Dry cough

[ChrissieR]

Hell everyone, I was diagnosed in August and started on methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine in September, they are still playing around with my doses as I was feeling quite sick, but slowly getting used to lower doses and increasing them every 2 weeks, for the last few weeks I have had a dry couch but I don’t feel short of breath, I’m assuming it’s a side effect of one of the drugs and wondered if anyone else has had this.

[charisma]

Hi ChrissieR, yes it is one side effect with MTX.

If it gets worse or goes into chest, best tell GP and/or Rheumatology.

[helixhelix]

I would tell your doctors anyway, just in case.

[PJ1163]

Have been on MTX for nearly three years, and do get a dry tickle of a cough from time to time. Nothing alarming has ever happened at an x-ray session or anything but would say to keep your team aware of it. Having clearly not got enough going on I use a spread sheet to score symptoms daily and produce a graph of how they track, or not, each other. Takes me about five mins at lunch break. I need more going on in my world for sure.

[Mmrr in reply to PJ1163]

I keep a daily journal, a few lines of how I am , what I have been doing. It has been a huge support for appointments and PIP /ESA claims. As you say it takes 2 / 3 mins to do.

[Chongo in reply to Mmrr]

Great idea! I'm going to do that myself from now on also.

Cheers.

[PJ1163 in reply to Mmrr]

Agreed it has been a help with rheumatologist although I would never get pip or anything else as I still hold down a full time job. Really lucky with them as having printed some the nras booklets for HR and my line manager they do make allowances with the type of work I am issued with.

[chalky1938]

I was on it for two years and then it started to go wrong for me I lost a lot of weight felt sick and could not sleep so I was taken off it and after sometime I began to feel better hope this helps you and best of luck with everything

[Hidden]

I have had the kennel cough for ages before and since being diagnosed

[CaroF]

Hi, I’m on 7 mtx weekly and have never experienced a cough. Everyone is different though so just keep rheumatology updated. I’m also on sulfasalazine (4 times a day) and folic acid. I did go up to 8 mtx weekly but it made me feel nauseous. As mtx reduces the white blood count and therefore your immunity, make sure you’re getting enough vitamins especially in these winter months. You should be eligible for a free flu jab too. Good luck x

[Joy_1]

Hi

I have been on MTX for a couple of years now.

I was told that if I developed a dry cough to go to the GP and request a chest x-ray.

Joy

[BonnieT]

I have a cough seems allergy related that got worse on methotrexate. Mentioned to doctor. Lungs are clear. Seems like a reaction that’s not serious. I believe nodules can form in your lungs (or elsewhere) that are not serious. Maybe that’s what causes the cough? Not really too sure.

[Beladona3]

Hi

I was also newly diagnosed in August and have had a cough since the beginning of the year. X ray was clear and my consultant said it was cough variant asthma which is nothing to worry about unless you get short of breath. Seems to be yet another symptom of RA !