Latest Methotrexate Research : medpagetoday.com... - PMRGCAuk
Latest Methotrexate Research
Interesting - especially the comment about skin cancer. Since pred also increases the risk of skin cancers.
Definitely interesting . My rheumatologist has given me the boot because I won't go on Dmard, such as Methotrexate. I guess she will poo poo this like she did the prednisone 5.9 yr. average research. Two years this month for me.
Thanks for posting this. It helps to articulate my fears to my Rheumatologist. She’s not as harsh as yours sounds though!!
Count your blessings 😚
My rheumatologist in Bognor Regis told me about this report and has decided to stop trying to push Leflumonide on to me as it may do more harm than good.
That's interesting.
That has been my feeling about leflunomide - can't explain it but seeing my friend's neuropathy was the cherry on top - no way jose!
Is leflunomide another name for mtx? Can you explain a little bit more about the neuropathy
No, it is a separate drug and one that has shown some promise in PMR. VersusArthritis mentions it in connection with GCA - but I have to say I can't remember coming across anyone on it for GCA.
It is also a DMARD. like mtx, and used a lot in RA and psoriatic arthritis. One of its adverse effects is neuropathy - and my friend was unlucky enough to develop it on the original dose she was on. She developed quite a tremor. She stopped it - which showed clearly how good an effect it had on her version of PMR as she was back to 15mg pred to control the symptoms. She was to try a half dose of lef but I don't know how she got on.
Like everything, some people can take it with no problems just as some people take it and it doesn;t work for them - but if you are the one who develops a problem it's a 100% occurrence isn't it?
When l was at my Dermatology Appointment recently & was discussing my recent issues with my Liver & taking Methotrexate, he said he would write to my Rheumatologist re options, as MXT is used a lot in Dermatology but he did not want me to have Azathioprine.
My friend was changed from decades of steroids to Azathioprine but pretty quickly changed to MTX for severe eczema and asthma because the Azathioprine gave him raised liver and kidney function markers within a year of starting it .
He is happy with the MTX , and has had no issues so far after 2 years on the drug .
Yes , it's different health conditions but it does show that sometimes with chronic conditions you have to work out if the benefits outweigh the potential risks based on all the health needs of the individual.
Sometimes , not taking these medications can cause people more ongoing pain or suffering.
I hope your reduced doseage allows you to continue with MTX and the liver starts to behave.
Hmmm, I got changed from Methotrexate to Aztathroprine as the metho was causing me breathing issues. I do have to get bloods at fortnightly intervals to check liver function.
Hope it works for you .
Everybody is different , and one Man's poison is another man's miracle .
It helps to remember that whenever we are beginning a new medication doesn't it , just because it didn't fit for some doesn't mean it won't work for others.
It's good to be aware of the side effects but also think positively , not everybody has them with any drug.
This is the concern the immunologists are expressing about piling up the so-called steroid sparers to get a minimal return on reducing pred dose for the majority of patients.
While I was looking something up yesterday I saw a comment about using leflunomide and methotrexate together being very questionable and introducing high risks with no concept of the long term dangers - and I know there have been a couple of people on the forums (not necessarily here) who were on pred, lef and mtx.
Yes , there's always a concern.
The trouble is we are in their hands and cannot always be sure that the course of trial and error the Doctors want us to do is right for Us , or it is something that they have properly researched and understand in relation to the Disease and the Patient.
You do have to consider all the factors in a drug change , or realistically , a drug trial on yourself , before you just jump on board , no matter how desperate you feel or how severe your condition.
That's why , although these sorts of articles can be heavy it's worth doing a bit of reading on the benefits and risks in medical papers and find out patients experiences before choosing a change.
And , most importantly , judge your Doctor's suggestion of trying new drugs on how well the Doctor has performed during your treatment , and , how much you trust their knowledge of your Disease and the drug protocols available.
If you are confident in what they have done so far , you can feel more confident in what is being proposed. If you have always felt your treatment has been a struggle , it's even more important to weigh the benefits and risks properly for yourself before you choose to go forward.
And we can all say No in the end or change our minds if things aren't working , nobody should feel pressured to take a treatment that they aren't happy with .
Thank you for posting this Janet. Made for very interesting reading. We are all just so different how we respond to drugs- Lefludomide didn’t seem to significantly help me at all and I think did contribute to my neuropathy whereas for others it has been very successful.
So interesting, thanks. Pred on its own is such a strong therapy that I instinctively feel reluctant to add in more drugs than are strictly necessary!
Thank you
It's nice to say that my post generated so much interest and helpful comments for everyone. Happy almost Thanksgiving from everyone here in the U.S.
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