Took my 5th dose of mtx yesterday (15mg), on hydroxy as well - not been sick but feel really nauseous. It has got slightly worse each week.

[marmaduke]

Although I feel worst the day after, slight nausea remains all week. I've only been told to take one folic acid per week, 3 days after mtx - would it help the nausea if I took more - should I ask my rheumy nurse?

[Tillytop]

Sorry you are struggling with nausea. Extra folic acid may help but please do check with rheumatology nurse first - cos folic acid at prescribed doses should be treated just like another med. I have noticed that different hospitals prescribe different amounts and there doesn't seem to be a standard dose. My hospital, like yours, prescribed just one tab a week whereas others seem to be told to take it most days. Really hope you can find something to help the nausea.

Tilly x

[nellysgran]

Hi, sorry you are not feeling too good today, I am on MTX 15mg but i have been told to take folic acid every day except the day i take my MTX, and i do not suffer with nausea, but please ask your GP first before changing the dose.

Hope you feel better soon.

Wendy x

[marmaduke in reply to nellysgran]

Thank you Tilly & Wendy

I'll email my rheumy nurse and ask her - I try not to complain, especially as my husband (who has his own health problems) is in so much more pain than me, but with useless hands, fatigue and this constant nagging presence of nausea (to some degree or other) - some days I could just cry Today, I'm afraid, is one of them!

Gentle hugs to all those out there who I know feel just the same way sometimes.

Helen xx

[earthwitch]

Definitely tell your rheumy nurse. Has the nausea got worse since an increase in dose? If it has, then ask if you can drop back to the previous dose for a bit.

If you have stayed at the same dose and the nausea has got worse rather than you getting used to it (which is what should have happened), then I'd wonder if you were developing a sensitivity reaction to it. Whichever way, if it makes you feel too bad, and it doesn't seem like its something that is going to ease off or you are going to get used to, then you shouldn't have to put up with it. There are a whole load more different DMARDs out there that you could try.

[shirlthegirl]

Hi sorry your not feeling to well, I have been told to take 5mg of Folic acid 2 days after taking Mtx , but unfortunately I've not started it yet...... is yours a 5mg dose or higher?

Hope you get it sorted soon, And let me know how you get on, so if i have that problem i will know what to do, Thanks shirl x

[marmaduke in reply to shirlthegirl]

It's 5mg, but I'll wait to hear from the rheumy nurse before I alter anything. I'll let you know how I get on. Helen x

[Hidden]

Hi Helen - sorry you are experiencing nausea. I didn't experience any nausea at all on MTX until Hydroxy was introduced and then it became quite severe - especially when I was moved up to 17.5mg which seemed the point at which it became intolerable to me. Now I'm on 15mg injectable MTX and was moved down to 200mg Hydroxy and I'm absolutely fine apart from an unpleasant taste which comes and goes. I'm also finding that this combination seems to work really well for my RA. I was told to take one folic acid 3 days after MTX same as yourself but when the nausea started my consultant emailed to say I could try doubling the folic to 10mg. So I then decided to take more to prevent more side effects. I asked my GP about this and he said he couldn't see how it would help but if I wanted to take more it would be fine so I take my MTX on Tuesdays, folic Thursday, Friday and Saturday now in the hope that it's helping keep the horrible taste away. I have a suspicion that for me the nausea was down to MTX and Hydroxy combined though. Tilda

[helixhelix]

Hi Helen, It took me nearly 3 months before the nausea from taking MTX wore off. Everyone reacts a bit differently so you need to judge whether you're going to be one of the people that slowly gets used to MTX or not. Most people start with one 5mg folic acid, but again it's quite individual as to how many you need to take to put back the folic acid that the MTX knocks out, so this can be increased as needed as it will help some of the side effects. I understood from my rheumy that the general principle is to take as little as you can, as it can reduce the effectiveness of the MTX, but up to 6'ish a week can be taken. But don't suffer, call your nurse... Polly

[saffron07]

Hi Helen

I am sorry your feeling like this and can relate to what your saying. I am in my 6th week of mtx 15ml weekly hydroxy daily and folic 48 hours after mtx. First few weeks feeling nauseous all the time, very emotional, symptoms seemed magnified, became irritable. I have however noticed already a decrease in most of these things still very tired most of the time and have some pain but some progress.

This is great place for advice and support but as all say contact your medical team but it does take time and we all react different to chemicals

Good luck

William

[nottsexsportfanatic]

I am on 25mg mtx a week via injection and take folic acid each day. I inject in the morning and take folic acid at night. If I forget to take my folic acid I do find the nauseous feeling returns rapidly. So I suggest u get advice asap as its horrid to feel sick permanently on top of everything else we have to put up with.

Good luck.

[juddo39]

Hi, I take 15mg mtx and take 1 folic acid tab the day after. Been doing this since diagnosis June 2011 and havn't really been too bothered with nausea, a wee bit but nothing I can't handle. Also on hydroy and sulpha too.

Judith

[SarahKate-NRAS]

Hi Marmaduke

As the others have mentioned, sometimes a change to your folic acid dose can help with side effects like nausea and your nurse should be able to advise on this. Something else people often try is taking the methotrexate dose in the evening to hopefully sleep through some of the worst feelings of nausea, but of course if yours is lasting several days this may not make much difference. If this is an ongoing problem methtrexate by injection may be the another option as this by-passes your stomach completely and so can often really help with any tummy-related side effects like nausea. I hope your nurse is able to make some suggestions and you start to feel a bit better.

Kind regards

Sarah Kate

NRAS