Methotrexate

I am newly diagnosed with mild RA. I have been prescribed methotrexate, and I was at first frightened by all of the possible side effects. I guess I would like some encouragement from others who are taking this drug by mouth. I was given the option of an injection, but I don't think I can do it.

[A-Faye]

Take it in the middle of a meal with food on both sides of the dose. It may make you feel sticky, but after 2 years that has gotten much better. It may totally zap your energy for 1-2 days but hang in there. That improved for me as my body got used to it. It's the least of the drugs for affecting one's organs and that's why I have roughed it out so long and it was worth it. You may not have any of these side effects, though. Good luck. It really helped my body get RA under control. Took 2-3 months to start seeing results. We RA patients just need to be tough...

Alice

PS, I am 64 and been stricken for 2 years.

[Hidden in reply to A-Faye]

Thank you Alice. I am 65 and have taken plaquenil since 2006 for sjogrens syndrome. So they have started me out with a low dose of methotrexate. I took my first pill this morning and I will take 2 more tonight. Thank you again.

Kathy

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yeah - the two go together - I have SS too

[Amy_Lee]

Dear Kjscriber,

I can understand your fear. I was the same when I was first diagnosed in Jun 2014. Below link was my recovery process and I believe it can give you a positive drive to look forward too. I am in remission right now and I am very much back to my normal life.

healthunlocked.com/ra-warri....

The 2 videos below are very informative and they answered most of my questions when I was new to RA.

healthunlocked.com/ra-warri...

You need to also look into your daily exercise when you are ready. I also posted here the kind of exercises that I did during my peak of suffering. Remember, just use anything you can around you to do your exercises and do that to the limit you can tolerate the pain. The early you start your exercises, the better your joint mobility.

healthunlocked.com/ra-warri...

You can find more information from some of the links in my Profile. Do go through them if you are able and free to do so. Many of them are very informative.

[Hidden in reply to Amy_Lee]

Thank you Amy.

Kathy

[GoatGirl56]

Hi,

I am on month two of methotrexate. I cannot say it has been easy. First, getting my vacinations taken care of, I had an immune reaction to pneumonia vaccine and was knocked out for days. Then I started the meds and almost immediately had day long headaches and extreme fatigue. About two weeks in I got very sick. Felt like flu - had that vaccine too. This lasted a full month. Completely worn out, headaches, congestion. By the 4th week on meds my joint pains were better. I had been having increasing pain in both shoulders, knees, ankles, hips... So I was hopeful even though I felt awful.

After month one my Dr decided to double my dose from 10 mg to 20 per week. One week in i started with chronic fatigue, day long headaches and insomnia. But my joint pain INCREASED. I am at the end of week four now and joint pain has fallen off again but I am miserable. Even when I do sleep I wake up exhausted. I look and feel ten years older. It's hard to go to work and keep up with life. I began s gluten free and vegan diet s few weeks ago hoping diet can help long term. I see my Dr next week. Will see what he says about blood tests, but I want to cut back. I do know this is the least harmful med and my Dr did start me on supplements and exercise which did not help RA. I've been in pain for one and a half years starting with frozen shoulder and then surgery...but I know my RA is not anywhere near ad bad as many others. ..

[DRunnerchick in reply to GoatGirl56]

I've been dealing with frozen shoulder ten months and was diagnosed with RA five months ago. I started on 10mg MTX and after three weeks increased to 15mg. It took a while but the side effects have gradually decreased and the symptoms have decreased. Be patient and make sure you communicate with your doctor. I am so very grateful for MTX and great doctors. RA sucks and completely turns your world upside down. Bit something good can come from even this.

[Hidden in reply to GoatGirl56]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Hopefully, you will feel better. So far I have only experienced slight nausea, headaches and extreme fatigue.

[yesi72001]

I'm 39, I take it and really haven't noticed any side effects, other than my hair thinning😩 Hope you do good on it, I've been on it since December and it really hasn't been working on me, dr has had to up the dose on every visit, I'm up to 6 pills a week which is 15mg😩 I'm also on plaquenil, dr gave me humira injections but my insurance doesn't want to cover it until I've tried methotrexate for 6 months, but it's not working😩 Hope you have better results.

[Hidden in reply to yesi72001]

Thank you.

[mizkay59]

You can do anything! I tried methotrexate for several years. Lost much of my hair. Thoroughly messed up my gut. The second time it tanked my liver & kidney labs, I quit for good. No big pharma for me. I am doing so much better now that I am strictly on the anti-inflammstory diet. See my previous post (s). I am 72 & in my 10th year since diagnosis, off everything except prednisone for ant-inflam. I have tried & ditched humira, orencia, enbrel, cymbalta & lyrica. I recommend NONE of them, especially the latter two. Good luck-- always do what's best for YOU. You are nobody's guinea pig! Read, research, be proactive!

[Hidden in reply to mizkay59]

Thank you.

[Hidden]

Sometimes the worst thing we can do is read the side effects ;-). I did the same thing. It's good to know what might go wrong and be aware, but remember that those side effects listed are a composite across a wide spectrum of people and reactions.

A lot of people cannot take MTX, and others never have a problem. Just be aware of what you are doing and know that it will make you tired, and that is normal. Take it at night before you sleep and that will help with some of the immediate effects

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

[Bahnmc]

Good Morning. You are so fortunate!! I have severe RA but diagnosed in April. My rheum put me on plaquenil even though I also have Lupus and asked for MTX. I stopped the med due to losing sight and am now going to see a new rheum in Feb. Let us know how you do. I have heard great things with that med. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Bahnmc]

Thank you. So far I just have had slight nausea, headaches and extreme fatigue.