MTX injection

[nellysgran]

Hi I have been on MTX tablets since October but now I am due to have my 3rd injection on Wednesday, I am having lots of flares in my shoulders I just wondered if you have to wait for the injections to work like having to wait for the tablets, I would be grateful for any advice,

Wendy xx

[StarlightinJuly]

Hi Wendy, I too will be interested in any pointers you're given. Had first injection last week (changed from oral as it had no effect on inflammation levels) so am hoping for more success with this. Sorry to hear you are flaring and I hope you do feel easier soon - I seem to remember being told that it can take six weeks for effect to be felt, if it's going to be felt but I could be wrong. Good luck with it!

Julie x

[helixhelix]

What I was told was that switching from tablets to injections was like increasing the dose quite a bit as all the MTX is absorbed this way. With tablets only a percentage of the drug is actually absorbed. So I now take 15mg injections, when before I was at 20mg tablets (and trying to get to 25mg). I changed because of mouth ulcers rather than because it wasn't working, and I felt the difference in about 10 days. Polly

[nellysgran]

Thank you Polly, I was on 15mg tabs and am now on 15mg injections, but as I have only had 2 so far, they don't seen to be making any difference, i'm just too impatient !!!

[StarlightinJuly]

Thanks from me too Polly. I am on 10mg injection for 2 weeks, 15mg for 2 weeks and then up to 20mg so that means a higher dose than my tablets gave me - I really hope it works.

Wendy, I'm impatient to see some improvement soon as my nurse said it will be Leflunomide if this doesn't work and that would be my 3rd DMARD. Hope it soon kicks in for you, let us know!

[nellysgran in reply to StarlightinJuly]

Thanks Julie, hope you see some improvement soon, I am really fed up of this RA it just seems we are living in pain and I keep thinking there must be something that will make us more human soon, my husband keeps saying (do something about it, phone,phone, phone !!!) so as its easter I don't think there will be anyone there to help, having been up most of the night I am now going to try and have a nap, ;-(((

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a nap[ is a good plan im having one two in about half an hour xx

[Neonkitty]

From one Julie to another! Also to Nellys and Polly! Yes it takes a while for the injections to build up if your tabs weren't holding it. Eight weeks for me up to full dose. Injections worked for me for ages as has been said, they are absorbed differently ... More efficiently and effectively and made the difference for me. They gave me great mobility for years. Patience is needed, true.

Julie Neonkitty xx