Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 Jennie, If it helps to know, I had the same thing happen and the folic acid did help. It kind of stopped falling out. Are you taking injectable or pills? I switched to injectable about a yr. ago and found less side effects. xponder70 <xponder70@...> wrote: I saw my rheumy today and mentioned I was having some hair loss. I've been on 17.5 mgs weekly of mtx and 1mg daily of folic acid for over a year and the hair loss just started about a month ago. He said to double the folic acid I was taking. We'll see if that helps. Jennie , > > I read with interest the article you posted regarding folic acid > administration while taking MTX. I am on MTX weekly and I started taking extra B vitamins > after reading several articles on the web about how folic acid could possibly > diminish the side effects of MTX. (At the same time I never thought of the > cardiac implications of MTX and RA.) > > Is anyone else on the list taking folic acid? (My doctor said it would make > no difference).The article mentioned 5 mg of Folic Acid. My multivitamin has > 400 micrograms and the extra B vitamins I take has another 400 micrograms. That > is a far cry from 5 mg!! This must be a perscription only dose. > > Kathy > > In a message dated 07/07/2004 12:50:45 PM Mountain Daylight Time, > writes: > > 1.. Griffith SM, Fisher J, e S et al. Do patients with rheumatoid > arthritis established on methotrexate and folic acid 5 mg daily need to > continue folic acid supplements long term? > Rheumatology2000;39:1102-9.[Abstract/Free Full Text] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 , I take MTX pills. We'll see if the double dose helps. Thanks. Jennie , > > > > I read with interest the article you posted regarding folic acid > > administration while taking MTX. I am on MTX weekly and I started > taking extra B vitamins > > after reading several articles on the web about how folic acid > could possibly > > diminish the side effects of MTX. (At the same time I never thought > of the > > cardiac implications of MTX and RA.) > > > > Is anyone else on the list taking folic acid? (My doctor said it > would make > > no difference).The article mentioned 5 mg of Folic Acid. My > multivitamin has > > 400 micrograms and the extra B vitamins I take has another 400 > micrograms. That > > is a far cry from 5 mg!! This must be a perscription only dose. > > > > Kathy > > > > In a message dated 07/07/2004 12:50:45 PM Mountain Daylight Time, > > writes: > > > > 1.. Griffith SM, Fisher J, e S et al. Do patients with > rheumatoid > > arthritis established on methotrexate and folic acid 5 mg daily > need to > > continue folic acid supplements long term? > > Rheumatology2000;39:1102-9.[Abstract/Free Full Text] > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 Colleen, This is what my rheumy told me, so that is what I've always done. If this isn't right sorry, but I'm just going by what my doctor told me. Tawny > I just wondered why I shouldn't take Folic Acid on the day I take > Methotrexate. I believe that info was in a message from Tawney. > Ken, Please give Jan my best as well. Please tell her she is missed on > this site and I'm sure many prayers are going out to her. You are an > angel to have taken her under you wing. > Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2005 Report Share Posted September 9, 2005 Colleen, This is what my rheumy told me, so that is what I've always done. If this isn't right sorry, but I'm just going by what my doctor told me. Tawny > I just wondered why I shouldn't take Folic Acid on the day I take > Methotrexate. I believe that info was in a message from Tawney. > Ken, Please give Jan my best as well. Please tell her she is missed on > this site and I'm sure many prayers are going out to her. You are an > angel to have taken her under you wing. > Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2005 Report Share Posted September 10, 2005 My rheum told me that in the old days of MTX, they thought that if you took the two on the same day, the folic acid might have some counter activity on the mtx...but this was never proven and now for compliance, they say just take it right through and it decreases side effects...I actually take more on the day of and day after and I don't get as many mouth sores or stomach problems...some rheumatologists might not agree with that, but it has worked for me. This may not be true for all the folic acid strengths either. I only take 1mg/day and 2mg Sunday and Monday...I think a lot of people take 5mg/d and that would be a lot and may have some effect on the mtx. Lexi > I just wondered why I shouldn't take Folic Acid on the day I take > Methotrexate. I believe that info was in a message from Tawney. > Ken, Please give Jan my best as well. Please tell her she is missed on > this site and I'm sure many prayers are going out to her. You are an > angel to have taken her under you wing. > Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2005 