Folic Acic Question

[Baner]

I was prescribed folic acid when I was put on Methotrexate 18 months ago. Had long delayed appointment with consultant last week when I said I didn’t think it made any difference and in view of awful fatigue it caused I didn’t want to take it any longer. Surprisingly he agreed without argument. I forgot to ask if I still needed to take the folic acid. Difficult to contact Rheumatolgy department to ask so thought someone might know whether it’s necessary when not on MTX. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Shouldn't be - MTX works by interfering with the pathway that makes the folate stores in the body - so you supplement with folate to reduce the adverse effects that are the result.

This article

gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/...

says to take folic acid as long as MTX is continued. Doesn't mention taking it beyond that,

[Baner in reply to PMRpro]

thank you

[AtopicGuy]

Indirectly, the study below discovered that the immunosuppressive effects of methotrexate wear off within a few days of ceasing to take it. That means there's no point taking folic acid much longer, either.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/318...