Hi everyone. I was diagnosed in 2011 with Rheumatoid Arthritis but only started on Methatrexate on December 6th, 2019. Yesterday I got the Covid-19 vaccination and was told I wouldn't be completely protected because of the Methotrexate. This has worried me - I want full protections. I was thinking of missing 2 weeks dose because of this but I'm afraid to as I haven't been on it very long. Has anyone else missed a dose after being on it for a short time?
New Girl on the Block: Hi everyone. I was diagnosed... - NRAS
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KatieCooke
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Hi Katie and welcome, no vaccines are 100% . There is lots of info on nras.org.uk and I'm sure others can help too . Also there is a search icon in the top bar if you put in your terms theres tons of stuff there x x
Thank you Allanah, I will continue to research. I've been at it since 8:00 this morning. I suppose no-one really knows. I have to make a decision by tomorrow night, which is meth night. 
It was on this facebook site but you dont need facebook to watch it .
It was on here the advice. You dont need facebook to watch xxx
Www.nras.org.uk live webcam
in reply to allanah
No idea how to find that Allanah.
in reply to
I was meaning the Facebook Live.
allanah in reply to
If you click the picture it's actually got the address. But its nras.org.uk and search for that section , the webcam named on my picture link
Hi Katie and welcome.
The advice is to ask your rheumy team for guidance.
Having said that, my team were too busy to respond and gave the general guidance that it was fine to continue DMARDS with the vaccination.
I also started RA medication in 2019 and am on Methotrexate, Hydroxychloroquine and Sulfasalazine. As my RA is well controlled atm, I made the personal decision to miss one dose of Methotrexate after the vaccine in case it increased the efficacy.
I don't think that anyone knows whether either being on Methotrexate or missing a dose or two actually has has any effect either way so I'm not sure that the person who advised you is definitely correct.
The important thing is that you've had the vaccine and will be having the second dose when it's offered and that is giving you protection.
My thoughts exactly. I have until tomorrow to decide. I had the vaccine yesterday - and it's methotrexate day tomorrow. maybe I'll miss just one dose. It's making the decision that is difficult and this situation is so new to everyone.
The advice is & always has been to continue taking your drugs unless your Rheumatologist tells you otherwise.You said you had a conversation with your rheumatology nurse about the protection given by the vaccine ....if she had thought you needed to stop taking your methotrexate she would’ve told you then.
Even after taking the second dose of the vaccine we are not 100% assured of not Contracting COVID-19.
A vaccine will only ensure if you do catch it you will have a milder form of the virus ...research continues for anything that will 100% percent stop transmission of this virus.
So do as everyone else is doing and take your methotrexate and ensure that your RA is well controlled.......on the whole we should only start missing doses of our drugs on the instruction of our own doctor...not because somebody else has done it.
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Sounds sensible to me. Thank you. (another aged crone)
🤷
Hi, the advice is to ask your GP or Rheumatologist. Basically I think its about weighing up the risks of a flare vs a better immune response to the vaccine. There is an article here whichI think explains the decision making process and I found it helpful. Whatever you choose to do you will get more protection with the vaccine than without, so some reason for hope. creakyjoints.org/living-wit...
Better to ask rheumy than GP. GP’s don’ know much about this.
yes, but getting hold of a Rheumatologist is pretty impossible...no Rheum nurses in my area since Covid
I forget that few people have a responsive rheumy like mine! I wish you all did!
Mine was extremely responsive today which is why I don't want to upset him. He said he's never heard of methotrexate interfering with the protection of covid vaccine. I'm wondering about sending an article.
This is why I don't want to upset the Rheumy. He called me back within minutes of receiving my e-mail. Such speed is unheard of from a consultant. He either really doesn't know about Metho upsetting the covid vaccine or doesn't want me to know.
Exactly.....I think I would’ve put a message on my answerphone by now “don’t stop taking your RA medication when you have a Covid19 vaccination”!
