Increasing to 25mg Metoject

[Gardengirl61]

Hi Everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has experienced going from 20mg to 25mg Metoject injections?

I have been on 20mg for nearly 2 years which has worked quite well for me but sadly have now had a prolonged flare which is affecting nearly all finger joints in both hands, wrists and my ankle. Saw Rheumy Consultant a few weeks ago who suggested trying 25mg methotrexate. I am currently on a course of prednisolone to help calm the flare.

I am finding the thought of being on the maximum dose scary to be honest and wondered if anyone has experience they could share? I do get some side affects on 20 mg the day after my injection, fatigue, slight nausea and a ‘ hung over’ feeling. But when I did go from 15mg to 20mg it didn’t make any difference to side effects.

I

[Gottarelax]

I don't have experience of upping the Metoject dose to 25 as that's what I started on but I've not had any side effects. I do take folic acid 6 days a week and also take my injection at night.

[Gardengirl61 in reply to Gottarelax]

Thank you, that helps to know that you had no side effects.

[ATBr]

I went from 20mg to 25mg with no additional side effects, just occasionally as you described above next day. Hope it works well for you!

[Gardengirl61 in reply to ATBr]

Thank you!

[Runrig01]

I’m on oral tablets, as I tolerate MTX quite well. I’m now on 25mg and it helped settle excruciating pain I had in my feet. I didn’t notice any difference in side effects

[Gardengirl61 in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you for your reply. Sorry to see from your recent post that you are experiencing so much pain from your knee, which has been totally mismanaged by the GP!

Hope you get the treatment and support you need soon. It just seems so difficult to discuss anything face to face with GP’s anymore! I am sure it has an impact on correct diagnosis, it’s so much harder to explain symptoms and how you are feeling over the phone.

[Runrig01 in reply to Gardengirl61]

Sadly I’ve mainly seen my gp F2F. 1st time 8th July due to severe leg pain at 8/10. Soon as I mentioned it had buckled and resulted in me falling in the shower I was sent to A&E to rule out fractured spine or pelvis. CT showed no fracture and A&E Dr gave me prednisolone for a week for suspected tendonitis. Seen gp on 14th July, who disagreed and insisted knee issue was coming from back but sent me for knee X-ray. She had said if it did T show anything she’d do an mri. Seen her on 3rd aug, ray just showed effusion so refused to do mri, asking me to contact rheumy to see what he felt should be done. He felt the effusion wasn’t causing all the pains and ordered an mri. Unfortunately 48hrs after seeing him, the pain became unbearable and could only walk 10-12 steps. Then 5 days later bedbound. I sent her an email asking if pain patch could be increased by 5mcg to try and settle pains, which she had done for the first month, unfortunately this didn’t help, so phoned tues when she promised to speak to pharmacist and get straight back to me. 48hrs later still no word, paramedic came and was shocked at the pain I’d been left in. Went back to speak to her about topping he up, which is when she called back suggesting despite pain score of 8/10 I should remove my patch and stop tramadol, with nothing to replace till the next day, when I could start low dose of zomorph. Told her I’d no intention of letting pain worsen and that I expected some breakthrough pain. Was supposed to call me yesterday to discuss the swap, thankfully she didn’t. So she has had 3 F2F visits where she could of examined my leg and didn’t, because she was he’ll be t it was my spine due to my AS. Contacted mri yesterday, who said dsspitit being marked urgent it would probably be nezf the end of the week. Sorry it’s so long 🤗

[Gardengirl61 in reply to Runrig01]

I think you do have grounds to complain as others have suggested. I hope you can get a clear diagnosis soon and effective treatment for the pain .

[Scottishlad]

I was on oral 25mg methotrexate for a period. The only side effect I had was a tendency to have mouth ulcers. These were manageable with the aid of Bonjela. I now take 10mg as I'm now on the biologic Cimzia. I had been on daily folic acid before starting methotrexate so I miss the folic acid on the day I take my methotrexate.

[Gardengirl61]

Thank you, that’s helpful. I am taking folic acid 6 days a week too.

[wilbertjellyfish]

I've been on 25mg for about five years. It's fine. Hopefully it works for you

[Gardengirl61 in reply to wilbertjellyfish]

Thank you!

[Dobcross1]

I went from 20mg to 22.5mg but only when I increased to 25mg (injection) did I finally get rid of the pain totally. I've been on methotrexate since diagnosis in 2018 and on 25mg since Jan 2020. No difference in side effects at all and I get few now - mainly tiredness. Good luck, I'm sure you'll be OK 👍

[Gardengirl61 in reply to Dobcross1]

Thanks, that very positive

[BonesY2K]

I know people this has worked for. It did not work for me.

High dose MTX did not help my flares plus many horrible side effects. ( hair loss, crushing headache, aching limbs, depression etc) I could not work and asked for another way and got to Biologics supported by low dose methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine . After 4 different Biologics I am now pretty stable. Talk to your team both rheumatology and GP. Do not understate the impacts on your life. Good luck.