Methotrexate

[Kilmarnicj]

I have been o Methotrexate for some two years now and at present suffering from an excessive amountof phlemn in throat and lungs is this caused by methotrexate

[nomoreheels]

Any lung involvement whilst on MTX should be reported to your GP or Rheumy as it's a known side effect & you may be required to provide a sputum sample & maybe a chest X-ray. What colour is the phlegm & are your neutrophils or WBC raised? You don't mention if you have a cold or not?

If there is sign of an infection you may need to temporarily stop MTX & be prescribed a course of antibiotics. Just to prepare you, if MTX is affecting your lungs you may need to stop it.

[Downtime]

Hi, I certainly suffer from an excess amount of mucus but understand this is a feature of the RA rather than the Mxt. It’s not phlegm exactly and my lungs are clear. I hate it. If I have a cold, it’s horrible . Much worse than it ever used to be. Sounds as if you should get checked out especially if you have a cough and phlegm.

[Joy_1]

When I get a cold it takes ages to get rid of the phlegm. I have had it all checked out by my RA consultant and a chest consultant and it is not the MTX.

When I first started taking MTX I was told that if I develop a persistent dry cough that that is when I need to stop the MTX and go straight to my GP and request a chest x-ray as that is when it is likely to be the MTX causing lung issues.

I was told that clear or white phlegm is no probs and I recently asked if there is an issue with having phlegm for ages not shifting and was told nope that is no problem as long as it is clear or white.

Finally I asked if there is a way of getting rid of the phlegm. I was told that steam inhalation (do NOT add anything to the water) 3 times a day for a couple of weeks may do the trick. But that sometimes it can actually make it worse. So I have decided to just put up with the phlegm.