Blood tests & MTX: Hi, Can anyone advise me how many... - NRAS

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Blood tests & MTX

JFlay profile image
29 Replies

Hi,

Can anyone advise me how many days either side of taking MTX tablets is it best to book blood tests for? e.g if I take the tablets on a Monday is it ok to have a blood test done on Wednesday? Sorry if this sounds daft but the GP surgery seem clueless sometimes. Thanks

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JFlay
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29 Replies
Matilda_1922 profile image
Matilda_1922

I don’t it matters when you have your blood test. So Wednesday is okay

JFlay profile image
JFlay in reply to Matilda_1922

Thanks for your reply. I'm only on my 5th week of MTX and getting used to it all Lol 😂 a nurse from the surgery rang me out of the blue to check on me prescription/blood tests etc. and said blood tests MUST be the day before taking MTX ? as it can affect the blood results ?

Pinkypie2018 profile image
Pinkypie2018

I'm new to it too and my gp surgery rang me today to book in for bloods. I'm getting mine done on Friday and I take my mtx tablets on a Monday. They never asked what day I take my tablets but just as long as I go every 2 weeks. They don't open on a Sunday so I couldn't possibly go the day before. Out of curiosity I must ask on Friday whenever I'm down.

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

In nine years I've never really bothered to worry about this, and it doesn't seem to have made any difference. I generally don't have a blood test the day after injecting (I inject in the evening) just because I'm not in the mood to trudge off to the blood clinic. But I imagine I've had every other pattern. MTX is a slow acting drug, so I don't consider it to be like NSAIDs or steroids which can affect blood tests.

JFlay profile image
JFlay in reply to helixhelix

That all sounds very sensible to me! Thanks very much 😊

sylvi profile image
sylvi

I have never bothered to think about it,but i take mine on a Thursday morning and now i have my blood tests taken at home my bloods are taken on a Friday as that is the only day she works.x

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to sylvi

How are you sylvi ?

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Mmrr

Still in a lot of pain with my neck,back and hands darling thank you for asking. How are you.xxx

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to sylvi

I start benepali tomorrow, fingers and everything else crossed.

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Mmrr

Good luck with that darling i have another six weeks of antbiotics before i can start biologics if i am still able.xx

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to sylvi

6 weeks seems forever, but it will pass. Sigh.

Fingers and everything else crossed for you too sylvi.

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Mmrr

Tried to contact my rheumy team,can't get hold of the nurse and the consultant is away for the whole month. So i am stuffe. I am in so much pain and already had a howling session over it. I just don't know what i can do next apart from sit here in so much pain.xxx

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to sylvi

Surely there must be someone covering if your rheumatologist is away for a month sylvi ?

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Mmrr

There is a locum,but the list is already full,but she put me on a list though.xxx

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to sylvi

Keep pushing sylvi. I despair when I hear that people are expected to live in pain.

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Mmrr

I feel like giving up today, tomorrow is another day and hopefully things will be brighter.xx

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to sylvi

rest today sylvi

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Mmrr

I am darling.xxx

in reply to sylvi

You have been through so much Sylvi, I think you are a very strong lady and an inspiration to us all. Sending gentle hugs. XXXX

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to

I didn'tfeel like it earlier darling as i was in floods of tears. I have been haveing a video chat with my friend on my new laptop and despite the pain i am in she can always cheer me up.xxx

Zip1 profile image
Zip1

Hi, I always time my bloods so the gp can check them before filling my repeat perscription, so it works out that I have them on a thursday ready for collecting my MTX on a monday which is the day I take them! Reading everyone’s experience I think it is when suits you best!

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr

I always had my bloods taken on a Monday morning, then injected MTX in the evening.

That way I always knew that it was the previous weeks MTX that effected my white cell count (WCC).

Doing it this way I was able to show my new rheumatologist that a diagnosis a previous rheumatologist had given me of pre MTX chronic idiopathic neutropenia was incorrect (I have all bloods results going back 35 years !) and that in fact MTX was improving my WCC.

Getting bloods taken at random days does not permit you to link any changing dose of MTX , with immediate blood changes, which was important for me.

chmod777 profile image
chmod777

My dr has always advised my to get bloodwork done at least 3 days after taking mtx. Says taking it closer can affect results.

Floralqueens profile image
Floralqueens

I never worry about the day, it’s more important that you have the blood tests as regular as the Rheumatoid team suggests!!!

JFlay profile image
JFlay

Thanks everyone!

Sandy T, I was never told one way or another, I just go for blood whenever I make my appointment!

skyemydog profile image
skyemydog

Hi,

I have my blood test every month irrespective of when I take my mtx .

So I don’t think it matters hope this helps.

Good luck

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

From personal experience it makes no difference at all when I have my drug monitoring bloods in relation to dosing. In 10 years of having them taken for MTX, oral & injected, I've (on purpose just to prove to myself) booked them for the day before, the same day & the day after dosing & there's been nothing in it. I did ask my Rheumy once which day was preferable ie relating to dosing day & was told it makes no difference. I've settled on the day I inject & book my next month's bloods for the same day (Wednesdays) when I'm able to as sometimes the diary's not open for pre booking the following month.

in reply to nomoreheels

I have mine on a Wednesday too. DN comes out to me and I leave it for 6 weeks now. My bloods are usually pretty stable, and I'm only on a low dose now (7.5 mg) as it's for Vasculitis and not RA. Although it does boost my Leflunomide . Take MTX on Friday.

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