Hi all
Just had my 3rd dose of MX and I have pains in my Rhuemy bits so not feeling any benefit yet but feeling tired, nauseous and have a pain in bottom right side of belly which I didn't have before.
My question is weather this is normal at 3 weeks as my Rhuemy clinic consultant wants me to take this for 12 weeks !
Please let me know what you think ???
Thank you
Shy & retiring
This was normal for me when I started taking MTX. Following a dose, I would feel ill for about a day or two, however, I didn't have a pain in my stomach.
If memory serves, I don't think I started to notice any real benefit of the medication until the third or fourth month in. Unfortunately, sometimes it's a bit of a waiting game with RA meds. The good news is that I eventually became acclimatised to MT`X and, currently, rarely experience side effects. Also, I feel so much better than I did when I was first diagnosed. Hang in there. Also, have you been prescribed folic acid? It may help with the side effects of MTX.
Thank you MoniqueBYes I am taking a folic acid tablet 6 days a week and thank you for the re-assurance about the symptoms, but I am still worried about the right hand side lower belly pain.
Kind regards
Shy
You're very welcome. With regard to your stomach pain, perhaps it would be a good idea to check in with your GP or rheumy? I hope you start to feel better soon.
Thank you MoniqueB it's good advice.
It is not likely that methotrexate would give you right sided belly pain. It's much more likely to be due to your gut. Get in touch with your GP surgery and find out what it is. Methotrexate does take around twelve weeks before you notice improvement in your joint pains. Most of the treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis take around that sort of time to work.
It's not easy the first few months is it? Hang on in there and ask any questions you need to. We do know how awful it is!
12 weeks is a long time isn't it but the reassurance on here I am grateful for.
Yes as MoniqueB suggested I will go and check out the belly pain.
Thank you Old-timer.
Hi,
MTX can cause stomach pains and I would report this.
There are a couple of things that might help with some symptoms...
Take the MTX with or just after a meal.
Keep well hydrated.
Split your dose and take two tablets at breakfast, two with lunch and two with tea/dinner (you’re on 15mg??) - make sure you take it all in the one day and never split over days whatever you do.
You should be having 2-3 weekly blood tests as well to monitor how your body is adjusting to the med and as your system settles into it these will become less frequent until you’re on 3 monthly bloods.... assuming that MTX is the med for you but not everyone tolerates it and they move on to try other meds.
All the best
Ali
Thanks Ali
I will try the split the 6 tablets throughout the day system ( 15mg ) and see if that helps.
I am staying very hydrated through the day.
Yes you are right I had my first fortnightly blood test on Tuesday just gone and have not heard anything so far !
Thank you so much for the advice.
Kind regards Shy
I felt terrible when i first started the MTX. I think i actually felt worse than i did. Pain Fatigue and sleeplessness. Body took a lot to get use too. If am remembering right my nurse said to give it a little longer to get into my system. 12 weeks i suffered before i really noticed it working. The pains in your stomach need to be looked at just to be safe. 12 weeks of pain and fatique is a lot to put up with while you wait to see if the MTX will have an effect. Get some good pain relief. Naproxen etc. The fatique is hard to deal with, i tried all sorts. I started taking B12 everyday to try to up my energy levels and lots of water, still do 4years later, seems to work for me. Just hang in there but get your stomach looked at. Fingers crossed the MTX will do its job for you.
Thank you running bracken
I didn't think I would be allowed to take pain killers on MTX, what is Naproxen does it have to be prescribed ?
Many thanks
Shy
Naproxen does have to be prescribed by your Doc. It was the only strong painkiller i never felt sick from. Ask about it, am sure you'll be good to take it. Hope it helps
Your first 2 symptoms are quite common with MTX, nausea particularly, & why we are prescribed folic acid so be assured of that. I put it down to it being a new med, my body needing to get used to it & found eating more bland foods the day I took the tablets helped, & anything ginger helped too. What I'm sure helped most though was not taking the dose in one go as I had little else to concern me & my folic acid dose whilst on tablets was never higher than taking one the day before & one the day after.The lower right tum pain isn't to my knowledge a side effect, neither is it likely to be caused by the MTX, there's nothing there that that could be directly affected by it rather. That said if it's really worrying you do contact your GP. If the nausea doesn't ease the longer you're on MTX or after you trying to help ease it yourself your GP may suggest an antiemetic too but he may want to see if it eases (or goes) naturally first.
Just the same as any other DMARD it can take up to 12 weeks for MTX to be fully effective, sometimes a little longer, though often you do notice improvements before then, I hope so anyway. It is a long term med, if it works & is suitable of course.
Thank you nomoreheels
I will try eating bland foods and taking the MTX perhaps in 3 X 2 morning. Lunch, evening and see if that helps.
I am definately going to contact Rheumy clinic about my right side belly pain though.
I was concerned that it may be my liver although I realise the liver is not lower belly.
Thank you so much.
Shy
I did wonder if the Pharmacist's unnecessary excessive advice was having some effect on worrying about your tum pain. If I was you I’d let your Rheumy know about that, it was so unnecessary. Anybody relatively new to the meds we take should be made aware but not to the degree he did. You'll be having regular blood tests. Anything untoward will be picked up on those, that's really all it was necessary for the Pharmacist to inform you of. Scaring you was unkind, he obviously isn't able to filter his advice according to needs.
My first dose of tablets was 15mg & I took 2 tablets with each meal, as my Consultant recommended. I stayed on tablets for a year, it was only when I had a new Consultant & needed an increase in dose I started injecting, though it is an option if you have troublesome side effects. See how food & ginger helps & if not talk it over with your Rheumy.
Have a happy Easter.
Thank you nmhYes the Pharmacist may be playing a part in my subconscious even now a very good point !
I do juice every morning including ginger and I am taking a tablet of turmeric everyday but up to now not much effect but maybe symptoms would be worse without them !
Again thank you very much appreciated as always.
You have a good Easter too !
🐥Shy
The curcumin in turmeric might help but higher doses can have a side effect of nausea. See what you Rheumy thinks, remind him you're taking it & see what his thoughts are. In the early weeks of a new med it makes sense to halt any supplements until you see results from your DMARD, then you know exactly how it's working on your RD without a supplement possibly skewing results, both positively& negatively. Just my thoughts but I do think there's some commonsense there.
After 16 years of MTX, what I have learned is that to reduce stomach upset is go for a good walk before taking, and then have dinner an hour later. I am talking 2.5 mg pills, not injection which I have never done. Over the years slowly the inflammation reduced to allow less pills. I may have a little upset that night, but next morning no nauseous feeling. I hope this helps.
Hello! Don't want to do a downer on Metho tx but this is a drug I could not continue with because the nausea was too much for me. Best wishes!
methotrexate injections and trapped nerve
Methotrexate
UPDATE: 4 weeks on methotrexate
Methotrexate 
