Brand New to MTX tablets could use some feedback

[TMeyer]

Hello, I started the MTX tablets last week on Friday, 12.5mg once a week. I was out of it for 3 days, sleeping over the weekend and exhausted at work on Monday. Tuesday I felt refreshed, Wednesday I felt amazing and here it is Thursday and I feel like I did before the MTX. I also started itching really badly, had to take a Benadryl to get it to stop. I take my next dose tomorrow and I hear that my body needs to get used to the it, but just hearing someone else's experience would be useful, thank you so much!

[Amy_Lee]

When I started mtx, I experience a lot of side effects. However, individually responds differently so it may not apply to you. I was out for about 24 hours, then I would be okay after that. It took me about 3 years before I felt okay to take it. It was to the extend that when I saw mtx, I started vomiting before I put them into my mouth.

I had rashes on my hands and legs for about a year and a half. I also vomited usually before and after I took them. My stomach was upset too on the day of mtx.

All the side effects were subside now. I am okay when I see mtx around, no more issue. I am still on 7.5 mg a week. I used to have 20 mg a week. My rheumy reduced them for me when my condition was under control and liver seemed to be not okay then.

I started to feel the reduce in pain after about 6 months of mtx. Then I started to demand more dosage so that the pain could reduce faster. But then, they made me sick the day on mtx. I am glad that I am okay now with them.

Good luch, my friend.

Amy

[TMeyer in reply to Amy_Lee]

Thank you for your reply, how in the world did you go for so long with those side effects? I am not a very patient person and figure if we can get a man on the moon, we should be able to make people feel better fast!

[Amy_Lee in reply to TMeyer]

The pain made it worse for me. I am in remission after about 1 1/2 year treatment so I stayed with the side effects as my rheumy promised me that the problems would go off very soon. I also had my hair thinning. The itchiness on my skin also was killing me. I applied a lot of moisturizer on them and the itch just continued but it helped a bit.

I am in perfect condition now and lead a very normal life since long ago. You can go to my homepage to see more of my story to have an idea of what I had experienced before.

Amy

[Pinkypie2018]

I've been on mtx now for 9 weeks, the first month I was grand had no side effects at all but I did notice my appetite wasn't that great? Now I'm just having nausea on a Monday when I take them an my appetite is improving again (thankfully). But I honestly haven't noticed any change in my joint pain at all, however they do say it is slow acting an can take up to 3-6 months. I fully understand how frustrating it is just waiting on these drugs to help us, but like they said Rome wasn't built in a day lol.

[TMeyer]

I have the thinning hair as well, thankfully I have a lot of it and it is very curly which helps hide the thinness. I also have Hashimotos and Sjorgrens, I am praying that I will have a normal life again <3

[turtlemom2]

Hey TMeyer! I started on my first dose of MTX last Saturday. I was sooo nervous! However, with all the research I did on the web and the posts I found before I actually took it helped. I like others took it at night on the day I was to take it. I took mine Saturday at night as I laid in bed for the night. This week I have had nausea and fatigue. However, I have noticed for me a few improvements in my feet and ankles and knees. I hope it continues to go up my body to help. I am very nervous to take my second dose as I was told that the second dose is when the allergic reactions can hit you.... how did you do on your second dose? I have found the folic acid which you have to have a perscription for the 1 mg works to help ease some of the side effects but most of it I have to say is really tollerable. I do think however for the first two weeks it should be automatically Short Term disablility until you adjust to the medication lol. (right.....)

[TMeyer in reply to turtlemom2]

Hey Turtlemom2! I am taking my second dose this evening, I have weekends off so I figured it was best to take it at the beginning of the weekend and rest for a couple of days. I am also nervous about taking the second dose, days 2, 3, and 4 I was a wreck, tired and didn't feel well, on days 5 and 6 I felt amazing (I think it was all the rest) and the day before my next dose, yesterday, I felt awful again. My mouth sores are returning and my body hurts so bad. I am really hoping that the MTX helps with everything, keep me posted on how you are doing!

[turtlemom2 in reply to TMeyer]

Try taking it tonight before you go to bed or Saturday night. I also have the weekends off and I kind of wish I had taken it on that Friday so I had two full days to recover but I do take it at night and make sure I eat before even if it is something small. It helps. I worry about the second dose tomorrow though as that is when it might show allergic reactions but I hope it continues to help. I can walk now! this is positive but my body did ache all week.

[TMeyer in reply to turtlemom2]

Yes, I will take after supper, about 7 or so. I will just relax the rest of the night as much as possible. I am really optimistic about the MTX and the additional Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and the Folate giving me a boost. I was low on everything before.

[Millysmum]

Hi, I've been taking 20mg since May last year, always on Friday evening, after food, I call it treat night, so I have a bit of chocolate too! I drink a litre of something like ribena, seems to work. I can be a bit achey on Saturday, rather windy... And a bit of indegestion, then folic acid and it all settles again.. I'm quite chuffed that's pretty much all I have, I keep myself busy the day after, so I don't have time to think about it. Up at 7am, go do the shopping! I also take hydroxy, and there's no side effects with those either. I'm very lucky, I was worried when I started taking it all, but try and believe they will help you. In May I couldn't walk, now I'm great, with a few niggles that a naproxen soon puts in check!!! All the best.

[TMeyer]

Well, I lasted 2 weeks on MTX and due to the side effects my doctor told me to stop taking it. I guess I will wait to see what is next for me...

[turtlemom2]

Sorry TMeyer! I took my third dose last night and I feel aweful today, This is the worst I have felt so far. I woke up already swollen in my ankles and hands and legs. I am very nauseus and exhausted. I feel like I am getting the flu. I am not doing well.

[TMeyer in reply to turtlemom2]

So sorry turtlemom2 turtlemom2, tongue was swelling and hives getting bad, my eyes are a wreck and I am exhausted. Seems like coming off MTX is just as bad as being on it 😕