Methotrexate Injections

[dav71]

I have been taking 6 sulphasalazine for the past year and I have now been told to inject 10ml of Methotrexate in addition to the sulphasalazine. I took my 2nd injection yesterday morning and haven't been able to get out of my bed since. I am exhausted to the point i can barely move, feel dizzy and have a really sore head. Is this normal? Does it get better at your body gets used to the drugs? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[popsmith1874]

It takes a few weeks to get used to the medication and it can take upto 12 weeks for it to start to work, are you taking frolic acid every day except injection day as this can be a big help, if not I would ask your Rheumy to up your frolic acid

[dav71 in reply to popsmith1874]

Thanks for your reply. Does the side effects get better as your body becomes more used to the medication - this is what has happened to me with Sulphasalazine. I was told by the nurse to only take 5mg of folic acid 4 days after injection. I have an appointment with the rheumy nurse tomorrow so will ask her about this then.

[popsmith1874 in reply to dav71]

They will probably up it to 6 days if you tell her your still feeling sickly and that should help plus once your body adjusts to the mtx you should feel a bit better, I've been on it since 2014 and the day after I sometimes still feel a wee bit sicky but also drink plenty off water which also helps

[dav71]

Thank you.

[nomoreheels]

As pops has said it often takes a little while for your body to get used to MTX, similar to your experience with SSZ, though I had to come off that as sickness & mood didn't improve for me. You don't say what time of the day you inject but I'd try bedtime then hopefully you could sleep off the worst of it. I'd definitely ask if your folic acid can increased too. I've been on MTX nearly 7 years & currently on 17.5 mg subcut & take 5 mg every day except the day inject & whilst I'm a little iffy the day after (coincidentally today!) by Friday I'm back to normal. I hope it works as well for you as it does for me & this is just a new med hiccup.

[dav71 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks I work nightshift so injected on Wednesday morning before going to bed to sleep it off so to speak but am thinking of changing my day to a Friday so I have all weekend to recover before going back to work.

[nomoreheels in reply to dav71]

Sounds like a plan but remember not to change to injecting Fridays the same week you've injected on Wednesday, if that makes sense.