Guest guest Posted June 10, 2003 Report Share Posted June 10, 2003 Mike... I have been on methotrexate for about 5 months now and the side effects really didn't kick in for about a month or two for me. The main one I experience is severe fatigue the day I take it and the day after. I've just started to get stomach upset with it as well... hoping it was a one time thing! It took a good 3 months for me to really feel the good effects of the methotrexate as well... so hang in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2004 Report Share Posted February 11, 2004 Hello, I am Vimala. I have RA. I take methotrexate 10mg once a week. I have been taking since 12 years, so far no problems and my condition is under control. Every 2 months I get my blood work done for the lever. It really works for me.I take diclofenic sodium too for my pain.I hope methotrexate will work for you.take care. Vimala. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 There can be side effects from Methotrexate but uncontrolled RA is very likely to lead to permanent joint damage. Side effects of Methotrexate can almost always been found early by routine blood tests and reversed by stopping the medicine or lowering the dose. Permanent joint damage cannot be reversed and there are limits to joint replacements. Some people get upset stomachs or other bothersome effects from the pills but do not get these effects when taking Methotrexate by injection. Please be more concerned about RA than about the medicines that can slow down the effects of RA. God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: acer52003 Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 6:44 PM Subject: methotrexate hi new to this just starting to take methorexate can someone tell me how bad this drug is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Hi, I tried methotrexate also. My liver enzymes shot up and had some scary vaginal bleeding. Had to stop it. It is a cancer drug that has worked well for some RA folks. It is also used to abort tubal pregnancies. I noticed it slowed down my breathing and seemed to be a very strong drug for my sensitive system. Some folks do fine with it, however. Be sure to also take folic acid to prevent mouth ulcers that methotrexate can cause. Good luck to you, Kay ----- Original Message ----- From: " acer52003 " <acer52003@...> <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 8:44 PM Subject: methotrexate > hi new to this just starting to take methorexate can someone tell > me how bad this drug is > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 Hi, I've been taking MTX for almost a year, first orally and then by injection. I much prefer injection as I don't get the yuckies from it. Also the dosage was increased when I went to inj. I also take Plaquinil in conjunction with it. Unfortunately it didn't do much to control my RA symptoms. I am now one Enbrel but still take the MTX injections. Also still on the Plaquinil, Prednisone and Oxycodone for pain. Although I take much less of the pain med now with the Enbrel, and I'm at the lowest dosage of Prednisone I've ever been down to. Best of luck and God Bless. Jay > hi new to this just starting to take methorexate can someone tell > me how bad this drug is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 hello, I have been on MTX for 9 months now. I started on 3 pills a week with 1mg folic acid daily. It was terrible, constant vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, headache, throat sores and cough from the lung involvement. At first my doc could not believe it was making me sooo sick and insisted I continue but increase the folic acid to 2mg a day which I did. I was not even able to work much less leave the house! Finally after about 4 weeks of coughing he pulled me off the pills. Thank god!! It was horrible!!! Then a few weeks later when I had healed and things settled down he restarted the MTX injections. So far no lung involvement but I get all the other side effects. Just not as bad! The exception is the vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. They come on very fast. I have gone home ore times than I can count from a store with soiled panties! I stopped the med about 8 weeks ago. I was tired of all the side effects and wanted to have a normal holiday season. Within a week no vomiting, diarrhea or nausea. Took a few more weeks before the remain symtoms left for good. Now its been around 8 weeks that I stopped all my meds....When I look at that MTX vial or prescription I have to fill I think I must be crazy to start taking this poison again!!! I stopped all meds for financial reasons. No income, have insurance...so I don't qualify for any med assistance programs. Will start getting Long Term Disability in 6-8 weeks. I will resume meds then. I am going to try to start back on enbrel and skip the MTX poison,,,after all it is chemo!! So do your homework on the MTX before you start....remember it is a chemo drug! Toni PS hello Tawny..didn't know you were here! I must have missed yah! Good to see you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 I started MTX in Mid sept and haven't had any major problems. First couple of weeks i noticed I would get chills and be very tired the 2nd day or so. After reading comments here I moved my dose to late afternoon or early evening and that seemed