Do you stop Methotrexate whilst you have Covid?

[Lotttie4]

Hi lovely people, I have Covid and am wondering if I should miss my Methotrexate out this week. I was given antivirals, but had to stop because of an allergic reaction after 24 hours. What have you done in the same position please? My Rheumatoid is well controlled at the moment.

[Runrig01]

I haven’t had covid, but my rheumatologist made it clear to stop MTX and biologic if I got covid. You risk it worsening your symptoms if you take it. Not worth the risk.

[welsh12]

I stopped mine for a week recently when I had covid went to talk with rheumatology nurses and they indicated this too. I didn't with a cold sinus infection and it went on for a month

[virtualreality]

Yep! I was told to stop it when I had covid and not re-start until testing negative and symptoms cleared. If your RA is well-controlled at the moment I'd guess you'd get the same advice, but best to check with your rheumatology team and/or GP if you can, in case there are any other considerations in your case.

[Lotttie4]

Thank you for your comments, I thought I would leave my meds this week, makes sense.

[Cat-E]

I delayed for a few days because I was really poorly and wanted to get better but didn't do the whole week as I was going on holiday and didnt want my joints to be hurting on holiday! I think nuovo only really need to stop if you need antibiotics but it depends how ill you are and how badly your body needs your immune system to be firing on all cylinders.

[GinnyE]

I stopped methotrexate when I had covid.

[Chester1975]

can we still get free covid tests from the doctors for those with rheumatoid? Xx thanks in advance.

[Happy5 in reply to Chester1975]

I was given testing kits by nurse at RA dept at my last appt with her.

[Chester1975 in reply to Happy5]

Thank you. I will ask for a few x

[Haz58 in reply to Chester1975]

I tried to get a box the other week from my pharmacy and they said RA wasn't on the list so wouldn't give me any. They said it had been updated in April. I said but I'm on biologics and they didn't care.

[Biker52 in reply to Haz58]

I got some from Boots this morning…just had to show a letter from my Rheumatologist which states that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I am on Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine but the dispenser wasn’t interested in my prescription.

[Haz58 in reply to Biker52]

Thanks Biker. I'll try at Boots this time. ☺️

[treble-ringer]

I always miss a week for covid or flu - doesnt make a lot of difference to overall effect on my RA

[TheBoys]

hi

I always stop - on the advice of my rheumatologist in case it leads to infection. I had Covid recently and waited a week before taking my injection and today will take my methotrexate.

[Happy5]

I did for a couple of doses (two weeks) to let the body " fight" the illness,

Speedy recovery 😊

[LitChief]

This is very random but I was on Orencia biologic when I got Covid in 2020, no vaccines had been developed yet and I was very sick for almost 10 days, almost in a trance, staring at the wall for hours and hallucinating. I stopped the biologic for a week but am a scientist and a colleague advised me that an antibody very similar to my biologic was been used in the US to treat the cytokine surge that happened usually on day 7 ( Trump was given it!). The cytokine surge had been the cause of hospitalisation/death for many. On the morning of my day 7 my husband commented that my breathing seemed more laboured ( i was talking to him with a mask from the top of the stairs but was having to stop to catch my breath after each word). It got worse hour by hour until I could barely breath that afternoon and I was terrified I'd have to put my athsmatic husband at risk driving me to hospital....so I took the biologic. 30mins later my breathing was completely normal and I improved from that point. I'm convinced it saved me, or saved my husband. I am off all meds for the last few yrs having found that dairy, sugar and red meat cause my inflammation but I kept some biologic syringes in case of another nasty covid infection (but once vaccinated I didnt get the cytokine surge next time I caught it).....I sometimes wonder if I was destined to get PsA just for this scenario to play out!!!

[HeadInASpin]

I was told to stop meds until I'd seen two negative tests. As an immunosuppressed patient you can get free test kits from your pharmacy. Hope it passes quickly and you get well soon.

[Lotttie4]

Thank you everyone, no doubt now what I should be doing. Feeling much better, hope to be able to test negative soon.