MTX How much?

[rogerac]

I have been back to my specialist this week due to increased pain and discomfort and he has put my medication upto 25mg (10 tablets a week) from 8, I thought 8 was about the max, am I right as I am thinking of having a second opinion

[helixhelix]

I've read that 25mg is the max for us (if you have cancer then it's much higher - yuck) but generally tend to hover around 20mg in long term. He/she may just be trying to get the inflammation under control & then will recommend that it drops again. All docs & all RA patients are a bit different, so some go to the max on one drug before starting on the next & others go to triple therapy fairly quickly. But if you feel uncomfortable about 25mg then do go for a medicine review - it's your body after all. Polly

[rogerac in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for that I took 10 last night after tea and feel shocking this morning, this realy does get me down at times, thank god for websites like this. x

[Mel_]

Good morning.

I am on 20mg MTX (8 tablets) but have been told this may well be increased to 25mg (10 tablets) When i first went on to this I was told that they were aiming for a dose of 25mg. So I would not worry too much. If you are not happy then give your GP a call on Monday for a telephone appointment so they can give you their opinion. I do think this is within normal limits though. Above thi they may start to consider you for anti TNF treatment.

Regards Mel

[Beth58]

Hi Helixhelix, I was on 25mg for 3 yr before we had to stop them.

The higher dose is fine, that rotten feeling should settle down once your body gets used to the higher dose and you take the folic acid.

Remember it can take UP TO 6mths for your body to get used to them and for you to feel any real benefit.

Good luck hope they work out for you. x

[rogerac in reply to Beth58]

Thanks Beth, I have an appointment with my specialist nurse end of November to review so hopefully it is a short term thing. x

[Beth58]

Whoops sorry Rogerac I put the wrong name. lol

I used to feel a bit sickly on the 2/3rd day after taking them but once I took the folic I was ok till the next dose. Plus, I worked full time and that helped take my mind off the nausea.

x

[sciqueen]

Hi

I read on the NRAS website that in 2007 the recommended max dose for ra was 30mg. However there must be some update as I think consultant now stick to 25 mg as there max.

See how you go, don't forget to take your fc's.

They may, in future wish to introduce a new dmard in to your regime. If you not happy discuss with your rheumy team, they should take your considerations into any drug regime changes.

Good luck

Sci

[Hidden]

hello, I was on 25mg also for a few months, was reduced because it did not make enough of a difference, not nice though I felt really yuck to start with

[Paula-C]

I've been told that 20mg is the maximum dose, but I suppose that different consultants have different views.

My RA's been active over most of the summer and my consultant wanted me to start injecting instead of taking it orally. This way they can be 100% certain that the whole dose is in my system and none is lost like it can when taking tablets. To be honest I didn't think it would make much difference, consultant told me it can make a vast difference. Well, I am happy to report that the consultant was right. I've only been injecting for 5 weeks now (20mg) but it's made a big difference (hope I'm not tempting fate here). In fact this morning I have decided to cut down on my pain killers.

Paula

[LavendarLady]

Hi Rogerac, try spacing the tablets out during the day rather than taking all 10 at once. I was on that dosage and was very sick and nauseous. When I spaced them out, it wasn't quite so bad. Now on injections which are much better and don't have quite the same side effects.

It sounds as if they are trying to get the inflammation under control and will then lower the dosage. I was on 15mg but my Rheumy has put me up to 20mg by injection as I keep getting flare ups and he doesn't want to keep giving me steroid injections.

Everyone worries about my bones except me!

Also ask about having the MTX by injection which you can do yourself once shown how when you see the Nurse/Consultant. Best wishes. lavendarlady x

[PJ68]

Hi Rogerac,

I have been on 20mg for nearly 10 months, I switched from tablets to self injecting in May and now I am just about to start TNF - The feeling after taking the tablets are not nice, thats one reason I inject - my stomach would just bloat and I just felt rancid!

I really hope they sort you out, I did take my tablets at night, so that might help if you take them at anyother time - I slept through some of the nastyness!!!

Take care

Pen

[fizzy]

hi, I've been on 25mg for "months", perhaps about 3 months....its not made any difference to me from 20mg.....luckily I don't have any regular adverse side effects...just occasional nausea or off stomach! I had my DAS score done for anti TNF but didn't score high enough, so I'm trying injectins of MTX from next week, fingers crossed it makes a difference.

Good luck for you too.....

[tash]

Hi,I've been on 20mg for 2 years and am now being increased to 25mg,i've told my consultant that the tablets are making me gag and cause nausea so i too are going to start injections and i also hope this will help me with the sicky feeling.