New to this

[Lainey61163]

I’m wondering I just started methatexate last week I had a bad headache and some nausea, my question is I can live with that but did anyone start losing there hair ? I’m definitely afraid of that and weight gain .. I just don’t know if I can handle that ? Any advice would be appreciated also it’s Christmas and I’d like a drink .. I read the directions and it says no alcholn? What happens if I have 1 drink for Christmas?

[helixhelix]

When I first started taking MTX my hair thinned a bit. And I would find more than normal in the shower. However this didn't last and after a few months my hair was back to normal. I didn't gain any weight with it either, and that's not something that normally happens.

As for alcohol. I didn't drink any for the first 2 months to give my body the best chance to adapt to MTX and for it to work. After that, and after I had several blood tests that showed my liver was not reacting to the drug, I did start to have a drink now and then. Now I do have a drink with my dinner maybe once or twice a week. Never on MTX day (or the one before or after) and never more than 2 at once.

Personally if I'd only just started it then I wouldn't touch alcohol for the moment. Bad timing I'm afraid.....

[Beaches2]

Hi

I felt really rough for the first couple of months of taking methotrexate. Sick, tired and generally yuck. I followed advice on here to drink loads of water, take with or after food and take in the evening so most of yucky side effects happened overnight. Also increased the folic acid I was taking. Was increased to 6 times a week. Side effects all but disappeared. I had some hair loss when I added in leflunomide. Was upsetting, but it soon stopped and my hair is normal now ......still on both drugs. No weight gain for me, don't think that's a usual side effect of methotrexate.

I stopped drinking when I started methotrexate and haven't bothered to drink since, 4 years now, I would still like an occasional drink but now think it's just not worth it so don't bother. Sorry to say, if I were you, I wouldn't drink so soon after starting drugs, as helix says, keep an eye on your blood tests first and see how your liver copes.

Hope it works for you and you have a lovely Christmas

[AgedCrone]

I took Methotrexate for 7 years, no hair loss, no weight gain & I had a glass of wine (with rheumy's permission) every evening.

It seems it is very much trial & error with most Dmards......do hope Mtx suits you...it gave me my life back for those 7 years.

Ask your rheumy nurse about a glass of wine over Christmas, but maybe as you have only just started taking it, it might be wise to hold off until you are settled on it!

Good Luck!

[Nuttyshirlz]

Hi

I started methotrexate 8 months ago.Im losing weight but I find I don’t feel hungry also lost hair not that ppl would notice I did thou.plus suffered with really dry hair no matter how much conditioner or oil I use.just have to bear with it.I also suffered with no motivation bad heads etc like everyone else,I also don’t drink on methotrexate as my nurse told me not too but then my counts are high 😳

[Kim-NRAS NRAS]

Hi there

For some further information and guidedance, check out this video on our website which explains more and for further reading: nras.org.uk/methotrexate

Hope this helps.

Best wishes

Kim

[Lainey61163 in reply to Kim-NRAS]

Thank you ☺️