Starting methotrexate

[determined4321]

I'm starting methotrexate to treat RA Tomorrow night. I want to be optomistic. Medication insert is frightening. Can anyone comment re their experiences?

[halle123]

I have been taking Methotrexate for almost a year now and have had no side effects other than a slightly off stomach a couple of times which i cant guarantee was even down to the medication. Hopefully you have a positive experience x

[determined4321 in reply to halle123]

Thank you Halle for your prompt reply. I needed to hear that !

[halle123 in reply to determined4321]

I'll have my fingers crossed for you x

[helixhelix]

I've been taking it for 6 years. It has given me my life back, so I think it's a great drug. After the first month or so when slightly woozy, I now have no side effects, no hair loss, no nausea - just well controlled RA. I take it at night, drink lots of water and have an extra hour in bed the following morning. And that's it.

[Gnarli]

I started methotrexate in January and got really anxious about taking it. In a proper tweak. After some helpful and kind advice from the lovely people on this forum I took the tablets after my evening meal and washed them down with ginger beer - because I like it and. Nothing. I felt slightly icky the next day and maybe a little slower but that was it. My dose has increased from 15mg to 25MG and still nothing. I make sure I take the folic acid prescribed - never on MTX day - and everything is still fine. These days I find taking them from a teaspoon quicker and easier than one at a time. We all react differently and have varied experiences of the disease and the treatments. Odds are you'll be great on them. I hope this helps. Hugs

Jan

[Shazz10]

Hi

I was extremely anxious too and have been taking mtx for five weeks and so far so good. Did have general nausea (could've been anxiety) and headaches so got an anti sickness med prescribed on third week and since then all ok. Plenty of water definitely helps too and your folic acid is important.

Good luck to you

Sharon 🌸

[JoWall44]

Hi. I've been taking MTX for a couple of years now. Felt rocky for the first couple of weeks on the day I took it but fine otherwise. Def take the folic acid. It is a scary drug if you think too much about it but if it works........! Hope it works well for you.

[determined4321 in reply to JoWall44]

Thank you for your advice

[Eiram50]

Ditto.

I've been taking it for a good few months now and it doesn't seem to

Bother me greatly. Initially, I suffered mouth ulcers, sickness and some ( very little) hair loss but it all settles quickly enough.

I also remember having a hard time taking the first dose- kept putting it off for another day, then another.....

The thought of it is scarier than the actual reality, for most.

Best of luck with it, lets hope it's just as easy peasy for you.

Marie

[determined4321 in reply to Eiram50]

Thank you for quick reply Marie. I'll check back in a few days. Starting tonight

[Eiram50 in reply to determined4321]

Good luck and rest up!

[Mrsrkendall]

Welcome and no worries. Remember to weigh the odds. Is the medicine and possibly side effects still better than what your dealing with?

I weighed mine and realized my sight (for which I'm on mtx) is way more important that any of the side effects.

I have had some of the side effects. But as you've read every person is different. For me the nausea and general ick feeling is the worst of it. I did cut my hair due to it thinking pretty drastically. But honestly it had started to thin a bit prior to the mtx. Because of how my mtx is being increased I won't find my normal for another couple of months. But that's okay, I know I'll get there eventually. I'm just glad there is a med that's out there they may majorly help me in the long run. Don't stall due to the pamphlet being scary, most medications are if you just read the pamphlet that comes with it! You can follow me if you like. I've been posting weekly updates for the first ten weeks on my treatments. I'll be posting injection fours update shortly!

[determined4321 in reply to Mrsrkendall]

Thank you for your advice. Good luck to you too!

[Sueh121268]

Hi I've been on the methotrexate injection for around 6 months now, I had mouth ulcers with the tablets so went on the pen and upped my folic acid, I'm glad to say I'm one of the lucky ones no side effects at all, just remember if its the pen to change your injection site every week, eat healthy, plenty of water and exercise and think positive and hopefully things will turn out for you. I wish you the best x

[Joy_1]

I have been on MTX for about 1.5 years now.

MTX has allowed me to live again!!!!!!

I have had a couple of side effects but they have been resolved. So if you do get any come back and ask our lovely Forum for help and we'll be here for you.

For example I was getting a splitting headache the day after MTX day. The advice from the Forum was to up my water intake on MTX day. I drink 6 glasses of water a day and upping it by one or two glasses on MTX day resulted in no headache - what joy!

Good luck - I hope MTX is your magic bullet too!

[determined4321 in reply to Joy_1]

Thank you Joy. I'll keep it in mind tomorrow as I'm starting methotrexate tonight. I'm trying to be positive I'll check back in a few!

[Stats12]

Hi

I've been taking MTX for about 2 months now, started off on 10mg taking on Monday then 1 folic acid tab on Fri, been fine about from feeling wiped out by Thursdays, my specialist Rheumy nurse has advised me to take folic acid three times a week now, Wed, Fri and Sun to see if that helps, if not, I can up it to take it everyday apart from the Mon when take MTX, now on 15mg of MTX but nurse does not want to increase it to 20mg yet as she has advised that this is when the side effects could become more apparent, but so far so good.

I am also on my 4th steroid injection 120mg of depo something or other... I asked the nurse if this was ok and she said usually only 4 in a year, but I'm on my 4th since feb this year !!

I am worried about the side effects from steroid more than MTX.

Hope everything goes ok for you.

Sue

x

[determined4321 in reply to Stats12]

Thank you for your reply. My Dr prescribed folic acid daily