Taken off methotrexate because of liver.

[EDee]

Recently diagnosed March 2018 I have been taking 15mg of methotrexate yesterday was my 8th lot of tablets. Today (while feeling nauseous) the RA nurse ran to say blood results from last Monday show me to have raised liver (would have been good if she had rung yesterday). was really shocked and am now getting worried as I took more tablets yesterday so have had 2 weeks worth since this blood test. Does your liver get better she told me to have bloods done in 2 weeks. Will swelling all come back now?

[helixhelix]

The liver is brilliant as it is the one organ in your body that can repair itself. So really try not to worry. Usually once you've been off the MTX for a couple of weeks your liver readings will go back to normal.

Often they then suggest you try again, maybe starting with a lower dose and building up, and all's fine. Other times it doesn't work and you'll be offered another drug. But this happens quite a bit and is usually nothing to worry about long term.

[Neverending63]

Happened to me and ended up having to swap to biologic as mtx was the only drug I didn’t get allergic reaction to. Kept reducing dose until it was too low and didn’t work. It is just trial and error until it gets there. Other than that it’s as helix says. Good luck x

[Nuttyshirlz]

Hi

I’ve also had same done to me nurse rang two days later so I was also worried I had to stop for 5 weeks first time then restart. I’ve being on a year this week and still on them with no problems at all x 🙂

[EDee in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

Thank you all for you reassuring words, as always calls from the hospital always send me in a panic so I don’t really hear everything they are saying.x🤗

[xandii]

Hi EDee Hun,

My experience was slightly different as i have Behcets and PsA.

I was on MTX @ 10mg (the lowest dose you can get) and my liver levels went up rapidly.

Unfortunately, even though i was taken off of them immediately after just a few weeks, i had to go for a liver scan and the end results showed i had the beginnings of Liver Cirrhosis.

Although i am now on Infliximab and have no problems with that at all, my liver never recovered so i still have Liver Cirrhosis which is monitored carefully and very regularly. I also take an awful lot of other medication and at the time, was very overweight (i have since lost 9 stone but still weigh 17 stone +,) so i was told this could have been a contributing factor and as i dont drink it is registered on my record as non alchohol related.

I was very concerned and quite frightened when it happened to me especially since my liver doesnt appear able to recover from it as one would expect but i have been coping well with this for the last three years with no further adverse affects so please try not to worry about it too much okay? Mwah !

The chances are your liver will recover nicely after a short period of time but even if it doesnt, the problem has been identified very quickly so it shouldn’t get any worse either so certainly is not a life threatening aspect to worry about.

I hope this helps to put your mind at rest a little.

Take care,

X xx

[Magymay]

Hi Edee ,I'm on metoject weekly 20mgs but at first I was on tablets and like yourself had raised liver a couple of times ,They told me to stop tablets and get blood checked the following week ,usually out would be back to normal and I'd start again .Swelling didn't come back so you should be OK 😁all the best with it !

[Parker16-]

Let’s me put your mind at rest quickly, the Hospital forgot to tell me and I continued for another 2 Months . I was worried silly but once off it my liver started to drop back very quickly. My only problem is what to take next they are all horrible drugs. I have been off them months now but my RA is much worse. I have not been brave enough to try another one. Keep us updated and please don’t worry it just makes things worse. Hope this helps. Pam

[dbestdeb]

I was never put on methotrexate because my disease involves my liver. Elevated enzymes was the symptom that showed up years before the RA actually presented. After many years of blood tests, scans, biopsies, etc doctors figured out that they can bring my numbers into normal range with steroids and azathioprine. I had elevated enzymes from 2004-20015 before they hit on the answer, so don’t worry about a couple of weeks. I’m sure it will drop back to normal after you stop the methotrexate. Be sure to let us know.

[Hidden]

EDee. I’ve heard the liver can repair itself. Eating well always and no alcohol seems a good way to start I’m sure there’s many more things to avoid. Lots of water, of course. I’m supposed to take my fourth dose today but something keeps telling me not to. Ive had more pain after each dose which seems wrong. Such a hard road to travel. God bless you with good health.

[EDee in reply to Hidden]

I always seem stiffer the day after but then it settles again. Have you been having blood tests? I have really bad nausea and was going to change to injections next week, will have to wai ans see how the liver is

[Scrappie54]

After 7 years on MTX I was taken off it for elevated liver values. Yes, the stiffness came back. I can no longer take MTX for when tried to add again the value increased liver is too sensitive to this med.

[nomoreheels]

It happens, though I can understand we might seem a bit blazé, it's probably a bit frightening. MTX is no different to any other med, some are ok on it & respond well, others not so. It's not that unusual to have a few hiccups with the meds we take, they aren't aspirin would that they were! Usually if we have raised LFT's we're asked to do as you have & halt it & have a blood test either in a week or a fortnight. I'm expecting my liver to respond negatively to an increase I'm due to start, it has historically when I go up to 20mg & I've been on MTX 9 years, injections, currently 17.5mg. So try not to worry, it can just be a blip, you may need to come down a dose if your LFT's are still raised or have a short break. The liver can take some bashing it is clever in that it's the only organ capable of mending itself. Actually it was just this reason why I had to stop tablets & start injecting, my liver just wouldn't cope well, I don't even drink alcohol! Taken by injection the dose can often be reduced with the same effect as it's bioavailability is greater, going straight into the bloodstream & not going through the digestive system means less of the dose is lost, hence the possible reduction. I was on 20mg tablets & 17.5mg kept me controlled, till now. If you're drinking alcohol it might be an idea to stop until you receive further advice, just to give your liver that extra chance to settle down.

The folic acid is intended to help ease any side effects. If they're not at the dose you've been prescribed do mention it to your Rheumy or nurse, they may increase the days you take it, if you're not on max dose (5mg 6 days).

I hope you find your values return to normal & you're able to restart. I've found I can be ok for a fortnight off MTX, by 3 weeks I'm ready to restart it.

[Lyneal]

Try not to worry to much, have another blood test and your nurse will sort out your tablets for you. I have had a friend with the same thing, he was ok. Good luck with it all.