am now on 15mg mtx but feel sick with them do you think go back down 10mg

[11shirls11]

[earthwitch]

I personally would never put up with drugs that make me feel really bad, though I do know that DMARDs can have a temporary bad effect like that, so I'd be prepared to put up with a bit. If it doesn't seem to be getting any better though, definitely tell your doctor that you aren't happy.

I think again if it were me, I'd be inclined to say that I wanted to drop back to the level I felt OK on, and then maybe at some later stage try increasing it again, but perhaps a bit slower. Its definitely not nice to be feeling so ill just before christmas, so maybe you could try a compromise and tell the doctor that you want to drop back right now, but try increasing again after christmas.

[shirlthegirl]

I am taking Folic acid, which is suppose to help with sickness, I have only started my meds today, But a lot of people on this site have said it helped them.

Hope you get sorted soon, And if you are not taking Folic acid it might be worth asking your GP.

xx

[Scuba-phil]

I'm having a similar problem with sulphasalasine. Always felt sick with it but never too bad. Lately iv totally lost my appetite and stomach heaves regulary through the day.

Got an app with rheumy next week so hopefully something can be done

[Hidden]

You don't say how long you have been on 15mg or how bad the nausea is but if it's only a few weeks then it might be worth persevering as your body might adjust. Thing is to keep your GP informed all along if you do decide to keep with it, if really unsure let them take the decision whether to stop or not but if you feel it's not bearable then it's your call. But whatever you do don't go it alone, keep a doctor in the loop.

[helixhelix]

It took me about 9 weeks to get over the side effects when I first started with MTX, so as Wooly says it can really change over time & get better. Best thing to do is to talk to your rheumy team if you can, or the GP. Are you on other DMARDS as well? As if not, then 10mg is quite a low dose of MTX, so do perhaps need to discuss whether you could take another drug instead of or alongside the MTX. but at the end of the day it's your call and if it makes you feel too bad then tell them you aren't able to continue. Good luck. Polly

[justlizz]

i have been on mtx for over 6 mths now they have just increased it to 17.5 i still get the sicky feel but drs gave me antiemetics to stop the sickness works great

[Victoria-NRAS Partner Moderator NRAS]

Hi 11Shirls11

You really need to discuss this with your rheumatology team and shouldn't make this decision alone.

There are often ways of helping with the nausea, and it will often also get better with time as your body gets used to the drug. See what the rheumatologist/nurse suggest, but changing how/when you take the folic acid can help, or there are anti-nausea tablets and if it was really bad they might switch you to injectable MTX instead. I hope it will get better with time, or that they will be able to manage this side effect.

Kind regards

Victoria

(NRAS Helpline)

[Dandan]

When I was on mtx tablets I couldn't go above 7.5, because any more and I would feel very sick. In July I was put on 10 mtx injection and was fine as in no sickness, I have recently gone up to 15mtx injection and fingers crossed I am still ok, no sickness at all.

[11shirls11]

thanks for your message am better to day so hopefully aye be fine now

[emn66]

I am on my 7th week of 15mg MTX and the severe nausea I had has dwindled to very little this week.