Changed from oral to injection Methotrexate.

[Biker52]

I have been taking 20mg of Methotrexate since February for RA and apart from tummy issues and aches in joints have felt ok. Because of the issues the rheumatology nurse advised switching to 20mg injections….which I started yesterday. I also take Hydroxychloroquine.

Has anyone else made this switch and then had a fuzzy head and no appetite…and I still have the tummy issues! I realise that I need to get used to a new regime!

I would welcome any advice in making the change straightforward.

Thank you!

[Boxerlady]

I think that you might need to give yourself longer to get used to the change. By switching to injections you're actually getting a higher dose so it will probably take your system a while to adapt. I'm on the injections and do feel a bit grotty the day after so try to go with the flow. Staying well-hydrated for the days around the injection is important and I find that eating regularly (small and often) is important too, even if I don't fancy anything.

[Biker52 in reply to Boxerlady]

Thank you for your reply and advice! I remember feeling grotty when I first started on the tablets but that did subside. I just get tummy issues which isn’t as bad as the pain I was getting from RA so I put up with it!

Fingers crossed I will adjust soon.

[Brian1977]

I changed from oral to injections 2 months ago I take it on a Monday then can't eat for about 3 days can't get rid of the sickie feeling

[Biker52 in reply to Brian1977]

Poor you.

Have you been told to persevere? I have an appointment in seven weeks to assess progress but was told to contact the nurse if there are any issues….and I think what you are experiencing would be an issue for me.

[smilelines in reply to Brian1977]

I agree. Three days out of 7 of feeling sickie and not eating is not good. I would try leflunimide as it is equivalent to methotrexate in effectiveness.

[KittyJ]

Way too early to tell if it’s the mtx causing your tummy problems after one injection. Of course it could be nothing to do with the mtx. Give it a chance to settle down. 🤞🏻

[challahheadRN]

I switched from 25mg oral to 25mg injection of Methotrexate 2 weeks ago. It’s only been two weeks, but I still have a reduced appetite and bouts of intense nausea. Still better than oral medication though!

[smilelines]

My advice would be if you feel progressively worse each week then you’ll know there is a big problem and you need to stop. That is what happened to me. I got sicker with each injection. If you just feel kinda yucky give it some time. My doctor said that it takes a few months to feel normal on it. I read on here that people are suffering with stomach problems and nausea for years. Don’t do that.

[Biker52 in reply to smilelines]

I just felt yucky….better today.

It is because of the tummy issues whilst on the tablets combined with aches but not pain that the nurse has suggested using injections.

I am hoping for a miracle!😉

Thank you for replying.

[Seatgeorge]

I went on to 20mg jabs,I noticed quite a few problems as you do get a full dose of mtx, I had a chat with the consultant and now taking tabs again works well for me. I cannot take Hydroxychloroquine as it made me dilusional, it works well but the consultant took me straight of that, it's just getting the balance correct and as we all know are bodies better than anyone.

[cyberbarn]

There is a lower dose of the injection that might suit some people better? I was started on 7.5mg and even that was too much for me.

[alkeshvadhia in reply to cyberbarn]

Hi, so what did the hospital recommend? I am about to start my injections on 10mg and unfortunately my body does not take well to any kind of medicines.Thank you.

[cyberbarn in reply to alkeshvadhia]

I had to stop the methotrexate injections and they said that I didn't have enough joints affected to put me on anything else according to the NICE rules. But then, they only look at the hands, not the rest of the joints around the body! So I have been offered nothing. I can't take NSAIDs either, so it is just paracetamol now.

[alkeshvadhia in reply to cyberbarn]

Aww..wish you all the best and I hope you feel better soon 🙏

[Happy5]

Yes I was switched few years back, due to having unpleasant nausea from oral MTX. Like you on same dose 20mg.

It does take a bit of time for the body to adjust. Was advised to still take my folic acid 6 days, not day of MTX.

I was told it reduces the nausea as by passing the stomach, also more effective, (hence perhaps the initial stronger side effects ) brackets my take on it.

I've found the injections much better at controlling my condition.

[Navyday22]

Hi, I was also on the 20mg tablets but kept having terrible stomach cramps, and lots of other problems so my Consultant put me on a lower dose of 15mg methotrexate and prescribed injections instead. I was still getting terrible nausea so was prescribed cyclizine tablets to stop the nausea. I take one tablet half an hour before the methotrexate injection and this stops the nausea. I've been on the injection for over 6 yrs now and found it better than the tablets at controlling my condition. I wish you all the best and hope the injections help. 👍🏼😊