Methotrexate and folic acid dose

[Dobcross1]

Hi I've been injecting 15mg of MXT each week for 5 months (shortly increasing to 17.5). I take 5mg folic acid 6 days per week. BUT I've been taking a combined Vit B tablet daily for as long as I can remember (before diagnosis and MXT) and have only just seen that it contains 400ug of folic acid - so obviously I've taken this extra dose of folic acid every day in addition to the 5mg.. Yes I know I'm stupid 🤦‍♀️! Question - will this have been why MXT took so long to work (14 weeks) for me and, if I hadn't taken this extra folic acid, might it mean I would have been ok on 15mg MXT without having to increase to 17.5mg (as I think FA decreases the efficacy of MXT)? On the other hand maybe the extra folic acid has helped with MXT side effects. I'm too embarrassed to tell my doctor but will now stop the vitamin B immediately and just take the prescribed 5mg folic acid. Any thoughts welcome - feel free to judge 😂😂😂

[JFlay]

Hi, it took around the same time for it to start working for me too and I didn't take any extra vitamins etc. (mine was stopped after 20 weeks due to persistent side effects anyway). I always ask my local pharmacist about anything to do with meds, she knows more than the doctors! Good that it's working for you now 👍😁

[Dobcross1 in reply to JFlay]

Great idea thanks. I will ask pharmacist. I'm sure it's done no harm but just interested to know.

[Hidden in reply to Dobcross1]

I take vitamin b no problems

[helixhelix]

I very much doubt it! The extra means that you have been taking 5.4mg a day rather than 5mg, which is only 8% more. Not a massive hike.

And eating a couple of eggs a day has about the same amount. Or a bowl of lentils...... and do you have a mass produced cereal? Look at the packet, you might find just as much in that!

And any extra your body doesn't need it excretes.

[Dobcross1 in reply to helixhelix]

😂😂 oh that's fantastic! Thanks for putting my mind at rest - I did try to work out the extra I'd taken but failed spectacularly!! Thanks again

[Mall]

I sought the advice of my pharmacist and she advised not to take any vitamin tablet that contained folic acid on methotrexate day. Ok to take it on the other 6 days as well as the prescribed folic acid.

[Dobcross1 in reply to Mall]

Brilliant thanks so much, I will do that.

[munchkin]

If you are taking 17.5 mg of methotrexate the extra 400 of folic won't make any difference to the dose, I have just been told to take an extra folic acid tab due to taking the exact amount of methotrexate as you, when I said I was feeling tired all the time and feeling slightly fuzzy when it comes to memory. I now take a folic acid tab the day before and a day after taking Methotrexate, in fact I was told I could experiment and take a third.

[Dobcross1 in reply to munchkin]

Thank you that's really reassuring.

[Hidden]

Always asking my pharmacist or Rheumatologist...they do not mind.... It may take 14 weeks for my methrotrexate to work, as I eat lots of fruit and vegetables with folate(folic acid)