Standard dose of folic acid....

[halaahmed]

Hi everyone, hope things are getting better. Could anyone tell me what the standard dose of folic acid if I take 15 mg MTX??

Thanks,

Hala

[helixhelix]

There isn't one. It all depends on things like your body weight, how you respond to MTX, other drugs you take etc etc etc. Basically the rheumies seem to want you to take as low a dose as possible (as although it helps side effects it can make the MTX slightly less effective) but will increase it if you need to combat side effects.

[halaahmed in reply to helixhelix]

Ah I see, because my new rheumy told me to take just one mg two days after MTX injection. I find it quite low dose compared to my previous rheumy but I learned a tough lesson. Just listen to your doctor.

[Diddydriver]

As Helen said there isn't one. If it helps when I was taking 15 mg MTX I took 5mg folic acid, now I'm on 20 mg I take 15 mg folic acid, so it doesn't really follow. These doses are ( as you know are weekly ) I hope it helps.

[earthwitch]

The smallest dose possible that will reduce unwanted side effects in you. Everyone is different. Too much reduces the effectiveness of the MTX.

[Hidden in reply to earthwitch]

"Too much reduces the effectiveness of the MTX."

Does it really?! I have never heard this before.

[helixhelix in reply to Hidden]

Yup...one of those wonderful circles as it seems they hate each other. MTX knocks out folate, and as a result can make you feel sick get mouth ulcers and so on. But too much folate makes it harder for MTX to do the things we want it to do.