Jakey2020

[Jakey2020]

Hi everyone, has anyone on methotrexate taken more than one 5mg folic acid to combat side effects???

[helixhelix]

I take 5mg a day for 6 days a week. In some countries they use 1mg and in others 10mg. It is very varied.

[Jakey2020 in reply to helixhelix]

Thankyou for the reply, I don’t like the tiredness ,

[KathleenMary in reply to helixhelix]

So do i

[012703060610]

I take 3 mgs per day. Will ask if more could help with my hair loss!

[AgedCrone]

There would be no point….FA is water soluble & any excess you don’t need you just wee out !

Have a word with your rheumy nurse & see what she advises.

[bpeal1 in reply to AgedCrone]

Many people take 5mg six days a week rather than once a week so there must be some point otherwise rheumatologists wouldn’t recommend it. Unfortunately for me even upping folic acid to six times a week did nothing for my symptoms from methotrexate and I had to swap to a different medication.

[AgedCrone in reply to bpeal1]

If you look at a previous post…..unless I misunderstood Jakey reckons she is taking 35mgs a week,although she does say her doctor said to take 5mg 6 days per week, missing out Mtx day…that is why I said she should have a word with her rheumy nurse.

[Runrig01]

I take the 5mg six days a week, it was increased from 1 a week due to nausea.

[Haz58]

When I was on MTX I was on 1 a week. But the tiredness etc made them tell me to up it to 6 days a week. 5mg. It helped.

[emmajj1971]

I was taking folic acid every day then transferred onto injections and has less side affects

[GinnyE]

I take 5mg each day for six days.

[Jakey2020 in reply to GinnyE]

Thanks Ginny, I feel much better than I did on one 5 mg…

[cyberbarn]

It is possible to get side effects from taking too much folic acid:

"When taken by mouth: It is likely safe for most people to take folic acid in doses of no more than 1 mg daily. Doses higher than 1 mg daily may be unsafe. These doses might cause stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, irritability, confusion, behavior changes, skin reactions, seizures, and other side effects."

webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingre...

[AgedCrone in reply to cyberbarn]

In the UK when you are prescribed Mtx ….5 mg of Folic Acid is considered a safe dose as Mtx deflates our normal FA. If you read back you will see that many people here take that dose quite safely as prescribed by their rheumatologist.

Hence 5mg FA tablets are only available on prescription here.

[cyberbarn in reply to AgedCrone]

Yes, but the original poster asked if they could take more. The original post didn't specify if it was per day or once a week. The idea that you just excrete what isn't needed is not correct, there can be side effects.

[AgedCrone in reply to cyberbarn]

If you look back at the writer’s previous posts you will see what I mean. You can only buy a minute dose of FA OTC…..the 5mg tablets we are prescribed are on prescription only.

Which is why I said I thought Jakey2020 should speak to her rheumy team so that they could explain to her why she is prescribed the dose she is taking…& how often she should take it.

[Jakey2020 in reply to AgedCrone]

Rheumatology sent me a scrip for 6mgs folic six days a week methotrexate on seventh… today is first day I feel fairly normal…👍🏽

[Boxerlady in reply to Jakey2020]

That's interesting - I hadn't heard of anyone being given more than 5mg a day. Hope that it helps you.

[Jakey2020 in reply to Boxerlady]

Silly me I caught the 6 instead of 5 … so thanks for putting me right

[AgedCrone in reply to Jakey2020]

It’s so easy to do…In fact I was just trying to order something on line..& I typed 6 instead of 5….. because I was watching TV without my glasses! Luckily I re-checked it….otherwise who knows what I might have bought.😁

Good luck with the Mtx..I took it very successfully for 7 years!

[Jakey2020 in reply to AgedCrone]

Before I was on mtx I had a drink and next day I had a Dyson delivered 🤣

[AgedCrone in reply to Jakey2020]

You should have had two drinks…you might have got a GTech!

[MadBunny in reply to AgedCrone]

🤣🤣

[Jakey2020 in reply to AgedCrone]

Ha ha that was next time 🤣 got both!!! Safe now I can’t drink 😭

[Boxerlady in reply to Jakey2020]

No problem - I'm on that too and it really helped me with the initial side effects 😊

[AgedCrone in reply to Jakey2020]

I think if you look closely you might might the Folic Acid dose is 5mg. One tablet to be taken each day …….except on the day you take methotrexate. Check the FA container, the dosage will be on that.

[AgedCrone in reply to Jakey2020]

I’m glad you are feeling better.

[Jakey2020 in reply to AgedCrone]

Thanks AgedCrone.. hope I’m same tomorrow 😘

[MJSlide1958 in reply to AgedCrone]

I think a blood test can tell whether folic acid is too higher does? (5mg 6 times a week)

[Hidden]

I take folic 6 days a week (not Mtx day).

[Jakey2020 in reply to Hidden]

Are they 5mgs 6 days a week ??

[Hidden in reply to Jakey2020]

Yes, sorry..

[Chrissycl]

I take 5mg a day not on methotrexate but do take sulfasalazine which interfers with the absorption of folic acid

[Jakey2020]

I couldn’t handle side effects from sulphasalazine .. Methotrexate seems ok but tired and no appetite so they upped folic acid to six a week!!! Hate the tiredness xx