I have my metoject pens today. will start injecting this week. I hope it will turn around these mtx oral side effects. does anyone know if I will still have to take hydroxychloroquine ?
thanks to all who have contacted me regarding this problem, a life saver....
don't know why the RA dept left me fighting for 4 years with these mtx tablet side effects...
Injections were certainly much better for me than tabs. - for a long time. You should ask your team by about Hydroxy, but make sure you have folic acid - preferably more than once a week. Good luck
I've been on MTX for over 40 years, first on oral tablets and now injectable pens, Metoject. I was told many years ago that each 2.5mg pill costs around 50p, but I should imagine the pens are more expensive, hence why they encourage most patients to take the oral tablets.
My gut felt better after switching to injections. Hope it helps you too.
I changed to injecting 3 months ago after using tablets for 9 months- started with hydroxychloroquine at the same time as changing. Huge improvement on side effects and I take folic acid 6 days a week. Still not fully in remission though.
As others say the reluctance to switch is down to cost, and the pressures Consultants are under to prescribe cheapest option. You can get 100 tablets for £5, which would keep me going for 10 weeks. Whereas the injections are £16 each so over the same 10 week period would cost the nhs £160. Thankfully I’ve never had the horrid side effects from oral, despite taking 25mg.
The injections are so much better than the MTX tablets for me. No MTX hangover, no nausea and much better control of the RA.
I did my second injection on Tuesday and felt terrible yesterday, completely drained and slept most of the day, something I didn’t have with the tablets.
I do hope that works for you, the stomatitis is awful. Because of GI problems I was started immediately on MTX injections (in US my rheumy gives me a 25ml vial to draw from, kinda old school but it works and it's cheap and I have total control vs. autoinjet). Sadly, I am still getting the mouth sores, even with daily folic acid and leucovorin day after. I have found that a strong salt water mouth rinse helps them heal faster, suggest that. My dentist prescribed a steroid mouthwash (dexamethasone) that I dab on really bad areas for 5 days, but you can't continue with that continually, apparently. Doc wants me on Humira, but Medicare and insurance say no (3 appeals, all nixed) so it's MTX for me and trying to deal with side effects. I know NHS isn't perfect, but I read about so many of you on biologics and getting options and have to admit I truly believe your level of care is better, even with issues---here it's run by the bean-counters of Medicare and the secondary private insurance we have to carry or risk bankruptcy. Best wishes for success and mouth comfort with the injections! 
Hi Lindyloo
I take hydroxychloroquine 200mg in addition to methotrexate 22.5mg injections. I think they are supposed to work better together from what I recall when I queried this.
Good luck x
Hi, I didn't even know injections existed, until a friend told me. As soon as I started the injections, it was great, no more sickness, bad taste in my mouth, so Good luck. Everyone, I meet who has RA or about to be diagnose, I tell them to ask for injection NOT tablets. Tablets are cheaper but quality of life is important. I continued with hydroxychloroquine until my consultant told me to stop. You must check with them before you stop or change medication. Best wishes
many thanks susie, how long did it take for the injections to show improvement on the tablets ? I had my first injection yesterday. not sure if I will be restarting the hydroxy yet or not,,,why did you stop hydroxy ?
Hi, I had awful skin issues on methotrexate tablets, strangely I only got awful mouth ulcers when taking Orencia ( abatacept) injections. I was told taking Lysine supplements would clear it, any good pharmacist should have them. I was too impatient after weeks of barely being able to speak or eat so I came off the medication and tried a dairy free diet which has worked perfectly for me luckily so I can't say whether or not the Lysine would work but several others have told me it worked well for them
hello please could you tell me what dosage of lysine ? many thanks
I'm sorry I don't know as i didnt end up using them, but I found this online saying 500mg daily keeps them at bay but 4000mg will get rid of ones you have at the minute. Most supplements seem to be 1000mg. Good luck they are so sore.elevateddental.com/11-quick....
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