emergency ? can i have my mxt while i'm on antibiotic... - NRAS
emergency ? can i have my mxt while i'm on antibiotics. My rheumy said yesterday that probally not.
Hi Sylvi, a lot depends on which antibiotic you are on. Amoxicillen I was told was a no no for MTX but have since found out from my consultant it is ok as we don't take the very high doses of MTX given to cancer patients when they must not have Amoxicillen.
There is an antibiotic you can take which definitely does not cause problems with the MTX but I can't remember the name. I was put on it when I had the trouble with the wisdom tooth. The downside was no alcohol as it would have made me very sick.
Summer might know as a pharmacist - if not have a word with your pharmacist for advice.
The one my GP gave me later which meant I could have alcohol was called co-Amoxiclav. Having looked at the leaflet which accompanied it, there are no contra indications for MTX.
Hope you will soon feel better. LavendarLady x
Lavender .. you would have taken metronidazole.. this would make you very ill indeed with alcohol
Yes you can take some, but check with a pharmacist or your GP just to be on safe side.
Beth x
It is amoxiciilien,only i tried to get my rheumy today but i left it too late, she did say that i probally shouldn't take it this week. The only thing i'm worried about is how will it affect my ra.I don't want to be in more pain than i am already.
Sylvi. xx
Sylvie, The reason to not take MTX during an infection is to allow the White Blood Cells to increase a bit more (They are reduced due to the affect of MTX on cell production.)
It is the White Blood Cells that are needed to fight infection.
So you should not take the MTX this next dose. You might not notice anything different if you only miss one dose.
Just hurry up and get better, AND make sure you take all the antibiotic in the bottle. Stopping it too soon would cause more problems and is the topic of another lesson
I'm surprised that GP didn't tell you. Naughty! But MTX does stay around in your body, that's why it takes so long to start working in the first place as it has to build up. So missing one week shouldn't be a problem in the long term as you'll still have it in you. Best to call GP tomorrow and be sure tho'. So if tonight's your MTX night I wouldn't take it as would be ok to delay to tomorrow morning if GP says ok. Better safe than sorry. Px
I was under the impression that if you had an infection, you should skip your mtx until it clears. If you are on an anti biot you have an infection.
Personally, I would skip methotrexate if I had an infection, I don't think a week or so makes any real difference if you are established on it. My Consultant unequivically? always advises me to stop when I have infection.
This is my own opinion, of course check with you own team.
Regards, Gina.
gina i'm not taking it. thanks very much. Are you getting on the right side of your operation? xxx
You are very right, Gina. The concern is the presence of infection, not that any antibiotic doesn't agree with MTX.
Thanks helix, i won't take it this week. My rheumy said yesterday that it would be a good idea not to take it, so i will do as i'm told!! lol. My head was so fuzzy and i wasn't on this planet and didn't take in all she told me. My gp doesn't have anything to do with my mxt as it comes straight from the hospital. They are so busy at this time of year i didn't want to bother them and i knew that i would get good advise from you all,you all know how it is with ra and the people who treat us don't have ra.
Many thanks ladies.xx
Hi Sylvi, even if your MTX comes straight from the Hospital your GP should still know what you can and cannot take with it. LavendarL x
I agree, my GP and consultant have all my meds on computer and if either of them prescribes something which will react with something I'm on it flags up on the system. If they give me antibiotics or something new, I always check with my pharmacist too just be sure.
Beth x
Hi Beth, my pharmacist has all my meds on computer as well and quickly flags up something that might not agree with my RA meds. Fortunately, my late father was a pharmacist and as he said himself, quite often prevented doctors killing their patients by the wrong dosage of something or other or prescribing something they shouldn't have!
So I find my pharmacist a godsend and more knowlege of drugs than my GP who openly admits it! LavendarLady x
Hi Sylvi,
I agree with Beth - my GP's computer system flags up what meds. are compatable with each other and I then check with my pharmasist.
That being said having been on Mtx tablets for years this is the first time I have heard that Mtx should not be taken with antibiotics.
I have been prescribed and taken antibiotics whilst on Mtx. when it has been necessary.
Judi xxxx
Hi Judi, it depends which antibiotics - some are compatible with MTX and others not. I was assured by my GP that because of the small doses of MTX we take, we are not at risk as someone on the much higher doses of MTX would be - cancer sufferers etc have mega high doses of MTX which can cause a reaction with some antibiotics. Lavendarlady x
I haven't taken it as i've been told it will stay in my system, so heres hoping.
Thanks Judi. xx
I am on amoxicillin havent been told not to tack mtx dont know what to do x
Every should follow what advice they have been given/ by gp /rheum team.
Different doctors have different ideas !eg I was given penicillin whilst on methotrexate which is really not advised so I queried it with Gp.. but he said the benefits out wayed the risks...
With penicillins.. which by the way are also, amoxicillin and co- amoxiclav (clauvanic acid/ amoxicillin. see how it gets it name?) etc.. the excretion of methotrexate is reduced ( increased risko of toxicity!)
The antibiotic which is a big no is trimethropin. usually used for urinary tract infections. which is why my gp tried the slightly safer penicillin. to put things into prospective, even if gp has told you to carry on with methotrexate the longest anti biotic course is 14 days and most are 7 days.. always take advice of your own local health professional.
I didn't take it, can you tell me do i still take folic acid as usual? I'm not sure. I felt so ill that my head is very foggy. xx
It wont hurt to keep on with the folic. but you are really only taking it to reduce methotrexate side effects xx
ok thanks. I don't seem to have any side effects that i have noticed, i learn more here than anywhere else.
Sylvi. xx
i recently had a chest infection and the gp i saw told me to miss that weeks dose of mtx and to take as normal the following week he said this was to help build my immune system up abit, but the chest infection i had before that i took both but felt very ill.
I haven't taken it. I spoke to my rheumy this morning. So it was ok that i didn't take it.I still don't feel that clever even four days after starting antibiotics.
Thanks sylvi. x
i went docs today and she gave me antibiotics and i asked her shall i stop taking my MTX and she said no keep taking them as you are only on a low dose (10mg)
debs x
i have just joined this site , but have had ra for 15 years, if i am ill i miss mtx to allow white blood cells to increase, also if i am going to have alcohol i skip all medicine, but i do suffer the next day, mtx is a long term drug and takes weeks to build up, so missing one dose has no effect on me, if i skip short term drugs such as declofenic i am in agony
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Can I take mtx while on antibiotics
Can a GP commence treatment for RA while waiting on Rheumy appointment?
hi everyone, been a while but i'm back. things have been weird for me. I have had my 2nd opinion and she said that my blood test show I dont
My daughter is showing first spots of chicken pox, I'm on mxt and enbrel?
Related Posts
have been on mtx for 7 wks. went to see my specialist yesterday and she said my blood tests were normal now. not quite sure wot that means
Can I Insist On My Diclofenac?
Yesterday I was weepy, today I have taken my 1st Prozac pill.
Do I have my 2nd MTX injection or not?
Have I passed this on to my children?
