Guest guest Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 Carol, our MTX use is nowhere near the dose given for cancer treatment. Most people don't experience any hair loss. Most of those who do find it is minimal and temporary. Relax. regards, sherry z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I don't really have any side effects. The hair loss, if any, is minor. The dose for treatment of PA typically isn't as large as cancer patients, so hair loss is minimal -- if any. Just be sure to take the folic acid as prescribed. That helps reduce any side effects as well. I also take my dose of MTX before bed. That ensures that any minor nausea (which I'll have once in a great while) won't be an issue since I'll be asleep. I take it on Saturday night before bed -- just in case I have any issues the next day. But typically I don't have any problems. Sometimes it does open you up to more issues with bronchitis or sinus infections. Just be sure to have any colds or congestion treated immediately so that they don't get worse. For example, I didn't treat my last sinus infection fast enough and it got worse fairly quickly. A good round or two of antibiotics did the trick and now I'm fine. My best friend has cancer and so I really feel for you and your sister. Hang in there! But don't worry. MTX for PA is NOTHING like chemo for cancer. Good luck! Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 , I have lots of elbow pain with my PsA. AS a matter of fact they don't even straighten all the way anymore. But I can't tell you if MTX will help, I'm supposed to start it later this week. Never had it before. The nurses did tell me to expect to be a little nauseated when I first start taking it, they didn't mention light headed tho. Hope you feel better soon. Penny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Don't know if this well help or not. But when I was on MTX, my Rheumy had me take it on Friday nights before I went to bed. That way, I would be asleep should any of the side effects happen. I will say that it did help. I did have a Saturday hangover from it. The only time that it got bad was when I upped the dosage and I felt like I got him by a freight train the next day. I will also say that it did get better with time. Hope that this helps, Ella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I take MTX in the a.m., and seem to feel better when I do. Even if I'm a little green for a little while. I've noticed that if I take it too long after I get up, I feel yucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Hey , do you mean methotrexate (MTX)? I hate it! I inject 25 mg into my leg every Tuesday, and maybe I can eat food by Thursday evening. by then, hopefully the diarrhea subsides as well. I've noticed more recently that it seems to make me feverish and tired, as well as edgy and irritable. I've been on it about a year and a half, and have started probiotics and glutamine to strengthen my digestive system. I hope it helps. If I witness just one more doctor who innocently responds to my distaste for this drug with " but it's just G.I. , right? " I might just poop on him.... " traumacide " <traumacide@...> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 Hi , > My rheumy just ordered Mtx and folic acid. I am very afraid to try it > but I am in so much pain. You have to try it. > He doesn't have the bedside manner to discuss things with me. Then find another, or if you really trust him despite that, follow his recommendations and discuss things here on the forum! > He is a top rheumy and recommended but I guess I just can't > believe at my age -- 43 -- I can have osteo, PsA and fibromyalgia? Yes, you can. I don't say you necessarily DO, but you CAN. It's not uncommon. > What have been the side effects people have > experienced with MTX, I am a poster child for drug side effects! I started MTX very recently. Last Friday I took my second dose. So far, for me the side effects are very slight nausea and very slight flue-like symptoms (runny nose, bronchial irritation, pain in the forehead), but really very slight, not a problem at all. They have lasted for a full day after each dose. If it doesn't get worse, it won't be an issue at all. Of course, in another several weeks they will check my liver to see if it is taking the MTX well enough. And it remains to be seen whether the MTX helps me at all. So far it hasn't, but that's no surprise because it's slow to develop its positive action. Manfred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Yes, it's typical to take the entire dose at one time weekly. However, many find that splitting the dose into two batches taken on the same day alleviates some of the side effects. I used to take half my dose on Friday morning and the other half on Friday night, along with Zantac and Benadryl. This made me not feel nauseous or flu-like or so fatigued. If you daughter is having unpleasant side effects, you can ask her doctor about splitting the dose and taking the other things to help. I've never heard of a rheumy objecting to this method. " S. Zorzi " <szorzi_1999@...> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Sd I was on MTX injections and it gave me upset stomach and I did get sores on the outside of mouth.But of course not every one else is the same just thought I would write. I had no luck with MTX. Was still in a lot of pain. " " <masseytdm@...> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 My son started MTX taking 6 pills/week all at the same time. 6 weeks later we switched to the injection when the pills weren't doing much. With the injection, more of the drug gets into your blood stream and doesn't sit in your stomach. As his dose was gradually increased he had more stomach problems. Now we are back down to 10 mg/week and our rheumy has stated that 10 mg is as low as you could go. Any lower than that and it won't do anything. & Grant (11, PsA/Uveitis) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 WOW, you must be tough! I started with those almost immediately when I started MTX. But there is help. Folic Acid, which is cheap, has few side effects, and is easy to take. Ask your rheumy, but mine has me go as high as a gram twice a day. Taking it like candy, my mouth sores are almost a thing of the past! Prairiegrandma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2010 Report Share Posted August 26, 2010 I took it for six months and had no side effects. Don't automatically assume you will have them. MTX has been around for years and is relatively safe as long as your doctor does the required bloodwork on a regular basis to ensure that your liver is not being affected. But avoid alchohol while you're on it. My doc said " once a year, on your birthday " . The reason, obviously, is that alcohol can also affect the liver and may increase the potential for liver problems. Joanna Hoelscher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2010 Report Share Posted August 26, 2010 Thanks for the information ...Im gonna try to stay positive and see what the happens ...I just wanna wake up and not be stiff and hurting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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