Methotrexate all new

[Louis-]

Hi people hope your all having a pain free day . I have just been to rheumy today and have been jabbed in the butt again and given Methotrexate tables to start on friday fingers crossed they work. Can I ask if anyone has any tips on how to take them .have been told to take them on a night that's it and folic acid 6 days a week? Any advice welcome thanks in advance x

[Eiram50]

Take at night , plenty of water, folic acid 6 days per week, plan for a quiet day after taking them.

Equally, you may be ok to split them, taking them in two halves, in the same day.

Best of luck with things.

Marie

[Louis- in reply to Eiram50]

Hi thanks for your reply will try that sounds like good advice. Just one question why the quiet day?

[Eiram50 in reply to Louis-]

I take 20 mg each week and the only thing that really floors me a bit is the fatigue and sometimes a sickly feeling, the next again day ( or 2!). I believe this is quite common .

[Louis- in reply to Eiram50]

Thanks will look out for that x

[Eiram50 in reply to Louis-]

Good luck Louis

Marie

[shell911 in reply to Eiram50]

I agree with Eiram , it is common being as it is actually also used as a Chemo Drug.

I quit taking it because of being Nauseous from it and am too busy to take a quiet day

I also got a pretty bad Respiratory Infection.

Everyone is different so if you try it just be aware of any changes and make note for the Doc.

[Riedenise]

Hi there Louis,

I found it easier on the tum to take them just before bed, that way you sleep through any side effects. If you're working you may find it better to take them say on a Friday night then you have the weekend off to recover if you need to. I take folic acid four days aweek, not on the mtx day. Hope this helps you. Rie x

[Riedenise in reply to Riedenise]

Drink plenty of water, I found not doing so gave me headaches the next day

[Louis- in reply to Riedenise]

How much do you drink when you take it? A pint? Thanks for your reply x

[Riedenise in reply to Louis-]

I don't drink very much at all, sometimes one glass of wine a week. I did when I first started mtx but I found I felt hungover on one glass the next day, didn't like that feeling! I don't miss drinking at all.

[Eiram50 in reply to Riedenise]

Was t he talking about how much water to drink??

TMI Rie

[Riedenise in reply to Eiram50]

Yes I've just re-read it, I try to drink up to 1-1/2 litres a day.

[Louis- in reply to Riedenise]

That's a lot i will have to up what I drink . Dose tea count?

[Riedenise in reply to Louis-]

Yes tea, squash, liquids really. You need to keep hydrated. Helps to avoid headaches etc

[Hidden in reply to Riedenise]

I have been on methotrexate for around 30 years. No side effects and I have a few glasses of wine a week. My rheumatologist says just be careful and have regular blood tests. I take my pills with breakfast. I used to inject but now I am on Enbrel every week. Good luck to you. There are an awful lot of things that can help. Have had it since 23 and am now 71 and still living well and happy. Still play with grandchildren.

[Lisazs in reply to Louis-]

Try to drink more water throughout the day. I always put some chopped ginger in mine the evening I have my methotrexate and the day after - it's great for nausea and is also a great anti-inflammatory.

[Riedenise in reply to Riedenise]

I'm on 25mg injections and have been over 4 years now. I personally found the injections better on the tum than the tablets.

[alghamdimanal]

Better to take them at night and have two-day rest at the weekend until your body adapt to them. First weeks u may feel exotic and tired as I did, but I experienced different symptoms each time taking them until 7 months later started to feel rare symptoms except sadly for the hair loss and not that much of improvement; however, today I will start Humera with the methotrexate; Hope it works with you and feel better

[Louis- in reply to alghamdimanal]

Good luck with your new drug hope it works thanks for your reply x

[Rocky07]

I don't take methotexate but what was the jab for also I believe to have methotrexste injection s

[Louis- in reply to Rocky07]

Jab was steroids to put me on for a bit had a lot of problems with my hips and hands .I start the mtx tablets on Friday.

