emergency ? can i have my mxt while i'm on antibiotic... - NRAS

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emergency ? can i have my mxt while i'm on antibiotics. My rheumy said yesterday that probally not.

sylvi profile image
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sylvi
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28 Replies
LavendarLady profile image
LavendarLady

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

in reply to LavendarLady

Lavender .. you would have taken metronidazole.. this would make you very ill indeed with alcohol

Beth58 profile image
Beth58

Yes you can take some, but check with a pharmacist or your GP just to be on safe side.

Beth x

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Beth58

I'm on 500mg three times a day. does this clarify things for you ladies. sylvi. xx

sylvi profile image
sylvi

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

in reply to sylvi

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:)

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

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

Gina_K profile image
Gina_K

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.

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to Gina_K

gina i'm not taking it. thanks very much. Are you getting on the right side of your operation? xxx

Gina_K profile image
Gina_K in reply to sylvi

Yes Sylvie I am . On one crutch now and still in boot, it is slow process but getting there thanks.

xx G.

in reply to Gina_K

You are very right, Gina. The concern is the presence of infection, not that any antibiotic doesn't agree with MTX.

sylvi profile image
sylvi

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

LavendarLady profile image
LavendarLady in reply to sylvi

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

Beth58 profile image
Beth58 in reply to LavendarLady

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

LavendarLady profile image
LavendarLady in reply to Beth58

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

Judi profile image
Judi

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

LavendarLady profile image
LavendarLady in reply to Judi

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

sylvi profile image
sylvi

I haven't taken it as i've been told it will stay in my system, so heres hoping.

Thanks Judi. xx

bigmommy profile image
bigmommy

I am on amoxicillin havent been told not to tack mtx dont know what to do x

Vannilla1 profile image
Vannilla1 in reply to bigmommy

I have just today been prescribed amoxicillin for an infection, but told not to take methotrexate this week, surely methotrexate is still in my body, Im unsure too now

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.

sylvi profile image
sylvi

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

sylvi profile image
sylvi

ok thanks. I don't seem to have any side effects that i have noticed, i learn more here than anywhere else.

Sylvi. xx

dawn-angela profile image
dawn-angela

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.

sylvi profile image
sylvi

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

essexgirl profile image
essexgirl

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

roger-s profile image
roger-s

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

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