hiya all. i am so tired all the time. is it better to take folic acid 6 times a week rather than just once. not sure wot folic acid does

[jaqi1]

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Hi jaqi1, it is generally better side effects wise to take folic acid 6 days per week but I would ok this with nurse/consultant first.

we take folic acid with MTX as the MTX interferes with our normal folic acid in out body preventing it from doing its job (I believe) also helping enormously with the side effects which is the reason for taking it 6 days a week.

Good luck

mand xx

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Also, as we know tiredness and fatigue is a very big part of RA but it could also be anemia. Worth getting this checked out.

mand xx

[jaqi1]

hi mand thanks for answering me. forgot to say i'm on mtx as well. wasn't sure if it is healthier for me to take more or to try and do without folic acid. i am just so tired all the time and i don't really understand my drugs properly. xxx

[Hidden in reply to jaqi1]

You will get to understand your drugs in time. When I was first diagnosed I never had any idea what I was taking and really didn't care because all I wanted was to feel better. That probably sounds very ignorant of me but I was so ill at the time.

You will need to take the folic acid even if it's only for the one day, if the side effects are bad then it's best to get it increased.

mand xx

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Hi Jaqi

As mand has said folic acid is almost always taken alongside methotrexate. Methotrexate stops the natural production of folate which is important for certain functions within the body. Folic acid replaces this loss. It also reduces the toxicity of methotrexate meaning that you can suffer less side effects but also you won't receive maximum benefit from the mtx although the shortfall is likely to be very small. Upsides and downsides! Here's a link to the information on the NRAS website nras.org.uk/about_rheumatoi...

Many practitioners now recommend that folic acid is only taken on one day a week as some studies have shown that the benefits gained from taking it more often are negligible. Your consultant will decide what their preferred regime is.

Its possible that your tiredness is due to anaemia, common in RA, and it might be worth asking if your Ferritin levels can be checked at your next blood test. If you are anaemic a course of iron will quickly rectify this and you should see fast improvement. Folic acid is unlikely to improve your level of tiredness!

Good luck

Lyn

[englishmama0]

Thanks for the information on mtx and folic acid which I am on. I take 10 2.5 mtx on Tuesday and 1 folic acid on Wed each week. I too have been really tired for weeks now, and thought I'd better check my bloods with the fact I have been anaemic a few times in the past year. Fatigue and tiredness does come with RA, but rest helps. I feel like I do that alot...........just want to get out more and just having a new knee and joint 14 weeks ago, thats great but my get up and go has got up and went . Hugs from Crewe Pam

[rheumatoidymummy]

Hello - there is something called 'the anaemia of chronic disease' and I suffer from this. One of the tests you should have regularly is FBC or Full Blood Count and part of this looks at your Hb or Haemoglobin levels - normal for a woman is between 12 and 16 g/dl - my levels are always between 10.5 and 11 so I am chronically anaemic. To address this my Rheumatologist has prescribed Ferrous Sulphate (a form of iron) and Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) which helps my body absorb the iron - I take these every day and try to eat as many green vegetables and fruit as I can to increase the natural amount of these substances in my body - one side effect is constipation I'm afriad but eating raisins and dried apricots and drinking lots of water seems to help with that.

Ju x

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Some great info here!

I am one of the lucky ones I think, my Hb levels have been good and only suffer an occasional bout of tiredness.

I can tell when my Hb levels have fallen, I'm moody and I cry very easily.

Hope you get sorted soon x