Hi I’m sick of feeling sick each week from taking tablet form methotrexate. I’m not sure why some weeks are worse than others? However I’m seriously thinking of switching to injections. Does anyone know if there are additional side effects with injections?
Thanks xx
No additional effects, but because more of it is adsorbed you might only need a lower dose. Quite a few people have written on here about changing over and some have found it much better for them. Others have found that they continue to get unacceptable side effects. I don't think you will know which you are unless you try!
Thank you, I think it’s worth a try. Hopefully it will be a success 👍
i changed to injections a couple of months ago and i feel much better. i still feel wiped out the day after but the nausea and mouth ulcers have gone, i would say give them a try you can always go back to tablets
Hi Mccarj2017, do you take folic acid six days a week with your mtx? Also if some weeks you are worse than others I would check you are drinking enough on the mtx days you feel nauseous as keeping well hydrated does help. As oldtimer said some find injections cause less side effects but I couldn’t tolerate mtx by injection and I was very sick on it. As with every other drug it varies for each individual. You may be fine. Worth trying though as it’s horrible feeling so nauseous all the time. Hope you find your solution soon x
Well I never had any side effects, either from tabets or injections. But after a break (for chemotherapy) and now back on tablet (low dose) I'm starting to get nausea. I can't face injecting again, as I'm now needle phobic although I can cope being injected by someone else, just not self injecting
I moved from tablets to injections last month. Have just had my 5th injection and it’s no more or less hassle than the tablets but I am, strangely, about the same in terms of my overall pain levels despite increasing my dose from 15mg (on tablets) to 20mg by injection. The Dr also suggested I’d get a further ‘5g or so’ effect because it’s injected straight in. I must say after 5 weeks at a higher dose, I’m about the same. And the same is OK right now - I’m able to work full time and do what I need to do. I do think my exhaustion has improved a little bit but I’m also eating cleaner and drinking only water/tea and coffee. Also actively cutting down dairy and wheat (which I find SO hard!)
The actual jab, with the pen, I find totally fine. I hate injections but find the pen so fast I really don’t feel any jab at all. The skin does sting for about 10 mins after but other than that, I think I prefer it overall to the tablets.
But I’m still not sure the increased dose is really helping (yesterday my wrist randomly flared and I couldn’t use my left hand at all, today it’s fine again!!) but then, this arthritis is so random and floats around my joints so much the consultant isn’t entirely sure what’s going on!
No additional side effects. I agree with oldtimer so give it a go.
I take my tablets late evening 9 o’clock with cornflakes.make sure you take the folic acid on the other days. I find some tablets worse than others so try to keep to the ones that give me less side effects. I have the make named on my script.
I have my injection on a Sunday night so on a Monday I feel sick but ok rest of week I’m ok and I’m on 20mg and been on this 13 years
I switched to injections for the same reason and managed about a year on injections but still suffered awful nausea with them, it got to the point where even the smell of the alcohol wipe made me feel sick psychologically before I injected so I stopped and cane off them altogether. I was put onto a different drug, Leflunomide which I reacted to and then another which I tolerated (Cyclosporin) but had unwanted side effects from. Eventually I’d had enough and came off meds altogether. I’ve never been put back on them as I’m considered being in remission.
It's worth trying vit.A as well as B12 and B6 when taking Mtx any way, this will decrease side effects.
I had the same thing on tablets and began to dread Monday nights for that reason. Had to write Tuesday off because of nausea. However, I changes to injections and it worked much better, sometimes still feel a bit queasy but nowhere near as before. I too, as
already mentioned by one sufferer, I was able to reduce the dosage which is great. I understand it does not work for everyone, but nothing ventured..... good luck with your decision
I was switched to injections 25mg, I do not experience the same level of nausea as I did when taking the tablets, even though I’m on a higher dose.
I got the prescription for the injections but after I read the side effects I decided to stay with the pills. Doctor let me cut back from 10 to 8 tabs that I split and take on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s. She also gave me zofran to take an hour before taking MTX to help with the stomach issues.
Most people experience fewer side effects when they change to MTX injections, with another plus being your Rheumy may reduce the dose slightly as it has greater bioavailability. However if not then it's likely your nausea should lessen or go as it because of the delivery it doesn't go through the gastro system, it enters the blood stream.
I've been injecting MTX 9 years, I had a year on tablets but I reacted to an increase in dose so my Consultant suggested I try injecting. It's worked well for me all those years. I do take folic acid at max dose, my current Rheumy's preference for all her patients taking MTX. I am a little more tired the day after & I have less appetite too but it's a small price to pay for the good it's done my RD.
What dose of folic acid do you take? If it's fewer than 5mg 6 days a week then you could also ask if your Rheumy would increase the days you take it. Also drinking lots of water on MTX day could help, as could eating/drinking anything with ginger in it. I had terrible nausea on another DMARD & my GP prescribed an antiemetic which may also be an option until you change to injections.
I hope it's a simple case of changing the way you take your MTX that relieves the nausea & you find using the MTX subcutaneously far better for you.
Hi, I started with Mtx (15 mg) injections so don't have any experience with tablets. Just took my 8th injection today. I did not experience any side effects that I was so afraid of. And my Rheumatologist told me a great news today that all my inflammatory markers are down in normal range and advised me to start tapering down Prednisone within next few weeks.I started with 15 mg of Pred back in Dec, now on 5 mg. Hopefully I can get off of it soon. Good luck and best wishes for you, hope injections work better for you if you do decide to go that way.
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