Methotrexate

[Twinks80]

Hello! So my rheumy has added methotrexate to my mix of medicine. I took my first dosage Friday evening and let me just say that yesterday every joint in my body hurts and I had really bad fatigue. I felt so bad and was miserable. Is this normal and will this get better with time?

[Runrig01]

Not sure I can answer this, but I recently switch from Azathioprine to MTX 2 weeks ago. My Rheumatologist told me to keep the next day free as I would feel fatigued and possibly nauseous. She started me on 7.5mg, increase tomorrow to 15mg, but I felt more energised than I had in months for h 3 days following taking it, then exhaustion set in till I took the next dose. Whether being on another DMARD helped I don't know, but hands and feet better than they've been in ages. Hope the bad effects settle soon 😃

[gwynedd]

Hi there Twinks

I've recently posted a positive message about my experience with mtx, titled " tentatively optimistic mtx working" ,there's a few postings there that you might find reassuring.

It's very early days for you at the moment so try and give it a chance. I've been taking it for 5 months and only just starting to feel the difference. I usually feel a bit nauseous and tired the day after but to be honest even that is getting better.

Good luck and I hope it works for you. 😀

[Kevin1952]

Seems to be a short term effect with meth. when I first started on it I felt the same but my body soon handled it. If it lasts more than a couple of days let your Rheumy know. You might need the dose fine tuned! Hope this helps!

[sylvi]

It can take up to three months before you feel the benefit of mtx,some feel brighter before then others don't,as has been said before be patient. I never had any side effects from mtx.xxxxx

[Ellieellie]

When I took mine I was always tired on the day of taking and never really perked up until the afternoon of the next day. Weekends became a washout for me. Have had to come offmine after a number of years because of high liver readings .

[helixhelix]

It made me a bit washed out at first, but this wore off after a couple of months. And then it started working so it was all worth it!

[NourGamal]

it takes minimum 3 weeks to start feel the effect of MTX...so what are feeling now is not related to MTX

it will become much better God willing.

Don't worry

[bradfordjoanna]

Hi. I have been taking for nearly a year (20mg). It does get better. I use the injection as less sick feelings, I Drink more water for a couple of days to avoid a dry mouth, but all side effects less than they were. And less pain!

Good luck

[marie66]

It's a bit of a trade off for me. I moved to jabs -still feel nausea and take an anti sickness pill to combat but joint pain is slowly improving. I'm now 6months on. M x

[nomoreheels]

I'm not sure that it would be the MTX making you feel your body hurts & fatigued, it, like all DMARDs builds up & doesn't work so well from the first dose so it may be you're just run down. Any side effects, if you have any, will be apparent the longer you take it but please, try not to focus on that, will it to work because it can be a very good med for many of us with RD, has been for me for coming up to 7 years now & I hope you find it as good. Keep taking the folic acid!

[stbernhard]

Luckily for me it worked very well. I had to switch to the injection instead of tablets because of nausea. No such thing with the injections and they are so easy. I hope it'll work for you just as well with time. All the very best and don't forget the folic acid.

[Joy_1]

I started on 10mg and was told by my Consultant that it takes on average 3 to 12 weeks before one starts seeing an affect. I was told to increase by 2.5mg every 2 weeks before hitting my ideal dose of 15mg.

I can't say to begin with my joints were any worse but I did notice a significant decrease in fatigue very quickly!

I also had nausea all day everyday, and what I called my MTX headache the day after taking the tablets but this did not happen as I recall until I hit 15mg.

The nausea went in time aided by folic acid and the MTX headache goes once I take a Paracetomol.

Hope the MTX starts giving you a positive result soon.

[AllyWelshDragon in reply to Joy_1]

Yes, I had the same dose and same experience as you, Joy. Five months in, I'm still doing well on it so far!

[Joy_1 in reply to AllyWelshDragon]

Very pleased to hear you are doing well thus far AllyWelshDragon.

Long may MTX keep working for us!

[hope-always316]

Like other commenters, I started on MTX just 8 weeks ago and was warned it can take "well up to 12 weeks to feel the full benefits" so do give it a chance.

I found for me personally:

- the yukky feelings come on exactly 4 hours after taking it and although I felt horrible after the first few doses, I just went to bed (I take my dose on a Thursday evening) and it does pass.

- after my 4th/5th week I barely notice the yuk feeling, just fatigued (but suspect that's the arthritis)

- take your folic acid every other day (I'm on 5mg x6 days a week) to help with side effects- I have hardly any nausea now

- I've only had need of painkillers twice since starting MTX (not sure if the inflammation is settling or I'm generally getting better!)

- it has definitely already helped my joints, a bit of a flare up here and there from day to day, but otherwise pretty mobile

Good luck 🌟

[Lolalaley]

Yes!!! It will get better. Of course, keep your rheumy informed. I started with MTX last May and at firts I felt exactly as you!! Now it has helped me to feel and function much better!! Keep it up, always close to me our medical team.

[ElizabethAnneM]

stick with it as I also had a nauseous/fatigued couple of weeks following taking it. Now 12 months on I still get a bit tired but nothing like I was before. The nausea has gone. Up until this cold weather started (a week ago) I would say I have been a lot better but this weekend my fingers have got cold and achey (not painful), there again it was bitter on Sat morning and I was outside cleaning kennels, once I got my gloves on I was ok! Serves me right! I am also on 15mg (tablets) per week.

[Snoozey]

Hubby was prescribed mtx as his first option and was given the advice, by a fellow sufferer, to take it at night after eating something. So far this has proved to be good advice, he is in remission now and still on mtx, he does feel crappy for most of the day after taking his meds but the one day he didn't eat and said he'd be ok he was so much worse. Also he feels a lot less crappy now than when he first started taking it. Hope this makes you feel a bit better. xx

[melissa6140]

when I was on it the had me taking prednisone still because it takes around 4 to 6 weeks to start working.I started xeljanz a little over a week ago and am taking prednisone because that takes about 4 weeks to kick in.

[Bandido]

I built up MTX over forever and finally reached 10 tabs (25mg) week. That last jump did miracles and no bad effects. Still on it.

Prednisone has many long term side effects and I cut completely after 7 years. Although it was a wonderful prop, working towards a jump back to NSAID is important.

[Paulajolo]

Well I had similar to you stayed on it 8 weeks then lost a lot of my hair and developed a nasty rash. It didn't agree with me at all. Wipe outs were worst to cope with. in bed every day.

[Sugacat]

My Rachel suggested the same thing to me and after my injection proceeded to tell me in depth b the damage that this medication could do to m you body. I refused it and did not take the pills. I decided to try healing myself through nutrition. I stopped all Sugar, dairy and fried foods. My diet consists mostly of veggies and some fruit. Moderate amounts of protein. I take 3 fish oil pills a day, my HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE, plenty of water, green tea and I walk 3 to 5 times a week. Overall I've lost 55lbs and my RA doesn't flare up as much as before. I refuse to be medicated and have more ailments trying to treat the one that I already have. My blood work came back that my levels are normalizing. Do I still get stiff and achy at times, YES I DO! BUT NO INFECTIONS, BAD LIVER READINGS ECT...DO YOUR RESEARCH TRY TO HELP YOURSELF, DIET IS VERY IMPORTANT AND GETTING RID OF MUCUS AND INFLAMMATION IN YOUR BODY...BE BLESSED