Methotrexate - Moderna Vacc

[kiteekat]

I came off steroids a couple of years ago and just on methotrexate. I’ve not been on here much. At a group meeting recently it was suggested that I should have taken a 2 week holiday from methotrexate when having the vacc.

I had the Moderna vacc 9th April. I then took Folic on 11th and methotrexate 7.5mg 5 days after the vacc on 14th April.

7 days after the vacc on 16th I had a headache which doesn’t usually happen. I have been under a lot of mental strain also, but it is unusual.

Any thoughts about whether I should also have a ‘holiday’ today from Folic & a ‘holiday’ on Monday from Methotrexate?

What would you do?

[Oxfordboy2]

I can only tell you what I do as like you I am on methotrexate only.After the covid jab I miss the next 2 doses of methotrexate but continue with the folic acid.So far I have not had an adverse effects from skipping the 2 doses.

[kiteekat in reply to Oxfordboy2]

Many thanks for letting me know what you've done.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Well I wouldn't have a holiday from the folic acid - that is essential to minimise the adverse effects of MTX. But I would miss the MTX on Monday - this is actually the key period, 2 weeks after the vaccination when the immune system is working most to develop the antibodies so it should help quite a bit.

[kiteekat]

Many thanks for your advice. I will do that. For my future ref, is it best to miss methotrexate before the vaccine next time?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to kiteekat]

No, that doesn't help the immune response - it is the 2 immediately after the vaccine that are to be missed. You can have the dose up to the day before the vaccine - and then miss the next 2.

[kiteekat in reply to PMRpro]

Ok, thanks for your info I'll do that next time if I'm still on Methotrexate. My reaction was that the Folic Acid was associated with offsetting the effects of the methotrexate dose, so I was slightly surprised to hear its best to keep this dose up despite a holiday on methotrexate. A single reference document for Prednisolone users and Methotrexate users would be really helpful, as most of the time it seems guesswork as to what to do, whether it be vaccinations or the associated meds for Pred.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to kiteekat]

There is a whole raft of information on MTX on the FAQs -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...