Methotrexate

[Deejojo]

So I might. Be going on methotrexate I'm a little worried 😩 about it as seen some scary stories about it but if helps with this knee & hand 🤚 pain I'll be a happy 🐰

[Hidden]

Please don't be scared. Mtx has almost given me back my life. I've had no adverse effects on it. I would recommend you drink lots of water throughout your mtx day, even if you aren't thirsty. I didn't drink enough on one of my mtx days and man oh man I got the worst headache ever the next day!! So drink lots of water.

[Deejojo in reply to Hidden]

Thank

You hun is it tablets or injections??? X

[Hidden in reply to Deejojo]

I started on tablets and now I am on .8ml injections. I was scared to take the injections at first, but now I wonder why was I scared? The injector pens aren't available where I live, so I have to draw the mtx from the vial. Not hard at all.

[Hidden in reply to Deejojo]

Oh the reason why I switched to injections was because my rheumy said the body absorbs the mtx better when you go to a higher dose.

[Hidden]

Hello. understand why you are scared but please be aware that, as a general rule, the risks and side effects for methotrexate are worse for super high doses that are for cancer patients, not RA patients. That said, it's always scary starting something new. They should increase you slowly and bear in mind that, while you may initially feel yucky, it may very well pass and your body gets used to it. Take care and good luck!

[Deejojo in reply to Hidden]

Thank u very much xx

[AgedCrone]

I think most people are wary of Mtx...but I had 7 great years on it....it gave me my life back & I hardly knew I had RA. Yes, I did eventually have to come off it because of side effects, but looking back I don't think my RA returned as bad as it was prior to taking Mtx.

So big breath & go for it.....hope you have good news to tell in 6-12 months...it does take time to settle in.....but try not to throw in the towel if you feel grim in the first month or two.

[Gnarli]

I understand where you are coming from Deejojo. Following a few weeks of delay I'm just waiting now for the go-ahead. I have the tablets all ready to go and, yes, I'm scared. My RA seems to be doing the grand tour round my joints leaving soreness and stiffness in its wake. I really really don't want to flare again so maybe it's the lesser of two evils.

Please let us know how you get on

BIg hugs

Jan

[Maeve31]

Hi Deejojo, yes it can be scary with any medicine knowing the possible side effects. The more I read this site (just joined about a month ago) I realise that we in Ireland don't have half the information (or resources!) that you Guys do in the UK and maybe that's both a good and a bad thing (on the information as lack of resources is obviously purely a bad thing)!

I wasn't aware of the amount of bad methotrexate stories and I've been on it for 13 years - 25mg the last 2 years. Thankfully I've never had any problem, bar some indigestion if I take it without food. So I now take it with my porridge in the morning & thankfully that works. And the positive thing is that it really seems to have generally controlled my RA. Yes I've had a few flare up but thankfully they are few and far between and invariable stress driven.

Reading some of the posts I get a bit anxious as to whether I might end up with some of the difficulties that others have been unlucky enough to experience. Those times I have to kick myself in the ass and tell myself stay positive and just think of today. I've never had a problem with the MTX to date so why should I going forward?

So it's good to know the potential down sides, but it's important to not worry about them unnecessarily - just worry about them if they become a problem!

Best of luck with it, hopefully it will control your disease and you will tolerate it well with no side effects.

Maeve X

[nomoreheels]

It's natural to get the heebie jeebies before starting any new med but MTX can make huge differences for those taking it, honestly Denise. Some get concerned because of it's initial license as a chemo drug but if it can save lives for cancer patients it must work well on the bad cells for RD, the inflammation cells which damage joints. What is it specifically that concerns you or something else? Let us know & maybe those of us who it's worked for can allay your fears a bit? x

[Deejojo in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you 😊 Hun xx