Report Share Posted September 10, 2005 My rheum told me that in the old days of MTX, they thought that if you took the two on the same day, the folic acid might have some counter activity on the mtx...but this was never proven and now for compliance, they say just take it right through and it decreases side effects...I actually take more on the day of and day after and I don't get as many mouth sores or stomach problems...some rheumatologists might not agree with that, but it has worked for me. This may not be true for all the folic acid strengths either. I only take 1mg/day and 2mg Sunday and Monday...I think a lot of people take 5mg/d and that would be a lot and may have some effect on the mtx. Lexi > I just wondered why I shouldn't take Folic Acid on the day I take > Methotrexate. I believe that info was in a message from Tawney. > Ken, Please give Jan my best as well. Please tell her she is missed on > this site and I'm sure many prayers are going out to her. You are an > angel to have taken her under you wing. > Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2005 Report Share Posted September 10, 2005 Lexi, I was having a problem with mouth sores. I take injectable metho and I now take 2 folic acid a day. It really helped with the problem but once in awhile I would still get sore. The dentist told my daughter to use L-Lsine everyday. She has a problem with fever blisters from stress. This has helped her a lot. L-Lsine is just an over the counter vitamin, it is helping me. I don't have any side effects with it either. LYnn andra wrote: > My rheum told me that in the old days of MTX, they thought that if you > took the two on the same day, the folic acid might have some counter > activity on the mtx...but this was never proven and now for compliance, > they say just take it right through and it decreases side effects...I > actually take more on the day of and day after and I don't get as many > mouth sores or stomach problems...some rheumatologists might not agree > with that, but it has worked for me. This may not be true for all the > folic acid strengths either. I only take 1mg/day and 2mg Sunday and > Monday...I think a lot of people take 5mg/d and that would be a lot and > may have some effect on the mtx. > Lexi > > > > I just wondered why I shouldn't take Folic Acid on the day I take > > Methotrexate. I believe that info was in a message from Tawney. > > Ken, Please give Jan my best as well. Please tell her she is missed > on > > this site and I'm sure many prayers are going out to her. You are an > > angel to have taken her under you wing. > > Colleen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2005 Report Share Posted September 10, 2005 Lexi, I was having a problem with mouth sores. I take injectable metho and I now take 2 folic acid a day. It really helped with the problem but once in awhile I would still get sore. The dentist told my daughter to use L-Lsine everyday. She has a problem with fever blisters from stress. This has helped her a lot. L-Lsine is just an over the counter vitamin, it is helping me. I don't have any side effects with it either. LYnn andra wrote: > My rheum told me that in the old days of MTX, they thought that if you > took the two on the same day, the folic acid might have some counter > activity on the mtx...but this was never proven and now for compliance, > they say just take it right through and it decreases side effects...I > actually take more on the day of and day after and I don't get as many > mouth sores or stomach problems...some rheumatologists might not agree > with that, but it has worked for me. This may not be true for all the > folic acid strengths either. I only take 1mg/day and 2mg Sunday and > Monday...I think a lot of people take 5mg/d and that would be a lot and > may have some effect on the mtx. > Lexi > > > > I just wondered why I shouldn't take Folic Acid on the day I take > > Methotrexate. I believe that info was in a message from Tawney. > > Ken, Please give Jan my best as well. Please tell her she is missed > on > > this site and I'm sure many prayers are going out to her. You are an > > angel to have taken her under you wing. > > Colleen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2005 Report Share Posted September 10, 2005 I have heard that there are a samll number of doctors who recommend this, but mine haven't (I've had three rheumatologists). I take folic acid every day. Sierra > I just wondered why I shouldn't take Folic Acid on the day I take > Methotrexate. I believe that info was in a message from Tawney. > Ken, Please give Jan my best as well. Please tell her she is missed on > this site and I'm sure many prayers are going out to her. You are an > angel to have taken her under you wing. > Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2005 Report Share Posted September 10, 2005 I have heard that there are a samll number of doctors who recommend this, but mine haven't (I've had three rheumatologists). I take folic acid every day. Sierra > I just wondered why I shouldn't take Folic Acid on the day I take > Methotrexate. I believe that info was in a message from Tawney. > Ken, Please give Jan my best as well. Please tell her she is missed on > this site and I'm sure many prayers are going out to her. You are an > angel to have taken her under you wing. > Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2006 Report Share Posted June 14, 2006 My rheumy has me on 1mg daily. On 6/14/06, <kyrik@...