Sickness and nausea with methotrexate

[Bobbieblueeyes37]

Hello all, just wondering if any one else has been experiencing horrid taste like sour milk in the mouth and nausea taking the methotrexate injection? I have been on tablets but changed to injection in January this year. Has anyone got any tips of what I might take to help with this please?

[Clare-NRAS Partner NRAS]

Many people report taking their methotrexate at bedtime means they can sleep through that initial nausea if they experience it. Folic acid taken on the days you don't take mtx should also help. Best speak to your rheumatology specialist nurse or your hospital pharmacist.

[KittyJ]

yes I was very sick on injections. Do you take folic acid?

[Bobbieblueeyes37 in reply to KittyJ]

Hello Kitty yes 6 days a week but it doesn't do much to help really. It's more the disgusting saliva that is bothering me more. Last time I saw the Registrar in rheumatology she said there is nothing we can do so just wondered if any one had any ideas.

[KittyJ in reply to Bobbieblueeyes37]

are you sure it’s the mtx that’s causing the disgusting saliva? Have you checked out other causes, I’ve not heard that side effect mentioned before.

[Bootoo]

I have been on mtx injections for years and in the last few months I have started being sick just like I was in the beginning. My folic acid was increased to 6 a week but didn't help so my consultant told me to speak to my GP about anti sickness tablets.

Try speaking to your rheumy team or GP I'm sure they'll be able to come up with something to help.

[Leics]

Unfortunately yes I had the disgusting sour taste in my mouth and nausea off the scale for 10 months. I stuck with it I don’t know how as it initially made such a difference to my RA symptoms. I was taking folic acid 6 days a week which made things worse, tried ginger peppermint and anti nausea meds prescribed by GP. In the end after getting covid and still injecting mtx for a further 6 months I had to admit defeat as Mtx wasn’t working anymore and the nausea was increasing so much so I couldn’t function. I always injected in the evening.

[Bobbieblueeyes37 in reply to Leics]

Good morning thank you for your reply it's reassuring to know it is probably related to the meds. Maybe I will seek for a change if it does not improve.

[Leics in reply to Bobbieblueeyes37]

Well in my case it was certainly the meds and I had to admit defeat but stupidly felt like a failure and put up with it for far too long which was silly. I’m convinced that covid stopped it working. Definitely get in touch with your team and GP about anti sickness meds I hope things improve for you.

[Bobbieblueeyes37 in reply to Leics]

Thank you, and your no failure we just get administered this stuff, without knowing how our bodies will react. I hope things improve for you too, we're all on the same journey and I appreciate the help.

[Leics in reply to Bobbieblueeyes37]

No problem that’s what the forum is for. Unfortunately I’ve been waiting for two months for a change of med had all the tests ticked all the boxes and still have no idea how much longer it’s going to be and 5.mg of pred isn’t cutting it.

[fred42]

Suffered for years with MTX induced sickness, nausea and diarrhoea, GP diagnosed me with IBS. Struggled on as did not want the biologic to stop working but eventually gave up the unequal struggle.Cimzia has now been working well for over 2 years.We are all different but living with constant nausea etc is no life!

[Happy5]

Ok couple of positives the injections will make it less feelings of nausea, and it's more effective as a treatment.

My regime for the day of injection is to take 1 Metoclopramide about half hour prior to bed time. Then do my injection, go to bed with a drinking bottle of water by the bed side, take 1 Co-codamol which knocks me out for the night. That way I sleep through the worse of the symptoms. Both the meds I mentioned have to be prescribed through RA team or GP.

Next day I drink lots of fluids helps flush the system out.

Hope this helps 😊

[Tia53]

I've been using Metoject 10mg for over 4 years now. I inject late Tues night. Sometimes the nausea starts literally within minutes other times it's the next morning. I've become used to Wednesday's being an "off" day - although it's not every Wednesday, sometimes I'm fine.

I've learned to live with it as my RA has been under control for over 3 years now so the 1 day of nausea is worth it for me 😊

I take Folic Acid twice a week.

[Aliceeliza]

Sorry no advice from me but I also get nausea after mtx. It was lasting up to 5 days and I asked for a reduced dose and am now on 15 mg. For 2 months the nausea disappeared but it is returning now but at only 1 day I can cope. Looking forward to other people's advice to you. It makes you feel pretty bluh!

[Ferret18]

Hi

I had exactly the same on methotrexate injections. I used a magnetic bracelet, drank ginger tea, changed the time of the injection - all on the advice of rheumy nurse. Nothing helped. Changed to Leflunomide and no such issues.

Good luck