Thank you avocadothrower1, I've spoken to both of them and they have different opinions. I have to make my own decision. I think because I've only been on the medication for 14 months that I will not pause it. Thank you for the article. I have read this one and sent it to my GP. I'm wondering about sending it to the rheumy as well but don't want to get on the wrong side of him.
You’re welcome. Good luck with the Metho. I’ve had this horrid disease for more than 15 years now and on Metho for a good 10 years plus and so I tend to take quite an active role in decision making 😀. Well done for being in contact. Pretty sure if he doesn’t know he will go away and research himself. I wouldn’t send it to him myself if I was you — some of them get very shirty as they probably should as they are the experts!
Hi Katie and welcome to the community. I spoke to my rheumy nurse before I had my vaccine and was told there was no need to stop my injections of Methotrexate and to carry on as normal. She also confirmed that in a letter to my GP. If you have any concerns, speak to your team and ask their advice. Good luck. x
Thank you springcross. The Rheumy said it wasn't necessary to stop the methotrexate. My doctor said he could see the logic in it but wouldn't tell me to stop, of course, without the rheumy's advice.
Hi Katie and welcome. Did you mean you’d been on Mtx since end of 2020 or 2019, as if 2019 then I would have thought you should be stable on it after a year? Do ask your rheumy re stopping Mtx for two weeks etc. Even if some of us with RD have a lowered immune to start with due to our meds (my main med is one that you leave a gap between vaccine and infusion ideally as it’s a B cell depletor), I do feel optimistic and think we will be able to mount some good immune response/react well producing antibodies to make the vaccine work. Even if we mounted 50% response it’s far better than mounting none. That’s what my biologics/rheumy nurse said to me. Who was it that told you about you not being completely protected? They may not have full knowledge of your med if they are not a rheumatologist or rheumy nurse.
NRAS did a Zoom chat in December re the vaccines and RA meds with Dr James Galloway, senior rheumy at King’s College Hospital. He spoke of immune response and meds. I can’t find the link which was on here but if someone else sees it, please post it. It’s been posted a few times. Each person has a different health scenario so it is best to ask your rheumy/nurse. Hope you can get through/leave a message. Good luck. x
Thank you Neonkittie17, I have been taking Methotrexate since December 2019. It was the person who gave the covid vaccine who told me I would be completely protected. It was at a vaccination station in Shetland so not sure if nurse or doctor. It was information they had which they had to give out to people on Methotrxate. The Rheumy didn't see a need to stop the Methotrexate.
No I wouldn’t have thought so either Katie as you’ve been on it some time and stable so that’s good. Glad you’ve had your vaccine. ❤️
The most important thing is that it is completely safe to carry on taking your drugs. All authorities say this. So there is no absolute need to pause drugs.
Some of us have been advised to miss a week or so to help the response to the vaccine. But that very much depends on the individual, on the advice of their own medical team. So if you are completely stable and that is something that you are interested in then talk to your rheumy. Otherwise carry on as normal and enjoy the relief of being protected!
Personally I wouldn’t bother to speak to my GP as they don’t really have the expertise in this. I spoke to my rheumy as I am in remission and have been for a while, and risk nothing by pausing, and she said for me it is a good idea. So I did.
But also be aware that no vaccine will give you 100% cover, so you can still catch covid. But the wonderful thing about the vaccine is that it will stop you getting serious covid, and most likely also stop you needing to be hospitalised.
Thannk you Helixhelix. That is helpful. My rheumy hadn't heard of Methotrexate being a problem and told me not to pause it.
I don’t think it’s a problem as such. But my personal logic tells me that if it can interfere with the flu vaccine then maybe it can interfere with Covid. And since my rheumy though the same thing that was enough for me. (And I week or so off is like a holiday for me. After 11 years I still don’t like it!)
Here...
A previous GP used to say to me .. you have left me behind re Rituximab ... You’ll have to teach me! My main GP trained in rheumatology after qualifying some time ago and she kept a keen interest, but not every GP does and meds have changed so much too. It’s good to have a GP who knows RA though.
