Re: Methotrexate should be taken once per week, NEVER DAILY, for RA

[Guest guest]

That's what all my books say too, . My rheumy and my pharmacist

said that as long as I am tolerating the divided doses it's ok. I

did this cautiously and with frequent blood work.

> " Weekly dosing of methotrexate is recommended. The entire dose can

be

> administered at once or divided into three doses taken over a 24-

hour

> period (i.e., every eight hours). Methotrexate should never be

given in

> daily doses. More frequent administration than weekly increases

the risk

> of toxicity. Most patients show a therapeutic response with weekly

doses

> of oral or injection therapy between 7.5 mg and 15.0 mg, although

some

> patients may need 20 or even 30 mg, the maximum recommended dose.

> Therapeutic response usually begins at three to six weeks, and the

> patient may continue to improve over a 12-week period. Treatment

should

> not be considered a failure unless the methotrexate doses have been

> escalated above 15.0 mg to 17.5 mg per week without a clinical

> response. Again, folate supplementation with 1 mg per day or 7 mg

once

> weekly should be considered for all patients. "

>

>

> American Family Physician

> " A Family Physician's Guide to Monitoring Methotrexate " :

> http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001001/1607.html

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[Guest guest]

That's what all my books say too, . My rheumy and my pharmacist

said that as long as I am tolerating the divided doses it's ok. I

did this cautiously and with frequent blood work.

> " Weekly dosing of methotrexate is recommended. The entire dose can

be

> administered at once or divided into three doses taken over a 24-

hour

> period (i.e., every eight hours). Methotrexate should never be

given in

> daily doses. More frequent administration than weekly increases

the risk

> of toxicity. Most patients show a therapeutic response with weekly

doses

> of oral or injection therapy between 7.5 mg and 15.0 mg, although

some

> patients may need 20 or even 30 mg, the maximum recommended dose.

> Therapeutic response usually begins at three to six weeks, and the

> patient may continue to improve over a 12-week period. Treatment

should

> not be considered a failure unless the methotrexate doses have been

> escalated above 15.0 mg to 17.5 mg per week without a clinical

> response. Again, folate supplementation with 1 mg per day or 7 mg

once

> weekly should be considered for all patients. "

>

>

> American Family Physician

> " A Family Physician's Guide to Monitoring Methotrexate " :

> http://www.aafp.org/afp/20001001/1607.html

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[Guest guest]

I do understand and I am glad there is someone out there watching

over us as well!!

> I'm glad to hear that your rheumatologist and pharmacist are aware

of

> how you are taking your MTX, Marina, but I wonder if, in addition

to the

> toxicity issue, daily dosing may also negatively impact efficacy.

>

> You also understand, I'm sure, that I have an obligation to the

group to

> point out that taking MTX daily is in no way the norm, can be

dangerous,

> and is not to be attempted without the knowledge and consent of

one's

> physician.

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

[Guest guest]

I do understand and I am glad there is someone out there watching

over us as well!!

> I'm glad to hear that your rheumatologist and pharmacist are aware

of

> how you are taking your MTX, Marina, but I wonder if, in addition

to the

> toxicity issue, daily dosing may also negatively impact efficacy.

>

> You also understand, I'm sure, that I have an obligation to the

group to

> point out that taking MTX daily is in no way the norm, can be

dangerous,

> and is not to be attempted without the knowledge and consent of

one's

> physician.

>

>

>

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>