Re: Re: MTX dosage

[Guest guest]

Hi, I am on 25 mg of MTX and last time I spoke to my Rheumy nurse she said the

Consultant might decide to put me on the injections as these may prove more

effective than the tablets. I can tolerate the 25mg of MTX ok, though have had

a few stomach problems lately (not sure if related to meds).

What is the biologic?

Thanks

(UK)

I'm at 20 mg per week and I have had good results so far. My problem

is confined to inflammation in my hands, stiff and swollen fingers

and pain. It takes a few months for MTX to get to full strength.

Until this

month(I started at 7.5 mg 6 months ago)I have had usually one or two

flares per month, so the doctor is recommending that I start a

biologic, but I have been feeling better, so I may wait on the

biologic and try going to 25 mg per week, which I think is the max. I

assume that I will eventually go to the biologic, since the disease

has progressively gotten worse over the last 5 years or so.

[Guest guest]

I take mtx orally at 25mg, i've been on it for 8yrs on and off, I'm very keen to

go on enbrel. Docs aren't to enthusiastic cause of the price, typical

Mike <mifel@...> wrote:

I'm at 20 mg per week and I have had good results so far. My problem

is confined to inflammation in my hands, stiff and swollen fingers

and pain. It takes a few months for MTX to get to full strength.

Until this

month(I started at 7.5 mg 6 months ago)I have had usually one or two

flares per month, so the doctor is recommending that I start a

biologic, but I have been feeling better, so I may wait on the

biologic and try going to 25 mg per week, which I think is the max. I

assume that I will eventually go to the biologic, since the disease

has progressively gotten worse over the last 5 years or so.

> I was curious as to what dosage of metho everyone was taking? And

at what

> dosage you have to go to injections. It seems that my rhuemy has

to increase

> my dosage about every six moths as the effectiveness starts to wear

off. Any

> input would be helpful.

>

>

> in St. Louis, MO

[Guest guest]

I started MTX in May. Every two months, I see the

rheumy. Every visit, he increases my dosage. I'm up to

8 pills (20 units) per week as of this week. I'm not

sure why he keeps pushing my dosage up so fast.

I do seem to get " accustomed " to the dosage after a

few weeks, with some breakthrough pain and stiffness,

but much less fatigue and other side effects.

I have a suspicion that he wants to move me to

biologics. He's mentioned it as an option, on the

insurance company's condition that I " fail " on less

expensive treatments. The thing is, I think I'm doing

just fine on MTX.

Unless I have a bad flare when the temperature drops,

or unless there's something going on in my spine that

he's not telling me, I'm not sure I want to do

injectables.

PS: Hi, ! I'm in Kansas City and visit St. Louis

often.

--

=====

--------------------------

Stein

www.noblefusion.com/astein

If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself

If you want to be somebody else

Change your mind...

-- Sister Hazel

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

, if you want to know why your rheumy is doing something, the best

thing to do is to ask him. My guess is that although you believe the MTX is

working, the fact that you continue to have breakthrough pain suggests that it

is

not working as well as it should. That's probably why the rheumy is already

thinking ahead to the biologics. Although perhaps you are doing fine on MTX,

he may believe that you will do ever better on the other meds. I'd have a

discussion with him about this since YOU have the greatest say over what is done

to your body.

Kathy F.

<< started MTX in May. Every two months, I see the

rheumy. Every visit, he increases my dosage. I'm up to

8 pills (20 units) per week as of this week. I'm not

sure why he keeps pushing my dosage up so fast.

I do seem to get " accustomed " to the dosage after a

few weeks, with some breakthrough pain and stiffness,

but much less fatigue and other side effects.

I have a suspicion that he wants to move me to

biologics. He's mentioned it as an option, on the

insurance company's condition that I " fail " on less

expensive treatments. The thing is, I think I'm doing

just fine on MTX.

Unless I have a bad flare when the temperature drops,

or unless there's something going on in my spine that

he's not telling me, I'm not sure I want to do

injectables.

PS: Hi, ! I'm in Kansas City and visit St. Louis

often.

--

>>

[Guest guest]

The standard pill size is 2.5 mg and each 0.1 cc is equivalent

to one pill. Your 0.8 cc is 20 mg and you will be taking 1 cc to get 25 mg.

This is still a very low dose compared to what is used in chemotherapy, but it

is about the tops for treatment of RA. I hope it works well for you. God

bless.

From:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

[mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of i_live_in_slippers

Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 5:01 PM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: Re: MTX dosage

I'm glad to read of others taking higher doses

of mtx. I started out taking 6 pills weekly. Don't remember the strength but as

then was switched to the injectible. I was injecting .6, then .8 and now today

my dr. suggested switching to 25mg. I dont understand the conversion to know

what my .8 is in relation to the 25mg but I know she's increasing me again. I

hate to take a really big dose........

Your thoughts?

[Guest guest]

25mg is the highest dose for RA patients thus far.  Injectible seems to have less side effects.  If you are not on a biologic then this will manage your disease but not stop progression of the disease..i.e. damage to joints.  If taken in conjunction with a Biologic then it increases the efficacy of the biologic.  MTX impedes cell division and also inteferes with a cells programming to attack your body. Yours, Deborah

On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 8:00 PM, i_live_in_slippers <bart.tracy@...> wrote:

I'm glad to read of others taking higher doses of mtx. I started out taking 6 pills weekly. Don't remember the strength but as then was switched to the injectible. I was injecting .6, then .8 and now today my dr. suggested switching to 25mg. I dont understand the conversion to know what my .8 is in relation to the 25mg but I know she's increasing me again. I hate to take a really big dose........

Your thoughts?