on mthx but my gp gave me anti sickness tablets which have worked a treat. I started on 15gms and have had to keep having the dose increased and am now on 25 mgs. The anti sickness tablets are no longer working and I have to start on mthx injections ( or pen) next week. You don't have to put up with the horrid nausea.

[EmLem89]

Exactly, don't put up with it!

I can sympathise, I had terrible sickness and diarrhoea(sorry!) on mtx, GP started me on metoclopramide which helped a little initially but it got to the point where I was too ill to function in normal day life, I couldn't eat or drink normally because most things gave me terrible stomach cramps or sickness so I went to my rheumy doc and explained it was affecting my day to day life and didn't even help my joints! So she started me on biologics.

Everyone is different so make sure your doc find what works for you! You don't have to put up with horrible side effects to be better.

Hope you feel better soon xx

[nomoreheels]

That is quite an increase & it could be why you're feeling so nauseous & having stomach cramps. I would contact your Rheumy team & let them know. I react to a 5mg increase, my liver count goes daft, & I've needed an increase recently. My Rheumy wanted to go to 20mg from 15mg but as I had history she agreed to a 2.5mg increase first, fortnightly blood tests until April & then review if I can increase it by another 2.5mg to reach the 20mg.

Are you spreading the dose over the day or taking all 10 tablets in one go? You don't say what dose folic acid you take or how often. Maybe an increase is necessary if you're not replacing the folinic acid the MTX is depleting. I would think your Rheumy would wish you to continue on tablets to see if you begin to tolerate them better but the option to change to subcutaneous delivery is possible if not. Nausea can be very wearing & many people find it eases or goes once they go on to subcut. Whatever, you don't need to be feeling like you do so do please contact your Rheumy team, your allocated nurse should be able to advise the best course of action.

Did you have your perm?

[brit2013 in reply to nomoreheels]

Hi nomoreheels. I'm taking folinic acid due to being on antibiotics I shouldn't of been taking with mtx, I've increased the folic to daily apart from mtx day. I've increased gradually from 6 tablets 15mg then 8tablets 20mg then 10tablets 25mg my bloods have come back fine as i had another on Friday & came back fine. Been to doctors & he thinks it's indigestion from taking the steriods. X

[nomoreheels in reply to brit2013]

Oh, that's sort of good then! Being the drug it is we can too easily blame MTX if things are untoward as there are many side effects listed but it's always best to get it checked by or at least report it to your Rheumy nurse or as you did your GP. I'd note down somewhere something along the lines of "after X weeks steroids make me nauseous & give me stomach ache". I know that sounds daft but the longer the time between a course the less likely you'll remember how quickly they upset your tum if you're anything like me! ! It'll serve you well!

[Nellnell000 in reply to brit2013]

Can I take more than I mg of folic acid to reduce the vomiting?