Hi, I'm on MTX have been for 3 years, both the clinic nurse and my GP said carry on taking it do not miss any dose. Had my injection last week I have been fine.
Yes - I'm sure we'll all be fine after vaccine. But are we protected if we're on MTX without a pause is my question. Thank you for showing me the MTX short form as I've been using "Meth."
Hi Katie and welcome!🙂I take MTX in tablet form (I'm not sure if that makes a difference.)
I'm due to have my vaccine today and it's my MTX day too. I contacted my rheumy advice line and the nurse contacted me yesterday and said I don't need to stop my meds as the vaccine isn't a live one. She did say if I wanted to, I could delay the dose until Saturday if it made me feel better and to see how I respond to the vaccine but that it's totally up to me. As previously mentioned, we are all individuals, at different stages of RD and so diff rheumy teams will give advice accordingly.
You've received some very good advice and links to some informative articles, so hopefully this will help in your decision making.
Welcome to the forum.I continued taking all my meds, leflunomide, toficitinib and prednisolone before and after being vaccinated. Having uncontrolled RA or having a flare, is a risk factor too for Covid, the advice as I understand it is to keep taking all meds unless specifically advised not to by your rheumatologist.
Hi, I was advised by my Rheumatologist recently not to stop taking my methotrexate, our RA care is individualised to our care needs by professionals who I believe would not advise if there was risk as to the efficiency of this vaccine..... and now all the media hype and conspiracy theories adds to this debacle, I had to have 2 vaccines in the same arm 4 days apart, due to having a muscle biopsy in the other, I was fine, I’m shielding awaiting my appointment letter for the covid vaccine. Stay safe and well.
I was due my methotrexate injection the same day as my vaccination. I had quite a few side effects so missed the methotrexate. I decided to take it the next week though. I've heard side effects can mean you're body is doing the work re the vaccine so that seems a bit on the positive side. But as everyone agrees we will all get a level of immunity that should keep us out of hospital. It is a gamble to miss your meds and the official advice is do not. What a game it all is.
I skipped two doses after getting the vaccine, just as I do after getting the flu vaccination. My consultant has agreed to both. I'm in remission from RA and have had no ill effects from missing just two doses. In fact, I had to miss three a year ago to give my liver a rest from MTX. Again, nothing bad happened. Discuss it with your consultant first.
KatieCooke in reply to
Thank you. My Consultant says not to pause. Where are you by the way?
in reply to KatieCooke
Hello Katie,
It's quite surprising how people mistake a question about how MTX affects vaccine efficacy with one about safety and side-effects.
I'm in Salford. I guess I'm lucky that my consultant is very open to discussion, though in fact they all should be as our treatment is meant to be collaborative. She tells me if there is anything I really must not do and I accept that, but if it's something not yet proven but she sees no harm in it, she leaves the decision to me. Pausing the MTX after the vaccination is in that category.
In your case, it may be that the consultant fears pausing may bring on a flare or it may just be something he's so far not read/thought about. I sometimes give mine references to the articles I've read, just so she knows I'm looking at scientific sites and not just superficial reports in the press or rumours on social media.
Now you have to choose whether to abide by what your consultant says. I would advise that you do. You need a good relationship with him, which overall you say you have. Continue to keep abreast with the latest findings and you can raise the matter again when you get another vaccination. In the meantime, don't worry too much about the rights and wrongs of it. The main thing is getting vaccinated. Somebody has said the reduction in protection from being on MTX is like the difference between going out on a freezing cold day in your winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves (full protection) or going out in just the coat and scarf. You would still be much better off than if you had no outdoor clothing on at all, which is like our unvaccinated state.
Best wishes. x
Decided to make informed decision and miss 2 doses MTX after having vaccine having done a lot of reading around subject and speaking with rheumatology team. Everyone is different and advice varies from the professionals....hope this helps!
I didn’t stop mine , had mine day after my mtx , had no side effects
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