Covid-19 Vaccine with Methotrexate.

[Frankiefocus]

Hi everyone I got the "Oxford, AstraZeneca vaccine" on Friday, Saturday I felt a bit rough..like a cold coming on but today I feel great surprisingly my GP called me and said I could hold off on my Methotrexate for 2 weeks to get the full benefit of the vaccine.

[JFlay]

That's good that it went ok. I'm still waiting to hear about having the vaccine, not sure when it will be as I'm 60 but only on hydroxychloroquine so not classed as clinically vulnerable?

[helixhelix in reply to JFlay]

You’ll be with your age group.... but shouldn’t be too far away!

[JFlay in reply to helixhelix]

Yes that's what I thought, I'm so impatient to get it! 😂

[MandiS in reply to JFlay]

My cousin is 54 and only on hydroxychoroquine and was vaccinated over the weekend no other health issues she lives in Greater London. I think if you have a disease that weakens your immune system you are in group 6 best to check with your GP

[JFlay in reply to MandiS]

Yes, I don't want to bother them though so will just wait!

[helixhelix]

That’s great. And that side effects were short duration!

I was told to hold off my drugs to mount a good response too.

[springcross]

That's great Ff, glad you feel OK. xx

[Kalimera57]

I’m very glad for you Ff but why isn’t there a standard policy about delaying methotrexate after having the vaccine? I contacted my consultant’s secretary in Bristol about this. A nurse got back to me after 5 days and told me not to stop the methotrexate. I called my GP practice and they said to do what my consultant said. So I took methotrexate 5 days after the jab.

[springcross in reply to Kalimera57]

I was told the same Kalimera when I spoke to the rheumy nurse - my MTX injection was due later on the day of my Oxford AZ jab (two weeks ago). She said that they are not advising anyone to change their medication days and she even confirmed our conversation and her advice in a letter to my GP.

[cass24 in reply to Kalimera57]

I think the problem is that no one really knows for sure what difference delaying MTX will make as it's not something they've had time to specifically test for... although there have been some studies showing that doing so when having the flu jab may help to improve the immune response (it seems there is no definitive advice on that one yet either)...

Having assessed all the evidence I could find, I personally made the decision that it (probably) wouldn't do any harm to miss a week's MTX, and if it could possibly be any help at all, concluded that it was worth a go but I might have felt differently if I was flaring and/or had strong advice from my rheumy to the contrary

It would be nice to think that in time, someone might actually do some more studies on this, and especially if it turns out that we need regular booster jabs, but I guess it's fairly understandable that it's not a particularly high priority at this stage...

[Pinkypie2018]

I was also advised to miss two weeks of methotrexate.

[Mmrr]

I was told not to stop taking my meds.

[bienassis in reply to Mmrr]

Like you, Mmrr, I was told not to stop either of my medications - Methotrexate or Infliximab (biologic). I had the first Pfizer on a Monday and had my Methotrexate that evening, and the Biologic two days later on Wednesday. Both these medications hang around in the system for some while anyway - although that does depend on the method used. Mine are both injected. Three weeks later I had the second vaccine, again on a Monday.

An interesting point is that while I was first taking the biologic by infusion in the hospital I was told to leave two weeks before and after the infusion before having the flu jab.

The problem is that there is no consensus on this at the moment. Only time will tell what is the best action. I have the added disadvantage of being 85 years old.

Still, like everyone, I'm happy enough to have had the two vaccines three weeks apart; something is better than nothing!

bienassis xx

[Shoad]

I was told there was no need to stop taking my methotrexate by the doctor at the vaccine centre.

[diamond4owl in reply to Shoad]

I was the same . Had my jab and took Methorexate same night as advised by Doctor and Consultant

[auldreekie2]

Morning everyone, this does not make sense 🤔. I took my MTX injection on the Tuesday had the Oxford jag on the Wednesday, I also take Adalimumab injection, no one told me not to take anything before that, also just finished 9 weeks of steroids, the week before that.Say That i was fine with my Oxford jag no side effects, not even a sore arm, so that was good, just waiting on next appointment now, and hopefully that will be the same.

[GinnyE]

I had my Oxford jab last Wednesday, the day I usually inject methotrexate. It was in my mind to give it a miss (not consulted medics but knew the official advice was to continue) and when I began with the shivers, nausea and headache I decided not to inject. Some say side effects are a good indication that the vaccine is working and I didn’t want to stop it! Was going to take methotrexate this Wednesday but now wondering if I should miss another week? I know this isn’t the official advice and I don’t want to have a flare. But I want the best protection from COVID.

[cass24 in reply to GinnyE]

I'm in a similar quandary... Had my jab on Thursday and missed my MTX on Saturday but now wondering whether to skip my next dose too

My theory is that since MTX takes so long to take effect initially, the chances are that those effects aren't likely to wear off in just a couple of weeks either (albeit that does also make me wonder how much real difference the pause is likely to make to the immune response to the vaccine too)!

Of course, the bottom line is that no one really knows or can tell us for sure but I think I'll probably wait until my next MTX due date and assess how I'm feeling then before making the decision one way or another...

[GinnyE in reply to cass24]

Yes, it’s a quandary. Tomorrow I’ll have to decide.

[cass24 in reply to GinnyE]

Good luck!

[Wobbies]

When I had the AZ vaccination on Saturday, the medic told me not to stop it as I was not due until today. Was surprised when he recognised what my biologic was as well as often I get blank looks. Yesterday felt as if I had a cold coming on but fine today.

[avocadothrower1]

The guidance in the USA from American College of Rheumatologists changed last week to advice to hold Metho for one week in well controlled patients. I tweeted both NRAS and Dep of Health about this. I had already made my decision to hold my Metho for one week based on my Rheumatologist saying “no one knows” and lots of looking at research. Wanted to give vaccine best possible chance and felt missing one dose not too much risk. Hope that’s helpful but think better guidance would be good!

[Dawn7]

I took my MTX the Saturday before my AZ vaccine, had the vaccine 6 days later on the Friday, 5th Feb then left MTX until Saturday just gone, 13th Feb.. I wanted a gap either side. Honestly, I feel more side effects from the MTX this time, like when I first started it. So I wonder if there's been an overlap of reactions, or just the gap in MTX...but nothing to put me off doing the same routine next time. Just taking it easy today! We are all so different, definitely need to do what's best for each of us and our circumstances. Best wishes to you all to keep safe and well!

[Gingernut88]

I had my AZ jab on Friday which is also my MTX injection day. I asked the nurse whether I should take the MTX or not. She checked with pharmacist at the Vaccination Centre (Health Centre) and he said to take it as normal. I was going to have a week off but I decided to take it on Saturday.

Started to feel rough Friday afternoon - fatigue, headache. Had terrible chills during the night resulting in no sleep. Took 2 paracetamol in the night. Felt a bit better Saturday but developed sore throat as in swollen glands. Felt a bit better Sunday & today. Husband's been quite rough. Painful arm, sneezing, coughing, aching. couldn't get warm. Bit better today.