Mtx

[Buckybri]

Is there a different drug besides mtx ? I’m also on biological meds because the mtx never seemed to make me any better but I hate the mtx it makes me feel awful and I’m actually on the verge of just not taking it because of the way it makes me feel . And why do I actually take it can I just take the biological med

[helixhelix]

The MTX is there to stop you developing antibodies to the biologic, which would mean it would stop working. What does are you in? Me and my rheumy are aiming to get down to 10mg, which she tells me is enough to do the job.

You can take some biologics without MTX but they may not work as long.

[Buckybri in reply to helixhelix]

20mgs I didn’t know it worked like that

[helixhelix in reply to Buckybri]

Talk to your rheumy about tapering down a bit?

[lynndemedicis in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you for this info helixhelix. I've been on the auto-inject pens at 25 mg for years and the MTX is taking it's toll. My Rheumy and I don't always see eye to eye, but it's time to lower the dose to at 15 or 10 mg.

[Poppyesterhazy in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks HH for that info re methotrexate and biological and antibodies. I am at present on 25 mags methotrexate and Benepali. I have been on this combination for over a year now and all going well. I was under the impression from my consultant that I would eventually be on the biological only. I had phone consultation in January and I thought I understood that I would be reviewed in a year and come off the Methotrexate if my RA continues to be kept under control but I now think it may be to reduce the dose of methotrexate. It’s of great benefit to have this forum and gather information from everyone. I shall now be asking more in depth questions to my rheumy. I have great faith in him and have been very fortunate to have had continuity with the same consultant for 16 years

[helixhelix in reply to Poppyesterhazy]

Some people do end up on biological alone. As with everything it’s an individual decision as a number of things for your rheumy to consider. So if you are particularly prone to infections then may be better for you just to be on monotherapy for example.

[lynndemedicis in reply to helixhelix]

That's been my problem. Getting an infection after the MTX injection, which I then have to stop to take antibiotics. Vicious cycle.

[Gigi71]

I am on 7.5mg, I also hate taking it, often feel unwell the day after, but persevere for my bio med. this was explained to me when I changed over to Mtx from Azathioprine, it was needed to prevent the antibodies from the Humira. X

[Fra22-57]

I am not on methotrexate but RA drugs sulfasalazine and hydroxychloquine plus other meds with the biologic. I was on methotrexate but it was damaging my liver

[HevJ]

I am on biologics and had been taking methotrexate injections. I was feeling great however my liver was not coping so they took me off the methotrexate. I was off it for a year and feeling good. The rheumy said I could continue but in the long term he was concerned about the antibodies.

Three weeks ago I started back on 5mg tablets of methotrexate- half an hour after I took I felt the nausea! I had forgotten how I reacted to the tablets (they don’t do 5mg in injectable form)... but for the past two weeks I have split the dose to morning and eve and feel much better. As much as I didn’t want to go back on it, I certainly didn’t want to go back to how I was before biologics....

it may be worth asking to reduce the dose- I was initially on 20mg.

[Buckybri in reply to HevJ]

Yes exactly I keep reminding myself what it’s like not to walk , I remember when I couldn’t walk saying to myself that I would do anything to be able to walk my dogs again . I suppose I’m never happy

[AgedCrone]

Have a look at NICE guidelines on Methotrexate & Biologic drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My rheumatologist was quite agreeable to prescribing a Biologic drug without Mtx.....but it’s not a case of one size fits all.....it very much depends on your history of how you have reacted to previous treatments.....& of course your Rheumatologist’s considered opinion.

I have been on a Biologic without Mtx or steroids for 5 years now with no problems at all.....but as I say...it’s a considered decision....so the next time you see your rheumy have that chat.

[Hezekiah]

My son (aged 22) takes only Enbrel as his medication. (He suffered badly when he was on MTX for 6-8 months before being offered other treatments, and I expect that he would refuse to take MTX if it was offered to him. However, his consultant has never mentioned needing anything in addition to the Enbrel, and has never really commented on whether he will be taking Enbrel for life, or would ever come off it)

[Buckybri in reply to Hezekiah]

The feeling the days after the drug is horrible it’s hard to describe, I thought I was tolerate to most things but just the thought of it makes me want to be sick

[Buckybri in reply to Buckybri]

But saying that if it’s the difference between walking and working and paying the bills and not doing those things then there is no other choice

[Hezekiah in reply to Buckybri]

Yes, it was like that for my son "just the thought of it", and I think he can became Pavlovian allergic to the yellow colour of it too. But the Enbrel has done an excellent job of controlling his RA, so his weekly injection seems a small price to pay.