> wrote: > > My bottle of folic acid says it's 400 mcg. How does that > compare with you all are taking? > > Thx, > > > > _,_._,___ > -- South Pasadena, CA See my galleries! - http://www.pbase.com/arenared986 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2006 Report Share Posted June 15, 2006 I had to check before saying anything, but I've always had to pay for my own Folic Acid. It's not covered by Part D either, so I'm going to check into the Leucovorin to see if it is. The 1 mg tabs I get are $16.46 for 150 ea, so they aren't too bad, pricewise, but when I take almost 25 meds and they all cost at least $7 each, it adds up in a hurry. I've taken 1 mg per day from 1990 until my Rummy increased my MTX and forgot to raise the Folic Acid. Then I started on 5 mg per day, and have tapered off to 3 mg per day now. Dennis [ ] folic acid My bottle of folic acid says it's 400 mcg. How does that compare with you all are taking? Thx, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 It takes 1,000 micrograms (mcg) to make 1 miligram (mg). The answer to your question is yes, it is 2 1/2 times. Very good. Dennis [ ] folic acid > > My rheumy has me on 1mg daily. > > Is that 2 1/2 times 400 mcg, or is it a lot more? > > Thx, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 I take 1 mg folic acid daily, and 5 mg Leucovorin (folinic acid) weekly, 12 hours after my Mtx shot. --- In , " Lori Maynard " <lorimaynard@...> wrote: > > For those of you on MTX injections, how much folic acid do you take? My > daughter has been having severe eye pain and blurry vision for which the > doctors can't find any cause. I'm wondering if increasing her folic acid > would help with this. Currently she is taking 1 mg. > > > > Thanks. > > > > Lori in NJ > > Wife to , Mom to (12), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle (5) and > Josiah (2) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Hi There, I'm not sure if I've posted to this site at all, but decided today I would jump in. I take 1 mg of Folic Acid daily, however my Mom's Rheumy suggested to her that I take 3 mg on Friday, Sat & Sun. I take my MTX on Friday nights. I just started Humira on Monday so I'm on MTX (8 weekly), Folic Acid 1mg, Predinisone 10mg daily, Plaquenil 200mg 2 x daily, and Humira. My last lab test revealed that I am " on fire " so I'm hoping that the meds kick in soon and take control. Hope everone is having a great day, Lyn > > > > For those of you on MTX injections, how much folic acid do you > take? My > > daughter has been having severe eye pain and blurry vision for > which the > > doctors can't find any cause. I'm wondering if increasing her > folic acid > > would help with this. Currently she is taking 1 mg. > > > > > > > > Thanks. > > > > > > > > Lori in NJ > > > > Wife to , Mom to (12), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle > (5) and > > Josiah (2) > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 --- In , " Lori Maynard " <lorimaynard@...> wrote: > > For those of you on MTX injections, how much folic acid do you take? My > daughter has been having severe eye pain and blurry vision for which the > doctors can't find any cause. I'm wondering if increasing her folic acid > would help with this. Currently she is taking 1 mg. > > > > Thanks. > > > > Lori in NJ > > Wife to , Mom to (12), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle (5) and > Josiah (2) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Jane, Thank you. I did take her to the ophthalmologist and everything is fine. In fact she went last week, but then again this week just to make sure she wasn't in the very beginnings of inflammation that didn't show up the first time. The blurry vision is much better this week and the pain is subsiding somewhat. One thing I've done is to stagger her meds. She used to get her Humira injection and her MTX injection on the same day. Now I am giving them 3 days apart. This seems to be helping a bit. She has been in the process of being slowly weaned off Prednisone and I think this might be triggering various flares and strange symptoms, including the eye things. She was on 40 mg Prednisone for many months and now we reduce that by 5 mg every 2 weeks. Currently she is down to 20 mg. She is continuing to take just the 1 mg folic acid every day, but I think I will double that for the day of her MTX injection and the day after just to see if that helps. Lori [ ] Re: folic acid --- In , " Lori Maynard " <lorimaynard@...