I am sure that the registrar will put me on methodrexate when I see her on Friday. I have made my peace with that despite devastation about reducing my drinking. ( I love booze)
What's getting to me now is the amount of things I keep reading about it either not working or people not being able to take it for a whole range of reasons.
This is scaring me because I find myself thinking - what ignite doesn't work for me???
I know it's impossible to know the future but I was just wondering what you guys thought the "strike rate" for this thing working is?
I'd rather grumble about a drug that works than be left high and dry without one!
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Bon1
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I am with methotrexate and Arava. There may be side effect but not all users will get it. Read the following link for better understand and ask your doctor if you have any question.
Strike rate is pretty good. These sorts of forums tend to emphasise the problems as they are not hugely representative. Most people only post when they are having a bad time, so you tend to hear more about bad experiences than good ones. I seem to recall my rheumy said it worked for well most people and it was only an unlucky small minority who had problems. So think positive, chances are it will be absolutely fine. I think of MTX as my best friend now. And anyway, there are about 20 other drugs to try if it doesn't work.
It's been the best DMARD I've had, 7 years now & it's caused less troubles than my latest addition, sulfasalazine. The tablets did take a little getting used to but most DMARDs do, especially if you've not needed to take specialist 'heavy' meds before but my thoughts were if it helps the hurty bits it's worth giving it a go & HCQ just wasn't doing it. Around 6 years ago I went on to injections &, as is often the case, do really well, just a bit more tired & less appetite the day after. It's a med that if you experience side effects it's usually due to depletion in folate because MTX is a folate antagonist. Healthy cells need folate to grow & divide but methotrexate isn't fussed in it's anti-folate activities! It's down to it's interference with healthy cells why we take folic acid, to counteract MTX's effects on our healthy bits, that is except for the same day as MTX as it can lessen the effectiveness.
Do bear in mind that with forums such as this it's often the case that people are reaching out because they're struggling so if that's the type of thing you've been reading it's not representative. In the main people are getting on with their lives whether on MTX or any other meds but we don't see that so much. It's also helpful if you tolerate MTX & need to progress on to anti-TNF's or biologics as it's often used in combination, it seems they work better with them, though other DMARDs are considered if you're unfortunate & don't.
Oh & don't worry about asking questions, that's what we're here for.....to help, support & share experiences. When you're newly diagnosed it can be a bit of a minefield, not only getting your head round things but the meds are a whole other learning curve.
The trouble is on forums such as this there are mainly people that have either just been diagnosed and feeling overwhelmed or ones who have had the disease a long time but have trouble with meds and getting control. It is surprising how many people are on MTX and you would never know and they get on with their life as normal. You are closely monitored and if it works it can be worth a sacrifice (but perhaps thats just my opinion after failing a number of drugs of the years and grateful to find one that will work). Farm
As others have said, forums and the internet in general are bound to give a skewed impression of Mtx. Some of us will mention in passing that it works well for us, that we have no or minimal side effects etc. but obviously problems and concerns are what make most people turn to the keyboard.
Mtx is very, very widely used as the first line of treatment for inflammatory arthritis across the world. It's not true that the NHS uses it in this way because it's relatively cheap, it just is the standard treatment.
I used to love drinking too, still do. But I've reluctantly accepted that a systemic disease such as RA or PsA requires the healthiest lifestyle possible. The body's already under stress as a result of the disease and a skinful just adds to that. These days I do drink occasionally, but I try to savour it rather than chuck it down my neck! Before diagnosis and treatment I often felt 'a bit off' at best and often downright awful. These days I get a huge buzz from feeling so much more alert and comfortable in my own body (usually!) And yes, perhaps celebrating that by sipping a glass of wine in the sunshine .... okay, drizzle. But hey, better days ahead I hope, both for you and in terms of the weather.
Not to put you off if you do go on to use Methotrexate. It made me feel sick untill I was put on Metoject pen solution for injection..easy to use and no pain.
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Losing my mind
wonder when i will get my new treatment .
My first day back to work.....
One day nearer my holiday...
