Methotrexate and fuzzy thinking day after

[Stowe]

Hello everyone, hope your all having a relaxing Sunday, 😊 Does anybody noticed the day after they have taken their Methotrexate that they feel a bit spaced out and fuzzy headed and cannot seem to retain information as easily as the rest of the week? I spoke to the RA nurse and she didn't think it was a methotrexate symptom and asked me to come of the medication for 2 weeks to see if there's any difference. I didn't take it last night and I don't feel fuzzy headed today, but my mood is lower, got out and did loads of gardening, that seems to have helped, thankfully. Does anybody else have these symptoms? Thanks 😊

[Boxerlady]

I thought that was one of the most common symptoms! I certainly have it and I think that you'll find that many others on here do too.

When I found that it was lasting longer (only getting a couple of "normal" days each week) I rang the nurse helpline and after checking with the consultant, my dose was dropped back a notch so now it's back to the one day which is manageable. Still takes me by surprise sometimes though! 😂

[Stowe in reply to Boxerlady]

Hello Boxerlady, thanks for coming back to me 😊 to be honest I thought it was a common side effect, but the nurse said no it wouldn't be methotrexate it will be your RA, I said but I only have the day after I take the medication and it wear off as the week goes on, as I feel ok today, I'm going to go back to the dose at the weekend, as I can already feel pain in my ankle. I was getting really concerned as I just couldn't remember any of the figures whilst working ☹ but noticed the following day it wasn't so bad. I have asked if I can change medication as the methotrexate isn't covering the pain, but I don't want to up the doseage. Good that you have been able to find a manageable solution that works for you. I suppose that's the thing with RA it's trial and error. X

[Boxerlady in reply to Stowe]

Yes, trial and error is the name of the game. I've adjusted my day so that the fuzzy head doesn't impact on anything important. I'm happy to stay on it as, together with Hydroxychloroquine and Sulfasalazine, it's got my RA well under control. If you've noticed the missed dose that quickly it's obviously doing some good. Have you tried the usual things like experimenting with the time you take it and drinking lots of water for a day or two each side?

[Stowe in reply to Boxerlady]

The nurse is ringing me In 4 - 6 weeks time to recap over the medication, I'm going to ask if I can introduce a third medication to hopefully keep down the pain, the two medications were working really well untill a few months ago and then I noticed it wasn't covering the pai so well, maybe if I'm able to reduce to Methotrexate dose and introduce another that might sort it, I hope so, good that yours is under control. It is a funny disease, that you can feel, dare I say good one day! And the next day you have loads of other symptoms and feel rubbish hay hum. Yep take folic acid 6 says a week and drink loads of warm water all day 😊

[Murraymint49 in reply to Boxerlady]

Hi do you take hydroxychloroquene and sulfasazine together. I am on hydroxychloroquene. And they want to start me on sulfasazine . Do you still have to take two a day hydroxychloroquene. I find hydroxychloroquene helps me function The rheumatism is still there .

[Boxerlady in reply to Murraymint49]

Yes, I'm on "triple therapy" - started on Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine and added Sulfasalazine after about eighteen months. It was the missing piece of the puzzle for me - joints really good atm 😊

[Murraymint49 in reply to Boxerlady]

Thanks for replying . If things get worse . I might give it a try. I can manage at the moment .they are really good the rheumi nurses they do send me for blood tests and are there on the the end of the phone .with advice

[Boxerlady in reply to Murraymint49]

Mine too - very lucky. 😉I was keen to treat my RA as aggressively as possible so contacted them last summer when things were deteriorating and they were great. My Methotrexate was increased after a telephone consultation and when that didn't do the trick I was called in for a f2f and then started on Sulfasalazine. That's been titrated up and things are now good 👌

[Boxerlady]

Also, are you on the top dose of Folic Acid?

[helixhelix]

How strange. As far as I’m aware it’s very common! And it certainly applies to me....OH has learnt to double check things on a Wednesday as 50% chance I will have made a mistake!

Suggest to the nurse she tries it and sees how she feels! 😜. Perception is reality, so if it feels like that for you then she should believe you.

I was in triple therapy for years with good results.

[Stowe in reply to helixhelix]

Ha ha ha yes I should have said she can try it and let me know how she feels 😁 thankfully she agreed when I mentioned changing medications or adding one more, so at least that's something. 😊 I know what you mean, I was beginning to dread Mondays of working as I just wasn't retaining the information that I needed to. ☹

[springcross]

Hi Stowe. I get it for a couple of days afterwards and feeling a bit spaced out is a good description.

[Stowe]

Hello Springcross, thank you for letting me know, I feel better for knowing it's common, but not good that we are having to suffer it, but good that hopefully your not in pain. 😊

[dawkin_S]

Hi Stowe, I always get this, I get it on the day, and sometimes the next day as well - it seems to vary. I feel kind of thick-headed, not with it - that sort of thing.

[Stowe]

Hello Dawkin, it's not pleasant is it? ☹ I wonder why it's just Methotrexate that does this, I don't have symptoms with Hydroxy. Hope your keeping well.

[Sheila_G]

Not quite like that but I can definitely be far more tired the day after taking mxt but not every time. Quite strange really.

[Hidden]

I do yes. I inject mine and at first had zero side effects. The last 4 times I have taken it thought I've felt sick and tired all day. I inject last thing at night so I was hoping I'd sleep a lot of the crap off but it seems to be getting worse! I'll ring the nurse later 😩

[essexgirl in reply to Hidden]

I was getting same symptoms so I thought I wails take it at bed time but it made the symptoms worse and for longer , so went back to 9am and it seems better to cope with just one day of tiredness and feeling like 💩

[ATSF]

Yes, i've noticed it for a long time in my wife, yesterday she was very confused, she takes it on Sunday's. I'm going back on it next week for the third time.

