Methotrexate & stuttering

[ircmannj]

Hello everyone, I wanted to get some feedback from anyone who has ever experience stuttering as a side effect of methotrexate?

I increased my dose from 7.5mg to 15mg 2 weeks ago and have noticed that I started stuttering a little when trying to elaborate a simple sentence.

I explained this to my rheumatologist along with some mouth sores I've been getting recently and he recommended switching to Sulfasalazine...

I'm a bit worried because methotrexate has been working really well on my joints and I wouldn't want to compromise the progress by changing meds, especially when I'll be starting a new job next week...

Nevertheless, as a salesperson the stuttering isn't gonna be helpful either...

Thank you for your feedback!!

[Leonwp]

I certainly had that side effect and it developed into almost stroke like symptoms where I couldn't find or pronounce words.

Shortly after I had far more extreme side effects and was taken off mtx completely.

The bad effects went quicker than they came once off it.

[Mmrr in reply to Leonwp]

Goodness, I had never heard of this before. It us amazing what you learn on this site.

[ircmannj in reply to Leonwp]

Thanks for the reply, I guess I won't complain and just switch to sulfasalazine ✌

[oldtimer]

Although I didn't have stuttering, my daughter-in-law thought that I had early dementia while on methotrexate which reversed after a couple of months off it (also had other problems with it).

It's a shame because it is so effective for so many people and I was sorry that it had such bad effects on me when it doesn't for others.

[ircmannj in reply to oldtimer]

Thanks for the feedback, I might try it for an extra week just to see how it goes, maybe I'm just adjusting to the new dosage...

Changing meds the week I start my new job just doesn't seem like the best idea :/

[springcross]

I was almost relieved to read your post (sorry if that sounds bad) but I was on 15 mg MTX injection from September last year (also tapering Pred from 7.5 mg down to 1 mg now) and three weeks ago increased to 20 mg MTX. I have noticed for a few weeks that I seemed to be having difficulty pronouncing words that have always rolled off the tongue before. Also my head has been feeling strange, can't really describe what I mean. I took myself off to the cranial osteopath as I thought it was because I had hit my head on the door when I missed two steps at the bottom of the stairs a few weeks ago and had a nasty fall. I must have hit it hard because I seemed to black out for a few seconds. Also, I found that on several occasions I couldn't bring things to mind that I was trying to talk to people about, like names etc. I just thought it was old age creeping on but after reading the posts on here, I am beginning to wonder. I will take notes in future and report to my Rheumy when I next see him in June (well that's the plan but will have to wait and see). Most odd.

[ircmannj]

Mine said it could affect our nervous system, I've been feeling weird at work too, I decided to give it an extra week to see if it would go away but we'll see...

[springcross in reply to ircmannj]

I'd be interested to see how you get on.