Methotrexate and mild shortness of breath

[f00tsie]

Hi all, I'm a newbie and took my first dose of MTX last Wednesday (15 mg oral). I'm also on folic acid and max doses of Naproxen and paracetamol.

Last Thursday I noticed I was slightly short of breath on exertion and if I took a deep breath in.... called the hospital helpline and the nurse told me that it was highly unlikely that one dose of MTX could cause lung problems and to take the next dose as planned... which is tomorrow.

I'm still slightly short of breath and am nervous about taking tomorrow's dose (although I will.) I just wondered if anyone else has experienced this after just one dose of MTX?

Thanks

[Kai--]

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In meantime, till someone comes along, f00tsie (👣), a few experiences with methotrexate & shortness of breath to skim: healthunlocked.com/search/m...

A warm welcome 🔥 👋 & wishing you ‘easy breathing’ 🌬 💨 , dear 👣.

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🙏 🍀 🌺 🌞

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[f00tsie in reply to Kai--]

Many thanks for that useful link Kai, I did a search but didn't manage to come up with them

[helixhelix]

Pop along to your GP to ask that they check your blood pressure? It could be that the MTX has caused a slight increase which can make some people breathless. My GP has a self check machine in the waiting room.

[f00tsie in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for that. I subsequently checked it at home and it was within normal limits for me, but it's something I hadn't thought of and it's reassuring that it's ok.

[Doughnut61]

RA itself can make me a bit breathless sometimes x hope you feel better soon x

[JayneN]

Hi .... after 1 dose on tablets I experienced the same which can be quite frightening. And the more u panic the worse the breathing. I took it for three weeks and then my doctor took me off it and put me on injection MTX which is much better for the breathing . Everyone is different but If it continues see ur doctor straight away ..... x

[f00tsie]

Ah... now I feel better to know that someone was in the same boat as me, and of course, you are right jayne re panic and breathing. I am def going to take it tomorrow and see if it gets any worse. The good thing is that I have an appt with the Rheumy nurse on Friday.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya f00tsie, welcome. It's 8 years since my first dose of MTX but having had a lung condition I'd have remembered if I'd have had shortness of breath. If I have a cold it invariably lands on my chest, my weak spot, then I don't inject as I'm on antibiotics & need to be clear before I inject again. As you've done the correct thing & reported it to your nurse & been assured just the one dose is unlikely to cause it I'd not worry & take your dose tomorrow. If it was of real concern they'd have asked you to see your GP before taking it again. I understand it probably feels counterintuitive but your team deal with these meds all the time. What I would do when you go for your first drug monitoring blood tests, which should be next week, is ask the nurse to take your BP again, she should note it too so she has a record, as helix says it is a symptom & you said it was on exertion & now only slightly, makes sense.

Try not to worry, that can exacerbate things. Many of us here are veterans of MTX & would be honest & tell you if we felt you were in need of urgent attention. Keep in touch though.

[f00tsie in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks for the reassurance... I will keep in touch. I am finding this forum and the NRAS site invaluable. So glad I have developed this disease in the internet age!

[SLEepyhead123]

I have weekly methotrexate injections and I get breathless too. The first 3 to 4 days after the injection are the worst. Breathless even doing things like washing up by. By the end of the week I'm not so bad but then it all starts again with next injection!

[Tessthomy]

Hi I would definitely get that checked out as I was on mtx and had a slight shortness of breath, i wasn’t feeling particularly ill at that point but I’d been told shortness of breath should be reported on mtx , so I dutifully went to my gp who then said he wanted to admit me 🤨...it ended up with me going to hospital for 6 days with pneumonia. I would say any shortness of breath should be reported even if just for peace of mind. TT x