> wrote: > > For those of you on MTX injections, how much folic acid do you take? My > daughter has been having severe eye pain and blurry vision for which the > doctors can't find any cause. I'm wondering if increasing her folic acid > would help with this. Currently she is taking 1 mg. > > > > Thanks. > > > > Lori in NJ > > Wife to , Mom to (12), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle (5) and > Josiah (2) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Lori, so glad to hear that your daughter's blurry vision was not serious and that she will be okay. Please check with your daughter's rheumy before you double the folic acid and give it to her on the same day as her MTX injection. I was told by my rheumy not to take folic acid or any multi-vitamin that has folic acid in it on the same day as I take MTX. He said there was a school of thought that suggested if you take folic acid on the same day as MTX that the folic acid interferes with the MTX and it won't work as well. Hugs Lori Maynard <lorimaynard@...> wrote: Jane, Thank you. I did take her to the ophthalmologist and everything is fine. In fact she went last week, but then again this week just to make sure she wasn't in the very beginnings of inflammation that didn't show up the first time. The blurry vision is much better this week and the pain is subsiding somewhat. One thing I've done is to stagger her meds. She used to get her Humira injection and her MTX injection on the same day. Now I am giving them 3 days apart. This seems to be helping a bit. She has been in the process of being slowly weaned off Prednisone and I think this might be triggering various flares and strange symptoms, including the eye things. She was on 40 mg Prednisone for many months and now we reduce that by 5 mg every 2 weeks. Currently she is down to 20 mg. She is continuing to take just the 1 mg folic acid every day, but I think I will double that for the day of her MTX injection and the day after just to see if that helps. Lori [ ] Re: folic acid --- In , " Lori Maynard " <lorimaynard@...> wrote: > > For those of you on MTX injections, how much folic acid do you take? My > daughter has been having severe eye pain and blurry vision for which the > doctors can't find any cause. I'm wondering if increasing her folic acid > would help with this. Currently she is taking 1 mg. > > > > Thanks. > > > > Lori in NJ > > Wife to , Mom to (12), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle (5) and > Josiah (2) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 Sue, Folic acid stimulates erythropoiesis [the formation of RED blood cells] and nucleoprotein formation [ the combining of protein and nucleic acid to make the conjugated proteins found with in cell nuclei]. In case you have RA ..please be aware that taking too much folic acid may impede the effectiveness of Methotrexate [MTX] [ which is a folic acid antagonist ] treatment. Doctors are very careful to prescribe a certain dosage of folic acid, based on the amount of MTX you are taking, and your blood work results. Also, folic acid supplementation can mask B-12 deficiency. You can use both vitamins together if it is found that you have Pernicious anemia as well as Megoblastic anemia. Sue wrote: > A few months ago I started taking two folic acid pills a day instead of > one, to see if it would increase my white blood cell count. > > It seems to have worked! Three months ago my WBC count was 4.0, the > lowest normal number. Now it has increased to 5.1. Every little bit > helps. I will continue to take two folic acid pills a day. > > Sue > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 My rheumy had me on 2-3 folic acid tabs (2-3 mg.) daily while on MTX. Sierra > > > A few months ago I started taking two folic acid pills a day instead of > > one, to see if it would increase my white blood cell count. > > > > It seems to have worked! Three months ago my WBC count was 4.0, the > > lowest normal number. Now it has increased to 5.1. Every little bit > > helps. I will continue to take two folic acid pills a day. > > > > Sue > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 , I have RA but don't take mtx. It was the mtx that caused the low WBC count; then when I was switched to Arava, it continued the decline. I'm on Enbrel now, but my WBC count has been very slow in returning to normal. I have type 2 diabetes and take metformin, which is also a folic acid antagonist. My WBC count came up with the double dose of folic acid, but I guess it could have been just a coincidence. But I think I will continue to take the extra pill. Sue On Thursday, August 10, 2006, at 03:59 AM, M Cothren wrote: > Sue, > > Folic acid stimulates erythropoiesis [the formation of RED blood cells] > and nucleoprotein formation [ the combining of protein and nucleic acid > to make the conjugated proteins found with in cell nuclei]. > > In case you have RA ..please be aware that taking too much folic acid > may impede the effectiveness of Methotrexate [MTX] > [ which is a folic acid antagonist ] treatment. Doctors are very > careful to prescribe a certain dosage of folic acid, based on the > amount > of MTX you are taking, and your blood work results. > > Also, folic acid supplementation can mask B-12 deficiency. You can use > both vitamins together if it is found that you have Pernicious anemia > as > well as Megoblastic anemia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 Sue, are you taking 2 mg of folic acid a day then? Not an MD I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org Re: [ ] Folic acid > , I have RA but don't take mtx. It was the mtx that caused the > low WBC count; then when I was switched to Arava, it continued the > decline. I'm on Enbrel now, but my WBC count has been very slow in > returning to normal. I have type 2 diabetes and take metformin, which > is also a folic acid antagonist. My WBC count came up with the double > dose of folic acid, but I guess it could have been just a coincidence. > But I think I will continue to take the extra pill. > > Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 , I'm taking two 800 mcg tablets, plus my multi-vitamin has 400 mcg. Sue On Thursday, August 10, 2006, at 06:52 PM, wrote: > Sue, are you taking 2 mg of folic acid a day then? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2006 Report Share Posted August 11, 2006 Hi Sierra, As I said in my post, your Dr put you on the amount HE/SHE believed was the best for you. When it comes to any medication, we shouldn't just summarily decide to up / lower the dosage of any medication without medical advice or guidance first. Many of our medications act in concert with each other [ including folic acid] if you change the ratios, you going to change your outcomes. This may not be a good thing... M. snowdrift52003 wrote: > My rheumy had me on 2-3 folic acid tabs (2-3 mg.) daily while on MTX. > > Sierra > > > > > > A few months ago I started taking two folic acid pills a day > instead of > > > one, to see if it would increase my white blood cell count. > > > > > > It seems to have worked! Three months ago my WBC count was 4.0, > the > > > lowest normal number. Now it has increased to 5.1. Every little > bit > > > helps. I will continue to take two folic acid pills a day. > > > > > > Sue > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2006 Report Share Posted August 11, 2006 " M " , I strongly disagree with your statement you made. In a perfect world, you can expect a doctor to be on top of your medical needs and prescribe the right amounts of each drug. I've been in the real world, and this doesn't always happen. I happened to be reading on this list about mouth and tongue problems due to a lack of Folic Acid. I paid particular attention to the info and noticed that I was having some of the same problems. My tongue was swolen and sore, and I didn't know why. I'd been seeing my Rummy regularly and all blood tests were up to date. I found out that with my MTX increased to 1.2cc, an increase in Folic Acid was warranted. I called and the nurse just said that if I wanted to, I should go from 1 mg per day to 5 mg per day. She said it in such a way as to imply that I should have known that to begin with. The nurse and doctor have a practice when a blood test result is other than normal, meds that might cause the change are removed immediately and no other action is taken. It took me a while to learn this, and finally went back to my original Rheumy. Now I have a life back and am able to do some of what I couldn't even think of under the 'care' of the Rummy that I fired. I change my meds as I see fit, but coordinate it with my doctors. I know what is going on in my body a lot more than anybody looking at a chart or blood test, and have told that to my health care professionals. I haven't had any arguements with them so far. Dennis in Eastexas " It's not Rocket Surgery " Re: [ ] Re: Folic acid > Hi Sierra, > > As I said in my post, your Dr put you on the amount HE/SHE believed was > the best for you. > > When it comes to any medication, we shouldn't just summarily decide to > up / lower the dosage of any medication without medical advice or > guidance first. Many of our medications act in concert with each other > [ including folic acid] if you change the ratios, you going to change > your outcomes. This may not be a good thing... > > M. > snowdrift52003 wrote: > >> My rheumy had me on 2-3 folic acid tabs (2-3 mg.) daily while on MTX. >> >> Sierra >> >> > >> > > A few months ago I started taking two folic acid pills a day >> instead of >> > > one, to see if it would increase my white blood cell count. >> > > >> > > It seems to have worked! Three months ago my WBC count was 4.0, >> the >> > > lowest normal number. Now it has increased to 5.1. Every little >> bit >> > > helps. I will continue to take two folic acid pills a day. >> > > >> > > Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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