to help with any discomfort. I'm taking 10mg a week along w/ folic acid. and lab tests monthly. I actually have more problems with the anti- inflamatories irritating my stomach and/or heartburn. My RA came on very sudden and with a vengence. I was able to notice improvement in reducing the swelling and stiffness within 4-5 weeks of beginning the MTX. Take care and best of luck Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2004 Report Share Posted February 12, 2004 > hi new to this just starting to take methorexate can someone tell > me how bad this drug is Some people respond well to this drug. You need to remember it is a chemo drug and is powerful stuff. My husband took injections of it, not sure of the dosage, for about a year. He developed shingles and would really suffer with any cold virus that was around, got much sicker than previously. He went off it when he almost had pneumonia and the shingles wouldn't go away. He was 72 at the time. Now he is controlled with 10mg of prednisolone daily, and a little extra (1mg) if he is achey at all. That's the lowest dose ever and so far so good. He will be 74 in May. He would not take methotrexate again. all the best Lynn Australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 How often do people get blood panels done to check liver function when on methotrexate? I generally see my rheumy every 3 - 4 months which is how often I get it checked. I haven't had any problems yet with liver function. Just wondering if that's too long to go between blood work. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 Gloria, I have my blood taken out once a month and I see my DR 3-4 months. I Thank God that I have not had any problems and I been on Methotrexate & prednisone for 13 yrs & many other MEDS. Lucy How often do people get blood panels done to check liver function when on methotrexate? I generally see my rheumy every 3 - 4 months which is how often I get it checked. I haven't had any problems yet with liver function. Just wondering if that's too long to go between blood work. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 Gloria, I go every two weeks for blood work on MTX. I did that for a many months then my doc went to every 4 weeks. This is the first time I have gone six weeks with no blood work. Of course my doc does not know yet..but I have been off all meds since my last visit. So my blood work will not show him much of anything. As long as I was on all my meds as my doc had prescribed I had labwork done every two weeks. I would think with all the potential bad things that can happen on MTX he would want to see you more frequently and monitor your labs more frequently than every 3-4 months. Even if you were just going for labs and no doc visit that would be better than what he is doing now. I would question this as well as request copies of all labs! Toni In a message dated 2/14/04 4:36:37 AM Central Standard Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: Message: 10 Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:24:17 EST From: gloriarex@... Subject: Re: Re: methotrexate How often do people get blood panels done to check liver function when on methotrexate? I generally see my rheumy every 3 - 4 months which is how often I get it checked. I haven't had any problems yet with liver function. Just wondering if that's too long to go between blood work. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 Gloria, I have mine checked once a month, though I don't see my rheumatologist more often than every 3 or 4 months. I'm currently on 17.5 mg. per week, split dose over two days. I have the blood test results sent to my family doctor as well. They keep me better informed than rheumy does, though they keep each other informed as to my treatment, which is reassuring. I feel like I have a team working for me. As to blood work results, so far so good. Hugs, (in Western NY) ----- Original Message ----- From: gloriarex@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 1:24 AM Subject: Re: Re: methotrexate How often do people get blood panels done to check liver function when on methotrexate? I generally see my rheumy every 3 - 4 months which is how often I get it checked. I haven't had any problems yet with liver function. Just wondering if that's too long to go between blood work. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 Gloria, When I started on methotrexate my rheumy had me get the blood work done every 2 weeks, then after awhile every month. Since I've been on it for over 5 years without problems, he has me do the labs every 2 - 4 months, depending on how frequently I see him. When I saw him last month he said that my labs showed I was getting anemic, so he put me on extra iron and said to get my lab work done in a month and come back to see him. Like so many other things with RA, the answer really depends on how you're responding to the drug and how it seems to be impacting your body. Beth > How often do people get blood panels done to check liver function when on > methotrexate? I generally see my rheumy every 3 - 4 months which is how often I > get it checked. I haven't had any problems yet with liver function. Just > wondering if that's too long to go between blood work. > > gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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