Tablets to injections

[Marykate7]

Morning everyone. Have been on methotrexate for years. Am changing from tablets to injections. Any advice please?

[Hidden]

Hi, I have injections as the tablets caused too many side effects. I find the injections much better and the side effects are less. They also seem to work better at a lower dose. The pens are quick and easy to use. A thumbs up from me. Good luck, hope you find they help x

[Hidden]

Hi Marykate, thumbs up from me too, less side effects, easy to use, painless. Good luck.

[janmary]

I changed to jabs from tabs years ago due to side effects. I find the injections quicker , easier, and more effective than the tabs, and haven't had the side effects I had before.

one tip - drink plenty of water - (same with any drug though)

[Hidden]

You'll think I'm an oddball. I had the injections for years 25mg a week. But my liver function became elevated (thank goodness for blood tests) and I became needle phobic. Only when injecting myself though. Rheumy took me off MTX for a while, I'm now on a much lower dose, 7.5 mg, so I now have tablets again. It's only 3 tablets, so I feel more relaxed.

[nomoreheels]

I've been injecting MTX 7 years. Often we are able to have a slightly lower dose than tablets as the bioavailability is greater because the MTX goes straight into the bloodstream, another reason those who experienced tum problems on tablets tend to do better when changing to injections as it doesn't go through the digestive system.

I inject into my tum alternate sides each week though some are shown to do it in their thigh. One tip is when you receive your month's supply write L or R on the boxes to remind you which side to inject the following week. I inject on a Wednesday & am a little more tired the following day & just want to pick at food but that's all, I tend to not to arrange anything if I can avoid it. Folic acid as with tablets isn't usually taken the same day.

The pens are really easy to use, Metoject has a video to show just how easy metoject.co.uk/healthcare-p...

If you have any specific questions ask away, we'll all have our own experiences we can share.

[Riedenise]

I too am using the mtx pens due to tummy side effects from the tablets, I have been on them 4 half years now. I inject just before bedtime, that way you sleep through any side effects you may get. I use my tummy area which I alternate every week. I find I hardly bruise using the tummy area rather than the upper thigh area.

I drink plenty of water during the day. Avoid taking your folic acid on your mtx day also. I find the day after I'm more tired , so I arrange a quieter day if I can.

Good luck xx Rie

[Gnarli]

I've just done my very first injection today under supervision and it was fine. I have been taught to i ject in my thighs. No reaction at the injection site, no bruising, easy to do and painless. I was getting some unpleasant side effects from the tablets so swapped and today was my second injection. The nausea is starting to subside and my tummy is happier and magically deflated. You don't even need to keep it in the fridge. Hooray! I'm sure that you will be equally fine. My only advice is don't panic and try to rush things.

J

[nomoreheels in reply to Gnarli]

Well done Jan! Pleased it went ok for you. It is easy isn't it? x

[Gnarli in reply to nomoreheels]

Unbelievably easy and no pain either! Thank you so much for your kind wishes

J

[Marykate7]

Thank you all for you for your replies, they are much appreciated. I feel confident now to do them x

[HMSHelene]

Hi Marykate7, I started using injections about 2 months ago, gone up to 20ml now. As for side effects, 100% better than tablets. Tablets gave me terrible nausea and bloating, I get none of that with injections. There are the usual RA side effects such as; tiredness and fatigue. But currently that’s just life. I inject my thigh which is fine, I do get a slight pain with them, like a paper cut feeling for 10 minutes, but I stick a plaster on and go to bed. I do mine last thing before I go to sleep and try to drink a bit more than usual on the Thursday/Friday. Also I take 5mg if folic acid daily apart from dose day. Hope this helps. 👍🏻

[Joy_1]

I moved from tablets to jabs about 3 months ago. I was just about tolerating 15mg tabs but when I needed to up my dose to 17.5mg the nausea took off big time and I also made rather frequent trips to the loo.

The jab has really helped the GI issues.

I have my jab just before I go to bed on a Wed night. On that day I drink about 8 glasses of water otherwise I get the 'MTX headache' the following day.

I pick a nice juicy bit of fat to inject into on my abdomen and as nomoreheels says pick a different side each week and mark up your MTX jab boxes accordingly.

I make sure I do very little on the Thu as it takes me most of Thu to recover but as time goes on the length of recovery time is slowly moving in a positive direction. If I overdo things on a Thu then I feel really nauseous and v v tired.

All the best, hope it works for you too!