[janeywaney63]

I had to come off methotrexate completely as liver enzymes were all over the place. I’m not half as brain foggy since stopping it. Such a relief. They started me on sulfasalazine instead. (Along with hydroxychloroquine I’ve been taking since day 1.

[KeenGreen]

I sometimes get it the morning after taking it. Usually only last a few hours and not too bad for me.

[cross2]

I took my methotrexate last night and am very foggy and unsteady today

[Ruth12345]

Definitely have/had that. Due to blood results I have been taken off RD meds and boy I feel cognitively so very much better. Now been 3 weeks and the body is complaining. Hay ho.

[StormySeas]

Yes, exactly! I used to feel dull and thick headed, judging by the responses here it's a common side-effect Choosing the day you take it can lesson the impact if there's a day you don't have to be on top of things.

I'm on a much lower dose now so the effect is much less, and I barely notice it.

It's not great that a rheumy nurse isn't aware of such a common side-effect. Thank good ness for this forum eh? X

[LinaM]

Hi Stowe! I definitely had that as a symptom but it lasted for 3 days . It cleared up when I stopped methotrexate ,so definitely a side effect for me.

[greynot]

I'm on 20mg mtx (by mouth) and definitely have a brain foggy day or two after taking it.

I have adjusted my life so I don't take any major decisions on those days.

I tell people that the day after MTX I'm not safe in charge of my brain!

[Frankiefocus]

Hi StoweI take 15mg Nordimet (MTX) shot per week and always feel groggy with brain fog the next day. I take it at night and drink a lot of water on the day and the day after which helps a bit so now I do not make a lot of plans the day after MTX shot day. I have got used to it and recently I have been taking vitamin C twice a day which has perked me up a bit. Hope this info helps.

[Stowe]

Wow thank you every body, I cannot believe how many people have this side effect. I hope your all feeling ok this week, if you have just taken your medication. Yes you would think the nurse would know about such a common side effect, I know it is the methotrexate that makes me feel unwell as I didn't take it this Sunday and felt fine on Monday, no foggy brain at all. I know methotrexate is helping my RA but it does worry me when I feel like that every week. Sounds like you all have it worked out, with taki g it on days when you have less to do or the weekend and take it sasy the day after. I'm going to swap my day to a Fridzy night so I can take it easy Saturday 😊 hope you all have a good week. X

[cjfey in reply to Stowe]

My RA doctor said it was ok to split your dose over the course of 24 hours, so I take my pills 23 hrs apart and feel way way less side effects

[Stowe in reply to cjfey]

Hello Cjfey, oh that's interesting, my consultant didn't mention about splitting the dose, but if works then that's good. I have the nurse ringing me again in Oct and will see what she thinks. Thanks for the tip 😊 hope your feeling ok.

[cjfey in reply to Stowe]

hi, im doing well, altho this week i took them closer together, only 4hrs apart, and i was sluggish for 2 days, fyi, so next week, i will do 23 hr or so apart, at bedtime

[Stowe in reply to cjfey]

Oh no not good when you feel unwell, if the 24 apart works for you, best to stick to it. I'm feeling abit yuk today after taking methotrexate last night after a weeks break, it's surprised me that i feel rough when I only missed a week.

[cjfey in reply to Stowe]

seriously, my doctor asked me if I felt tired or sluggish the next day I said yes, she said, you know, you can split the dose up, as long as you take it within 24 hrs. I asked her if 23 hr was still ok. she said yes, it helps you even more, as it's in your system longer. and my guess, is you have less side effects, as its not so hard on your kidneys and liver, I also take a med called ruehmmate, it has b12 and cercumin, which undoes the liver dammage done by methotrexate

[greynot]

Good luck with it Stowe, and let us know how you go on with it.

[Stowe in reply to greynot]

Hello Greynot, thank you for your reply, how are you doing?

[greynot in reply to Stowe]

Ok (ish cos I've been overdoing things 🙃)I'm hoping my overdue blood test doesn't get cancelled tomorrow through this lack of blood tubes.

Seems there's always some thing throwing a spanner in the works!!

[Stowe in reply to greynot]

Hope you feel better soon, I know what you mean, I tend to over do it and then feel terrible the next day 😣 I had my quarterly blood test today, fingers crossed yours goes ahead, yep there is always something 🙄 you have to laugh, or try to.

[greynot in reply to Stowe]

I've just got a text reminding me, so hopefully it won't get cancelled now for tomorrow.

Good to know you got yours.

Keep smiling!

🙂

[Stowe in reply to greynot]

That's good I take it you've now had your blood test 😊 I had mine too. Have a good day, at least it's Friday. X

[greynot in reply to Stowe]

Thanks Stowe, yes, I had it this morning. The nurse said they have to keep doing the methotrexate tests.Hope we both have good results!

[Stowe in reply to greynot]

Yes fingers crossed our are both fine 😊

[meadow-mogs]

I was on methotrexate for 5 years but have recently come off it. The fuzzy headedneness seemed to be all the time although I was on a very low dose and have now got RA erosions in my wrists. The GP thought I had built up an intolerance to it. I am about to try leffunomide sometime soon.Good luck

[Stowe in reply to meadow-mogs]

Oh no, having the fuzzy headedness all the time couldn't have been nice, I don't like it for one day 😣 good luck with the new medication.