[Rocky07 in reply to Louis-]

Usually methotrwxate is once a week

[Louis- in reply to Rocky07]

Yep every Friday for me the jab was just to fix my hips mostly x

[FatJoints]

Hi there, hope you get good improvement soon If you get any side effects then do ask about trying self-injection. I've been self-injecting about 6 weeks now and if I can do it, anyone can. I'm actually squeamish about needles lol but I didn't want to risk any sort of nausea so I haven't actually tried the tabs at all. I haven't had any side effects so far, no adverse effects the night after I inject. Obviously everyone's different but see how it goes I was really paranoid about side effects when I started taking it, after hearing scare stories, so I realised the best thing to do is try not to wonder about every little thing, it won't necessarily be from the meds. I got a really dry mouth and couldn't sleep and I blamed the meds, turned out it was dehydration cause I wasn't drinking enough water hehe. Anxiety has a lot to answer for with this delightful condition. Good luck and let us know how you get on. xx

[Louis- in reply to FatJoints]

Thanks for your reply . I really wanted to start with injections but they would not let me said to try tabs first will have to see how it gos and I will drink lots of water he he x

[FatJoints]

Sounds a good plan. I'm only guessing the tabs are cheaper and I gather a bit more flexible if they need to experiment with dosage in the early stages - the injection pens are a set dosage all prepared in the pen thing already so it's not like you can try adding another pill to it or anything. All the best! x

[Louis- in reply to FatJoints]

I think you are right cheaper and can change dose i am starting at 7.5mg and in 6 weeks if i do ok they will up it x

[Stats12]

Hi Louise

I was diagnosed in Feb this year, started off on MTX tablets 10mg then 15mg, now I'm on 15mg injections... I think they put me on inject as I told them I was feeling really nauseous.

Still had the odd steroid injection in the bum when pain was too bad, had 4 so far this year 😳

Hope you get some relief soon x

Sue

[helixhelix]

Water is a good tip, also best to avoid alcohol completely for at least 6 weeks to give your body best chance to deal with the new drug.

For me the first few weeks were a bit tough with feeling a bit woozy & nauseous, but that did wear off. You are starting at a nice low dose, so things should be fine althought may not feel the benefits for a while.

Also I was panicking slightly as it seemed that my hair was thinning, but again that settled down after first couple of months and my hair is now completely ok. So don't fret if things are a bit odd at first as it does take a bit of time to get used to. Anyway, 6 years+ later I'm still taking it and generally in remission.

[Jeremylondon]

I was on Mtx for 2 years. Other than an initial period of stuff ( i cant remember what) it was fine and worked well.

Then I started getting extreme fatigue 24 hours after - as in the day in bed.

They took me off it and I am now on Enbrel.

So my own experience is it works, it has initial side effect and then if they subside all good. Don't be put off by any initial symptoms - most of what they give you has inital symptoms so you have little choice unless extreme to go with it.

Best of luck.

[MargaretStirling]

I was on injection for just over 2 years 7.5mg it then went to 10mg I showed signs of Kidney problems. Some weeks I wasn't able to get methotrexate Lately I was down to 7.5mg. The hospital decided to put me on to tablets. I have been taking 3 -2.5mg tablets on a Wednesday morning and one Folic Acid tablet 5.mg. 3 days after the Methox tablet . They don't seam to agree with me either. I get a steroid injection in my bum now and then. I am also on patches Lidocaine. I cut the patches up and put them on to all my sore joints naturally they are not a wonder drug but they are not as stressful on your stomach or kidneys you can get other more effective higher dose patches. I am allergic to some of the other tablets that are in use today for RA and having a replacement I feel up to that have already had know and shoulder and still have bother with them and that's 10 years ago

[DC56]

Remember to have something to eat when taking them ,hopefully they'll be good for you but make sure you get in touch with rheum if it doesn't, good luck 😉

[Louis-]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments thank you.