Methotrexate

[Patience47]

Have PMR and now have GCA. ON 75MG pred. DR wants me on methotrexate (6 every 7 days and folic acid 2.5 every day).

Says to take all 6 methotrexate at once; including FOLIC acid.

Does this sound right?

Would appreciate any replies.

Thank you all

[Hidden]

Hi

No you take the Methotrexate on one day & the Folic Acid on the other 6 days.

That’s how l took mine the last time, this time it’s just 5mg Folic Acid the day following MXT Day. It should be clearly written on the boxes

MrsN

[Patience47 in reply to Hidden]

MrsNails,

So glad I checked with you as the Dr's nurse and pharmacy said to take all the pills at once. It's even written on the MED bottles.

Can't thank you enough for this info. I have had 2 heart bypass surgeries and can't take calcium due to artery issues. Also, have degenerative disc disease which pred is not helping.

Good luck with the 3rd on methotrexate.

Thanks so much.

[Hidden in reply to Patience47]

Any questions don’t hesitate to ask, Drink plenty of water when you take the Pred & l take mine after my lunch.

Good Luck 🍀

[Patience47 in reply to Hidden]

👍

[Blackcat1M in reply to Hidden]

Hi MrsNails, hope all is well with the mtx.

Kind regards Blackcat

[Hidden in reply to Blackcat1M]

Hi Blackcat

Felt better yesterday, had 24hours of feeling nauseous but that passed after the Folic Acid. Seeing GP Friday so l will ask her for an antiemetic.

Thanks for asking x

[Devoid]

Take methotrexate 1 day only and folic the other days, so no folic on methotrexate day , I’m on 5 of folic but I think it depends on local policy,also you should have been counselled re methotrexate, had blood tests and chest X-ray, consent form and booklet to record dose and blood results

[Patience47 in reply to Devoid]

Devoid,

No consent forms in US that I know of.

No counselling as to how to take MEDS.

I totally agree with you.

Appreciate your reply. Thank you.

[Christophene in reply to Patience47]

I am in the US too. I was on Methotrexate briefly. I got the same minimal instructions you did, and no consent forms either. Just told to take all the Methotrexate on Mondays so that office knew that all their patients prescribed it were taking it the same day. Nor did I get any booklet explaining it. Maybe it's just a sloppy US way of doing things vs. a UK/Australian way. But it seems like a better policy to have consent forms and be given literature about the drug with careful instructions on how to take it.

[Patience47 in reply to Christophene]

Christophene

Agree 100%. Thank you for your reply.

[Hidden in reply to Christophene]

That’s a bit heavy handed asking the Patients to all take their Methotrexate on the same day, so it suited the Doctors Office!

I think l’d have to rebel 😉

[Patience47 in reply to Hidden]

Yes!

[Hidden]

I was on mtx for 6 months. Am in the US. Only thing dr told me was to take it once a week with my evening meal and the folic every day. I took that in the morning. My best to you.

[Patience47 in reply to Hidden]

Appreciate your response.

Thanks so much.

[Brubeck in reply to Patience47]

I’m in US too. (1 1/2 years GCA) I’ve been on methotrexate for three weeks. I was advised to take all six methotrexate tablets at the end of dinner one day a week and the folic acid every day with my other supplements. I haven’t had any nausea but I do get drowsy. Best of luck.

[Patience47 in reply to Brubeck]

Thanks so much,, Brubeck.

[Choco-Holic]

I take 15mg methotrexate (6 tablets) once a week and folic acid (5mg) 6 days per week but NOT on methotrexate day

[Patience47 in reply to Choco-Holic]

Thanks so much for your reply.

[Blackcat1M]

Hi I am I'm mtx and please do not take folic acid with it.

I take folic acid for six days, and then the day I take mtx I miss it, this is what I was told to do.

I take 20mg on a Tuesday of mtx, then for six days take 5 mg of folic acid.

Kind regards Blackcat

[Patience47 in reply to Blackcat1M]

Thanks so much for your reply as it is very much appreciated.

[katiemills]

Hi Patience , I take 15 mg ( 6 tablets ) Methotrexate once a week all at the same time and 24 hours later one 5 mg tablet of folic acid . Here in the U.K. there seems a variation as to how much folic acid to prescribe .

[Patience47 in reply to katiemills]

Katiemills,

Good to know. Thank you for your response.

[Theziggy in reply to Patience47]

Like katiemills I take 15 mg of Methotrexate once a week and different to her I take 5 mg of Folic acid 48 hours later.

[Patience47 in reply to Theziggy]

Thank you so much.

[Hidden in reply to katiemills]

I asked my new Rheumatologist DrD about it explaining the wide variation on how much was taken/for how many days, told him l’d researched it & he agreed no one really knows for sure exactly how much we need replacing!?!.......

I might be a good test case as l did 6days of 5mg Folic Acid previously & am doing just one day of 5mg Folic Acid this time.

We’ll see how it goes.

We’re quite a little Group of MXT at this time, great for supporting each other.

MrsN

[Marijo1951]

Hi Patience47. I've been taking MTX since December 2017. I take 15 mg (6 tablets) every Friday evening and folic acid 5 days per week (none on Friday and Saturday). I was given it because I had a flare of GCA symptoms twice when trying to reduce below 25 mg of pred. As far as I can tell, I haven't had any adverse reactions and I think it has helped me to gradually reduce my pred dose. As a precaution I have a blood test at the beginning of every month to ensure my liver is functioning well - so far no alarms. My one tip would be to take your MTX in the evening, because the couple of times I took it in the morning, I was knocked out for the rest of the day. Hope all goes well for you.

[Patience47 in reply to Marijo1951]

Really appreciate your post. Good luck to you. Thanks again.

[Christophene]

How long did you have PMR before developing GCA?

[Patience47]

6 years

[Patience47]

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you.....feeling really lousy. 😐

[Hidden in reply to Patience47]

I bet you do. Hope you feel better asap. 🌻

[Patience47 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much.