i did a very stupid thing this morning. i took 8 folic acid pills instead of my methotrexate. not sure wot to do now

[jaqi1]

[Hidden]

Hi jaqi, Alison is the best one to answer this question, and I'm sure she will soon.

I myself wouldn't have thought it would do any harm just the once, have you had a read of the patient leaflet they come with that may help you for now.

Take care and good luck with a better answer than mine!

mand xx

[jaqi1 in reply to Hidden]

thanks mand i threw the leaflet away but i phoned the doc and he just said i should b ok. just not sure wen to take my mtx x

[Gina_K]

How many miligrams is each pill?

[Gina_K]

and actually Jacqui, I'd say that would be easy enough to do as they are both small yellow fellows, I take two 10 mgs of mtx now, but remember the 2.5s as quite fiddly.

[jaqi1 in reply to Gina_K]

hi i feel really stupid for doing tht this morning. the folicd acid is 5mg each pill x

[Gina_K]

yikes! I dunno, where is Alison when you need her! I don't think folic acid does you any harm, think it washes out of you if you don't need it er I hope anyway.

xx

[jaqi1 in reply to Gina_K]

i did ring the doc and he said i should b fine xx

[Gina_K]

You'll probably feel great this week!

[Hidden]

hello you will be ok.. dont worry taking an overdose of the methotrexate would have been v serious though!! you got it the safe way round!

take the methotrexate one day after that huge dose.. methotrexate is never taken on the folic acid day .. then keep that as the new methotrexate day and take your methotrexate tablets one week after. on the new day.

keep all your tablets in original packaging! to avoid this happening again and before taking any thing read the packet or bottle carefully.. if you have them loose in your hand etc they look similar.. they are never meant to be taken on the same day as each other, this must have really scared you im so sorry but you will be ok xx

[jaqi1 in reply to Hidden]

thank you summer for putting my mind at rest, my new perscription of mtx came in boxes very similar to the folic acid so i am going to get a pot to keep my mtx in, i was very scared though, i knew as soon as i had taken them what i had done xx

[Hidden]

I bet the methotrexate were in a yellow and white gold shield pharmaceuticals box? and the folic were in a yellow and white box. or green/ yellow box. also?

possibly actavis brand?

I dont take either of these drugs myself now but do dispense them most days!

the methotrexate box.. should be labelled In bold?? our hosp ones are in bold on a black background.. inverse printed almost? to highlight the special status of methotrexate.. im a little nervous of you putting the methotrexate in something else?. not sure if this is a good idea that would be safer to leave in its original packaging.. ideally both should be!! assuming both are in blister packs or foils?.

. the other ans safer option would be to take both sets of tablets to the pharmacy were you got them, not sure if it was your hosp, or local pharmacy and ask them to sort out something for you,, in the way of differentiation or new labelled containers..

They should be happy to help especially if you explain your misfortune and how the packs look similar.We have never to my knowedge got these boxes mixed up on labelling and dispensing.. there are lots of safety checks in place and we are hoepfully familiar with them.

never go on pack appearance any way as brands and their colours or rather livery frequently get changed.

[jaqi1 in reply to Hidden]

yes both boxes were as you said, but i should have known better. my 1st perscirption was from the hospital and they put my mtx in a child proof bottle, so that was what i was going to put mtx in to make sure i know in future, i am going to take my mtx tomorrow and then my folic acid on fri, hopefully i will get it right this time. thanks for all your help x

[Hidden]

thats good you have a suitable bottle.. is the dose ie number of methotrexate tablets unchanged from that hosp prescription bottle.. ie was that labelled as eight to be taken once a week also.. I DONT want to get you more confused?

Are you ok with the idea that you are now going to have a new methotrexate day also?.. if not or you think you might get confused with a new day.. you can skip this weeks methotrexate dose and start next week.. im going to have to put a disclaimer here though and advice should be from your gp or rheum nurse.. your gp has aleady told you the same as me that the folic error wont hurt you.. but for safety you should ring your nurse and check her views on the taking of methotrexate situation.. both my suggestions are suitable..but please confer./ ask your rheum nurse for her input if you have one.. disclaimer applies.

Alison

[jaqi1 in reply to Hidden]

yes i do understand to take my mtx tomorrow and then tht will b my new day each week.

[Hidden]

sorry but you scared your self and then me! , because if I hadnt explained my self clearly I could have made the situation worse for you and you have had a bad day aleady!

. I Had also to put the disclaimer as my advice is not officially meant to replace that of your local experts.. im a bit sensitve also as I had a sad day at work yesterday.. (read my blog on sobering day!)

best wishes

Alison x

[jaqi1 in reply to Hidden]

aww i just read your blog it must be so hard for you. thank you for helping me and for all your advise. i will leave you in peace now. sorry for all the questions xx

[LavendarLady]

I'm glad I inject MTX after reading all of the above! But I do recall my folic acid tablets are in a pink and white box and my mtx tablets when I was on them were in a dark green bottle. LavendarLady xx

[alison-r]

Dont know if this will help, but I keep my medications in a pill dispenser box (bought from Amazon). It has sections Mon thru Sun and am and pm. Underneath I have sellotaped an envelope with a list of medications and doseages in case someone needs to know - eg hospital.

Seems to work for me provided I remember what day it is!!

[Custard in reply to alison-r]

This is what I do too!

I bought a medidos dispenser from Boots the Chemist, rather than being a large box with 7 compartments. Each day is separate so I only leave the house with that days pills.. and the little boxes are very discrete.

hope this link works!

kibodan.com/Default.aspx?pa...

Joy

[Gina_K]

***

Just as a foot note & reminder, methotrexate tablets should not be held in hands for any length of time. Just take them immed, ie. if they are upstairs don't carry them downstairs to take in your hand. We talked about this here before I think? It was my pharmacist who alerted me to this, I can't remember why, must affect your skin? Do you know Alison?

[Custard in reply to Gina_K]

wow I didnt know this!

Thanks for the info

[Hidden]

it is cytotoxic.. original used and still used for chemotherapy..

[Gina_K in reply to Hidden]

just off to google cytotoxic? so I am right then or is that OTT?

[Hidden]

had a look at the offending brands boxes and colours with a pre reg pharmacist today.. we do agree that they look a bit similar jaqi. I was replying from memory on box colours last night pleased to say i got the description and brands correct.

[grace37]

Sorry for laughing but I imagined your liver dancing with joy. No idea what it would do but can't imagine much harm compared to the other drugs we take.

[Hidden]

I resurrected my Filofax when I started MTX!! I write down when I take my drugs and the dosage. Mainly because it makes me concentrate on what I am doing. I keep the daily lot [in original containers] in a little basket and the weekly lot, that is MTX and Folic acid, separately. These are downstairs, then, we go upstairs, where I have the Slendronic acid and beta blockers and eye drops.

I have started having conversations with myself, as you do, because the folic acid and pred boxes are very similar. Same manufacturer, one is 'green' t'other is 'yellow'. I really need a Nanny!