hi i’m new here. i was advised to join a community/forum where i could talk to people in similar situations as me so here it goes.
i was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis/(JIA) at 16 yrs old. i have been on hydroxychloroquine for 2 years (i am now 18), however it hasn’t been doing much for me and my flare ups have been getting worse and worse to the point where i cant get out of bed and walk.
i have been reluctant to start methotrexate ever since being advised to take it before resulting to hydroxychloroquine. i am NOT good with needles so the blood tests freak me out, however last week i finally got the courage to go ahead and start methotrexate (tablet form). (my first dose is tomorrow which is why i’m writing this post).
i have read so many negative things about this medication, and i know it works differently for different people but i’m young and scared and have been making myself more and more worked up thinking about it. i know it’s for the best and i don’t know what it’ll be like until i try it but is there any tips or anything that could put my mind at ease?
it probably sounds silly to get myself so worked up over a medication but i’m an over thinker and i trick myself into believing everything i see and read on the internet is true even though it most likely isn’t.
i have taken my folic acid earlier on to lessen the side effects for my first dose tomorrow but the side effects it can cause really does give me the fear. such as the ulcers and hair loss and being sick etc.
thankyou for any help 
Methotrexate 
Starting Methotrexate
Methotrexate 😡
Methotrexate 
Hi and welcome. I understand your fear. I'm young too and I was quite worried about starting mtx as well. I've had a few side effects in the beginning of taking it such as dizziness, feeling nauseous and headaches but it got better after a few weeks. I always take it in the evening with plenty of food and then I rest the day after. That seems to work well. What really keeps me motivated is the positive change I noticed with the mtx. Much less pain and stiffness. I can move so much better now and my quality of life has improved drastically and in the end that's what you'd like to achieve I think. So please relax and think about the fact that you are very likely to feel some relief in a few weeks. There's a reason why mtx is a very common medication for RA and so many people are glad that it exists. Good luck for tomorrow and let us know how you're getting along
(i tried responding but i’m not sure if my first reply sent as it said network error) thankyou for your reply!! i’ve seen many people say they take their dose in the evenings and at night rather than in the morning. would you suggest to do it later on in the day so i can rest afterwards? i took my folic acid pretty early this morning (around half 9) and was going to do the same tomorrow for my first dose but now i’ve read other people’s posts i was thinking of doing it later on in the day. would my folic acid still be effective despite it being more than 24hrs after taking it?
I would definitely suggest you take it before bed. basically with your dinner because you can then sleep through some of the side effects (if you get any that is) and rest over night. Drink plenty of fluid tomorrow and the day after taking the mtx to "flush" the system. I'm pretty sure that the folic acid will still be okay and next week you just take it the day before in the evening. Just don't plan anything for the day after taking the mtx this week so you have the chance to relax a bit if you need to
thankyou! i will definitely take it before bed, it makes more sense so i’m not feeling ill throughout the day if there’s any side effects. i’ve taken another folic acid just to make sure. i’ll have to set a reminder on my phone for every sunday. thankyou for your help