Folic Acid

[lovekittys]

Hi, hope you are all feeling fine and in no pain. I have a question about folic acid. I take methotrexate once a week and infusions of remicade once every 6 weeks. I see a lot of people that have been told not to take folic acid the same day as the methotrexate. My doctor has never told me that, she says to take it every day. Any thoughts on this? Thank you

[allanah]

The explanation I got from doc was the infusion sort if flushes out the folic acid so there is no need to take it same day. Some of the others may know if that is still the thinking behind it .

[Hidden]

I was told quite specifically not to take it on Mtx day; i take it 6 days a week. I understood Mtx was a folate antagonist so wouldn't work as well if you took folic same day? I know nothing about remicade 😄 Ring advice line maybe?

[aramire1]

My doc has never said anything about not taking it mtx day either...i take it everyday

[popsmith1874]

I was told to take it every day except mtx day and have done since the last 3 years

[lovekittys]

Thank you everyone, I will ask my doctor just to be sure, but it sounds like there are different thoughts about it with our doctors, so it can't hurt. Have a pain free day.

[Paula-C]

When I had my folic acid increased to everyday I asked about mtx days and he said it didn’t make any difference if I took it. I did query this later with one of my specialist nurse and she told me she had done extensive research into it and she also said it made no difference. I am in remission, have been for the last five years.

[wendymc58 in reply to Paula-C]

Hi, It is great to hear you are in remission! Can you tell us how this happened? Wendy

[Paula-C in reply to wendymc58]

Sorry Wendy only just seen this.

Things got really bad for me in 2012 and I started on enbrel end of November that year. I literally felt it working the next morning. At my twelve week appointment the following February I was in remission and still am. Apart from a very sort lived flare in 2015 I don’t need and pain relief at all and I’ve had on side effects. I also inject 15mg of mtx. I know I am one of the lucky ones.

[Nuttyshirlz]

Hiya

I was also told not to take folic acid on same day has My mtx and I also take it six days a week.I can take my sulfasalazine on same day as my methotrexate but not my folic acid my nurse and my gp said it too.

[calflo]

I inject on a Monday and was told to take my one tablet on a Thursday? Why do some people take tablets every day and me once a week?

[Pulfs]

I inject 15mg of methotrexate on a Wednesday then on Friday take all my 20mg of folic acid tablets have always done this for 20 yrs ......

[AgedCrone]

I think every rheumatologist has their own view of how much FA & how often to take it.

From reading here most seem to take every day except Mtx day...but then many take everyday. Go Figure!

I'd make up my own mind if I were you.....if you stop taking on Mtx day & you feel worse, you can always go back to everyday!

[SueB]

I was always told not to take it on max day as it reduces to effectiveness of the max. This was said again at my checkup yesterday.

[Joy_1]

Hi

When I first started taking MTX the Rheumatology Prof told me to take 1 x 5mg of folic acid 3 days after taking my MTX. He said this was to maximize the bodies uptake of the MTX.

However, I eventually had to take 5mg of folic acid 6 days a week to keep the nausea at bay, but to continue not taking it on MTX day for the same reasons as above.

Joy

[Mall]

I started on folic acid 1 day per week a day after mtx day. I did this for a few years. Then consultant told me to up it to 6 days a week to lessen side effects of mtx that had been picked up in blood tests.

It seems that folk in the USA take folic acid daily and in the Uk folk are advised not to take it on mtx day. Different countries, different ideas probably based on different research findings. Makes me think the difference is minimal so I don't stress about it if I accidently take it when I shouldn't.

[Hidden]

Yes, told no folic acid pill along with MTX as it helps to offset effects of MTX.

But I am on hydroxychloroquine with MTX, no other DMARD or biologics.

[Nettac]

I take one tablet three days after methotrexate. That's what I was told to do

[Fergie432 in reply to Nettac]

Me too.