Hi I am new on here, I was diagnosed 10 years ago and was given methotrexate tablets, they worked quite well an then about four months ago started making me feel dreadful nauseous and woolly headed, saw rheumatologist who said he would try and get me the injections, I stopped taking the tablets and now in a dreadful state, I finally saw another Doctor at the hospital and now have the pens, plus hydroxychloraquine so am hoping I will be better soon, still worried that it will make me unwell but was given a helpline number by a nurse who said if I had rung they would have picked up my problem much quicker, I didn’t know it existed so I am feeling a bit let down, my question is do I have to put the pens in the fridge, thank you for listening…..
methotrexate: Hi I am new on here, I was diagnosed 1... - NRAS
methotrexate
Hiya JG52, welcome. No, there's no need to refrigerate MTX injections, although it is advised to keep in a cool place there's no problem if under 25°. That said I lived in a warm country when I first started injecting (2010) & never refrigerated them. I was advised to keep it in a cool dark place, but I was only able to get them off the chemists weekly, they weren't refrigerated there either.
I hope you're under better control soon. It's a shame you weren't aware you could report symptoms, it may well have saved you flaring changing straight to injections without stopping your tablets. The injections are generally better tolerated & often a reduction in dose gives the same effect as tablets. When I first swapped I went from 15 mg tablets to 20 mg injections but it was too high a dose so it was reduced to 15 mg & I was fine. Nowadays I take 6 x 5 mg folic acid weekly but at the time I only took 2.
Hydroxychloroquine was my first DMARD & it was when that stopped working I changed to MTX tablets, then injections a year later. It's been the best for me out of 3 other DMARDs I’ve tried.
Whilst waiting to be shown how to inject maybe this will be helpful to you metoject.co.uk/uk-patients/
I hope you find it helpful being here. 😊
only if there is a heatwave like there was last year! Dark cupboard that’s not on an external wall is fine for all but extreme days.
thanks
I recently started injections and I have to remember to not leave them on the floor - we have underfloor heating! But other than that, we keep it at room temperature which is 18C. for us. I always wonder why people use the term 'room temperature' they don't define it. For some people that is 24C, for others, maybe they can't afford fuel, it will be 16C. But the leaflet that comes with the pens just says keep under 25C as no more heels says.
As for not knowing about the advice line, it sounds like they haven't been keeping all their patients up to date about the helpline. It might be a good idea to contact the PALS department in your hospital, as they will be able to talk to the rheumatology department to make sure that other patients don't fall through the cracks.
I started using Metoject pens two weeks ago and was given a booklet with my delivery pack. On the back are two phone numbers, one for the Patient Services Team and the other for the Pharmacy Dept. which is for any medication issues. Were you given this booklet with your initial delivery?
no I picked up my meds in the hospital pharmacy I didn’t get a booklet !!
Mine are supplied and delivered by Sciensus.
no the pens are fine at room temperature
Make sure you dispose of them in a purple topped sharps bin
your rheumatology nurse will be able to help you with this. You should have a &helpline number for them.
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