Covid Booster and Meds holiday (yet another question )

[Maggsie]

I'm having my booster on Sat and am happy to take a break from Mtx fo a couple of weeks so do I miss Wednesday this week and next or two weeks after the jab.?

Also, do I need to miss my tcz Jan next Monday?

Thanks everyone

[oldtimer]

You should really check with your own Rheumatology Department. They all seem to have slightly different ideas about what to miss and how long (or if at all). We can only tell you our own personal experiences and they might not be relevant to yours.

[ruth_p]

My letter said to leave the mtx the week after the injection but to do my tocilizumab as normal. But it was different for different drugs. You should ring your rheumatology department and check though. Although to be honest I’ve missed this week’s mtx too but that’s my decision and I didn’t consult anyone.

[Sheila_G]

I absolutely agree woth oldtimer. x

[Tiverland]

I was told by RA to continue as normal. Both for Covid and flu vaccine. So CHECK with your RA they know best

[madme1]

I usually inform my rhuematology of my plans Maggie. Depending on how I'm feeling, I usually stop it for a full week beforehand and two weeks afterwards, so including the week of injection, but we are all different. What might work for some will not suit others and in time you find out what suits you best.

[GinnyE]

I decided to miss the next two doses of my 20 mg methotrexate after my third vaccine. This is the only drug I am on for my RA and been pretty stable. Entirely my own decision and my Rheumatologist had not advised me to do so. It was a gamble and luckily I didn’t go into a flare. They are researching this subject at the moment I believe but it will be quite a while before results are out.

[Maggsie]

Thankyou all for your responses. I will inform my Rheumy team of my plans but from past experience they do tend to toe the party line regardless of your disease activity. My Rheumy team always tend to be on the back foot and rarely ever take the initiative, during this whole pandemic they have never called or written to me. Because of how my injection routine falls I've decided to miss Mtx this week and next week but take my Tcz (if they get their finger out and issue the prescription I asked for 2 weeks ago).

[bienassis]

Well, Maggie, this is an interesting question! When I had my jabs I was told there was no need to halt Methotrexate - just the Biologic needed a couple of weeks off before and after the jab.

Your rheumatology helpline should be able to give advice on that.

Enjoy the holiday!