Medication

[joanne2]

I am taking 15 mg Methotrexate once a week, folic acid every day and Plaquenil 200 mg one day 400 mg the next day alternately. My hands are swollen and I cannot sleep at night for the pain in my legs and shoulder. I think the cold weather is making the pain worse. Should I increase the Methotrexate or just take Ibuprofen every day?

[Gemmi]

I would not increase the methotrexate without consulting your doctor first.

[AgedCrone]

You don't take the folic acid the day you take the Mtx do you?

Usual regime is 6 days a week not 7!

I would speak to your Rheumy nurse & ask her what she advises after she sees results of your blood tests, you should not alter your dose of Mtx until you have taken advice,.....

[helixhelix in reply to AgedCrone]

In other countries folic acid is 7 days...

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

I’m on 20 mg Mtx a week and 5mg once a week of Folic Acid

[AgedCrone in reply to helixhelix]

I wonder why? I was told not to take it on the same day as Mtx because it could reduce the effect of the dose.

Academic now as I sit here hooked up to my RTX drip..(not with Mtx) It's now 13.26... Started at 0900, & the darned thing is only half way through! Looks like I'll be here until around 4.30pm.

But it works for me, so what's' a few hours lolling around in a chair, reading a book, & gossiping on line without feeling I should be doing something else.........?

[helixhelix]

It may well be that you need to change drugs completely, rather than increase your current drugs. I hope you have an appointment with your rheumatologist soon to discuss reviewing your treatment? If not try to ask for an urgent appointment.

If you wanted to increase your methotrexate then you'd need a new prescription anyway, so you would need to wait until you'd seen the doctor.

[Joy_1]

I would not increase my MTX without speaking to my Consultant either.

I was on 15mg MTX but it did not quite get rid of the morning stiffness. 17.5mg is working it's magic for me.

As for any pain, my saviour is Tiger Balm - white not red one - branded not cheapo version.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Joanne, welcome. I'm sorry to hear things aren't so good, cold weather affects many of us so we can understand. It's not a good idea to increase your DMARDs, not on your own accord, not in the way you can up your ibuprofen. Also if you do you'll throw out your scripts, you'll need to reorder them earlier. I've been on various doses of MTX over the years but it's always been the decision of my Rheumy, they're not the kind of meds we can just decide to increase.

If you don't have a Rheumy or nurse appointment any time soon maybe see your GP, he may be able to prescribe a more effective NSAID for you to help ease your inflammation better & in turn pain. Ibuprofen is ok but there are better options for us with RD.

[joanne2]

My rhumatologist has taken me off Methotrexate for 2 weeks as my white blood count is low. What does this mean. Also, can my rhumatologist refer me for a hip real cement I am in so much pain