Methotrexate

[cba84]

Been on methotrexate by weekly injection for about 18 months. Always suffered from the fatigue the day after but this seems to becoming increasingly worse. I’m already on b12 injections and these don’t seem to have made any difference but just feel completely wiped out for two days. No matter how much I sleep I still the fatigue is winning. Has anyone else suffered increased side effects? If so have you any advice? Thanks in advance.

[Neonkittie17]

I seemed to get better re Mtx injection fatigue over the years. in 2006 I felt extremely tired and couldn’t keep my eyes open at times and felt like I was dragging my legs round and yet my general blood tests were fine. My GP suggested I could have low vitamin D and I was tested and had a really low result so I got a D3 oil dropper supplement and checked the amount to take with my GP. A couple of months after I felt much better and my levels were where they should be. Just a thought if you don’t take a vitamin D supplement. I hope you feel less tired soon.

[smilelines]

I agree that it is a good idea to check for other reasons for your fatigue. But if you don’t find any ask to try another DMard. When I was on methotrexate my stomach cramps could worse each week. It was awful. I don’t think that feeling so tired for two days every week is acceptable.

[Garnacha]

Hi I was on methotrexate for a year in tablet form then switched to injections last October, the fatigue, sickness feeling, hungover & giddiness was lasting for 5 - 6 days, in June I told the consultant I couldn't bear it any longer & want some normality, I stopped & started sulfasalazine

At the moment as I gradually increase sulfasalazine for the first couple of days feel a little bit sick but this keeps passing as the week goes on, I'm assuming once I'm on the maximum dose (next week) my body will be used to it, still feeling tired but think this is usually after a busy day 🙄 I'm so glad I'm not on methotrexate/ metoject anymore x

[Shanim]

Hi, sorry to hear that you are struggling with fatigue especially in this weather which is hard as it is. Can I ask if you see much benefit from the methotrexate for the other 5 days ?

I couldn’t take the tablets as they made me feel so ill and they have suggested the injections.

Thanks

Shani

[Haz58]

Hi. Do you take folic acid 5mg and if yes how many days a week? I was dreadful,on the MYX 15mg injections. So fatigued, brain fog I just wanted to give up. I was at the point I didn’t want to carry on. I took 1 x 5mg folic acid on the 2nd day after the jab. Now I take it 6 days a week, not MTX day, it’s a game changer. I have my jab Saturday around 7pm after a good meal. I take a vitamin D tablet daily. I make sure I drink 2 litres of water on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday besides my decaf coffee etc. i just feel very tired, bad headache and a bit sicky on the Sunday but now the rest of the week I’m fine. All the best, I hope you find a solution.

[RAexperiences in reply to Haz58]

I take folic acid every day even metho injection day. 5 mg. Feel totally fine on it.

[Gaz227]

How many Mg’s of MTX do you take ?

[Deeb1764]

I got worse and worse on MTX but I am also super sensitive to medication. However I was sleeping for most of the week and would come too the day before the MTX injection and then sink back down. Speaking to my RA team we tried different times to take it and other things but I eventually was taken off it.Speak to the RA team.

[GordonEdin]

Is the methotrexate keeping your RA under control? Rheumatoid arthritis can of course itself cause fatigue. Can be difficult to differentiate between the effects of the RA and the medication - though if it only happens just after injection then it certainly sounds like the medication. Hopefully you are taking folic acid and also getting the full blood tests at least every three months to make sure that your body is coping with the methotrexate?

[Bx12]

Methotrexate made me feel so ill. The medical team seemed to not believe me, put me on injected form. No better. After a huge and unpleasant fight was put onto leflunomide, so much better, but not enough to control the ra, so now it's a biologic as well. I can't understand why patients are not listened to when things get so bad.

Needless to say I am no longer with the same RA team, after years of coming away from each appointment feeling ignored, I now have much better care..So if you are not well, don't put up with it. There are other Ra drugs.