New kid on the block

[Biscuitman]

Hi

I've just signed up to the forum and I'm looking forward to contributing to the board.

Something I need to ask first is about a possible side effect of the 'dreaded' Methotrexate.

I've been on MTX since June 2016 for RA, tablets to start with and am now on weekly injections of 12.5Mg.

Since about February 2017 I've started to get anxiety attacks and now it's driving me mad.

I've had a few other side effects, bowel problems, slight hair loss and problems with my mouth - dryness and ulcers. I'm also permanently exhausted although I'm told this is the RA

I asked my GP and the Consultant if the anxiety was due to MTX but they said no!

I'm finding it difficult to stop moving my tongue around in my mouth which leads to stress and soreness which is driving me around the bend. Plus the wife keeps on telling me to stop - easier said than done for me though!

I've now asked my consultant about changing to Sulfasalazine to see if it suits me better and he's agreed.

Any comments/information would be much appreciated.

[Damaged]

Hello Biscuitman , welcome to the forum. I am very surprised that your consulted said MTX did not have anxiety as a side effects. I beg to differ, it most certainly can produce that side effect. The injections created far fewer side effects for me.

It can take sometime to find a combination of drugs that work for you. Think of it as an adventure lol

I sincerely hope you and your doctor find what works for you.

[Matalow]

Welcome Biscuitman, yes mtx can throw up all sorts of side effects in my case very sore mouth and nausea . I believe injections are much better.

Just a thought if you are eating lots of biscuits they may make your mouth dry (joke)

Hope you and your doc can find drugs that suit you.

Regards Mike

[sylvi]

Mtx does have side effects, hair loss etc.but it shouldn't last,at least whats what they say.I didn't have any side effects happily.Keep on at the medics and see if you can get as much info as you possible can to back up your arguement . Good luck i hope you soon have some answers.xxxx

[Ali_H]

Hi and welcome.

The mouth thing could be meds or it could be lack of saliva due to the RA. Does your dentist know that you live with RA? If not make an appointment and let them know and s/he will check your mouth including saliva quantity. That's the shot answer but it's a bit more complicated - basically get your your dentist on board as well. You can get toothpaste and mouthwash designed for those of us with dry mouth ( biotene) is the brand I use.

All the best

Ali

[nomoreheels]

Hiya & welcome. Are you able to determine if your anxiety is caused by the MTX or the injection? I might just be numb but I've been on MTX 8 years, 7 of them by injection, but I don't have any problems, never have, it's always worked well for me so I see it as just another med that keeps me going. If you think it's the injection you could ask to try going back on tablets again, it's a little more difficult if it's the MTX itself, particularly if it's working.

You side effects may have been eased by an increase in your folic acid, they're all symptomatic of folate deficiency, except for the dry mouth which could be caused by another med, I take quite a few other meds but worked out it was amitriptyline. As Ali has mentioned Biotène gel may help the mouth dryness, mine's prescribed by my GP so it might be work asking if yours will prescribe it for you too. There are no regs for prescribing folic acid with MTX so it's dependant on your Rheumy's preference.... I'm on 6 days just not injection day so if you were on fewer then you could have asked if the days you take it could've been increased. We all respond differently but I'm just a little tired the following day, I have less appetite too. Otherwise I'm generally hunky dory.

Sulfasalazine didn't suite me at all despite me persevering for longer than I should have but, again, we're all different. So it's MTX & leflunomide for me, though I'm not convinced the LEF's working.

I hope you find being here helpful. 😊

[premierscfc]

Welcome to the forum!

When I was on metbotrexate I developed nausea which was treated with a gp prescribed anti sickness medication and on taking it I became very anxious. I called the pharmcist who checked and informed me it was a known rare side effect. I took no more tabkets and the anxiety subsided.

I realy hope you get to the bottom of the cause.

[Biscuitman]

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Update: Having gone three stress free days I had my weekly injection and within 6 hours the problem with my mouth started up again - pretty sure it's the MTX! Or perhaps it's psychosematic - what do you think?

Will try the Sulfasalazine and if it doesn't work I may have to go back to the MTX.

Thanks again. Biscuitman