Methotrexate

[Alan7690]

Hi all. Just been diagnose with RA and will be starting on 20 mg of methotrexate within the next 2 weeks. Anyone have any advice on taking it etc. Thanks for the help.

[Gnarli]

Hi Alan7690 and welcome. I suspect that anyone taking MTX will have their own routines because we are all so very different. I take it in the evening after my main meal working on the theory that I'll sleep through any side effects (I don't get any 🙂) I hope that helps.

[AgedCrone]

I took mine after dinner ..9pm ish, & it worked a treat !

Make sure you keep well hydrated especially on the day you take the Mtx.

If you are not taking folic acid six days per week, if you feel a bit yuck, do speak to your Rheumy nurse about increasing your dose.

My attitude was take it & forget it ….. if you get anxious about it, you will probably feel iffy….so don’t overthink things.

[HeadInASpin]

I’m a newbie too! I’ve only been taking it since May. My side effects come the day after so everyone is different. I’ve been much better since the increase in folic acid but I don’t tend to make big plans on the day of the injection or the day after just in case I’m feeling off. If I feel good on those days I’ll do something but just roll with it. It has taken around sixteen weeks to feel the benefit so keep the faith! Good luck…hope all goes well for you.

[vonniesims]

I have been on it for many years.I have no problems but am on injections. I agree about the Folic acid. I think many of us are on it 6 days a week.Hope it works

[greynot]

I'm on 20 mg Methotrexate, and 5 mg folic acid on the other 6 days of the week.Like others, I take it in the evening, after a good meal, and make sure to keep well hydrated the next day.

At first I used to have a MTX 'hangover' the next day...slight nausea, brain fog, etc...but that settled down.

The main thing is that with time, it kicked my RA into remission, and 4 years down the line it's holding well.

It does take a while to make a difference, so stick with it.

All the best to you, and I hope it works as well for you. If not, there are other drugs/drug combos.

[helenv81]

I started on it in June. The first time i took it I felt like I had a hangover the next day and felt a bit rough for a few days but since then I’ve generally not had any major side effects. I agree with aged chrone try and take it and forget about it if you overthink it you’ll probably feel worse as the mind is very powerful.

[Runrig01]

like most of the others, I take mind after my evening meal, around 8:30pm. It seems to be that I then sleep through the side effects. When I started I tapered up from 15mg to check my tolerance to it. The only side effect I get, it my hair is slightly thinner, but it settled down after a while, and is not noticeable to others. I’ve been on it 7yrs now.

[Jakey2020 in reply to Runrig01]

Hi Runrig01.. I’ve been on mtx since June but hair is coming out a bit each day otherwise I’m ok but have long hair and worried !!!

[Runrig01 in reply to Jakey2020]

Hopefully it will settle down 🤗

[Sheila_G]

Hi Alan. Welcome to the group. I take mine usually just before I go to bed. I was told that was better so that I slept through any nausea. The only side effect I had was hair thinning but not enough for it to be a problem and that settled down quite quickly. I have never had nausea or sickness with mxt and I have been taking it for 21 years now. I hope you are the same.

[Pinksupersec]

hi Alan. I’ve been on mtx for 3 years. Hardly any side effects from it. My dose is very low. One thing I would say is if you get a chest infection have a word with your Rheumy nurse about stopping mtx until you get better. No one told me that until after I fought off 6 chest infections last year . Better being on it than suffering with RA. I worried a bit at first but once you realise how much better you feel it’s so worth it. Just go with the flow and you’ll be fine ..

[Oppenheimer123]

Took my 1st dose of 15mg last night. Had headache most of today but otherwise fine so not too bad. My attitude is it’s a necessary evil.