Re: Oral vs. Injectable Methotrexate

May 13, 2006

Yes. The injectable MTX bypasses the digestive system, so the

gastrointestinal problems are minimal. Another benefit is that injectable

MTX is mostly absorbed by the system before getting to the liver, where oral

MTX goes to the right away while still in its full potency. Liver problems

are one of the bad side effects of MTX that you want to avoid.

I hope that makes some sense to you. I know what I mean, but I'm having a

difficult time putting it in words.

My daughter has been on injectable MTX for three weeks and it has really

helped her Humira to finally work. She is feeling very good for the first

time this year. I hope this will work as well for you also.

Lori

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of eandsspivey

Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 8:37 PM

Subject: [ ] Oral vs. Injectable Methotrexate

Is the injectable MTX easier to tolerate than the oral? I'm up to 30

mg. of the oral and it is doing a number on my digestive system.

May 13, 2006

Hi:

I would certainly think so. You are at a very high

doseage - no wonder your stomach is hurting!~ The

injectible would at least bypass your stomach and not

have to be digested like the oral is. I would say

give the injectible a chance - the shots are not hard

to do at all, very small needles. Good luck - hope

you can give your stomach a break ....

Kathe in CA

--- eandsspivey <emilyspivey185@...> wrote:

> Is the injectable MTX easier to tolerate than the

> oral? I'm up to 30

> mg. of the oral and it is doing a number on my

> digestive system.

>

Kathe

" To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

__________________________________________________

May 14, 2006

>

> Is the injectable MTX easier to tolerate than the oral? I'm up to

30

> mg. of the oral and it is doing a number on my digestive system.

On the basis of just one dose so far, for me, I'd have to give you a

resounding YES!!!

Oral Mtx was making me so sick that I was basically wasted for

Friday evening, all of Sat. and only operating on a couple of

cylinders on Sun. (I take it on Fri.) We dropped my dose down to

10mg of Mtx, and added Arava. So far, this combination has not been

controlling my RA, and while the side effects were less severe at

only 10mg of Mtx, they still weren't pleasant.

Last week, the rheumatologist asked if I'd be willing to try the

injectable Mtx, in hopes that we could raise tha dose up, without

causing more side effects. She also said that it is sometimes more

effective in the injectable form. I agreed, and took my first shot

on Fri, increasing my dose up to 15mg. I was hoping that the side

effects wouldn't be TOO bad.

I took my shot around 3:00. We went out to dinner, and I was fine

all evening. The doc did say I should take my Leucovorin 8-12 hours

later this first time just to be safe, so I did that. Yesterday I

slept in, and I did need to take a couple of hour nap in the

afternoon, but otherwise I was no more tired than I am most of the

time since the RA started. This is a HUGE improvement over the oral

Mtx for me. Next week, I'll see if I do as well without taking the

Leucovorin.

NOW... if it gets my RA under control so that I can get off the

prednisone, I'll be thrilled!!!

May 14, 2006

I'm interested to hear that injectable Mtx is supposed to be easier

on the liver. That's something the doc didn't mention to me. I

still am supposed to do my monthly bloodwork, but maybe that's

because I'm on Arava too.

--- In , " Lori Maynard " <lorimaynard@...>

wrote:

>

> Yes. The injectable MTX bypasses the digestive system, so the

> gastrointestinal problems are minimal. Another benefit is that

injectable

> MTX is mostly absorbed by the system before getting to the liver,

where oral

> MTX goes to the right away while still in its full potency. Liver

problems

> are one of the bad side effects of MTX that you want to avoid.

>

> I hope that makes some sense to you. I know what I mean, but I'm

having a

> difficult time putting it in words.

>

> My daughter has been on injectable MTX for three weeks and it has

really

> helped her Humira to finally work. She is feeling very good for

the first

> time this year. I hope this will work as well for you also.

>

> Lori

>

> _____

>

> From: [mailto:RA-

SUPPORT ] On

> Behalf Of eandsspivey

> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 8:37 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] Oral vs. Injectable Methotrexate

>

> Is the injectable MTX easier to tolerate than the oral? I'm up to

30

> mg. of the oral and it is doing a number on my digestive system.

>

May 14, 2006

I didn't realize this was a high dose...I increase by 7.50 mg. on my

next dose!

>

> > Is the injectable MTX easier to tolerate than the

> > oral? I'm up to 30

> > mg. of the oral and it is doing a number on my

> > digestive system.

> >

>

> Kathe

>

> " To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

>

> __________________________________________________

>

May 14, 2006

It seems that most people are on MTX and something else. My doc has

me just on the MTX. Any ideas why?

> >

> > Yes. The injectable MTX bypasses the digestive system, so the

> > gastrointestinal problems are minimal. Another benefit is that

> injectable

> > MTX is mostly absorbed by the system before getting to the liver,

> where oral

> > MTX goes to the right away while still in its full potency.

Liver

> problems

> > are one of the bad side effects of MTX that you want to avoid.

> >

> > I hope that makes some sense to you. I know what I mean, but I'm

> having a

> > difficult time putting it in words.

> >

> > My daughter has been on injectable MTX for three weeks and it has

> really

> > helped her Humira to finally work. She is feeling very good for

> the first

> > time this year. I hope this will work as well for you also.

> >

> > Lori

> >

> > _____

> >

> > From: [mailto:RA-

> SUPPORT ] On

> > Behalf Of eandsspivey

> > Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 8:37 PM

> >

> > Subject: [ ] Oral vs. Injectable Methotrexate

> >

> > Is the injectable MTX easier to tolerate than the oral? I'm up

to

> 30

> > mg. of the oral and it is doing a number on my digestive system.

> >

May 14, 2006

I'm not taking anything to supplement MTX. I tried Sulfasalazine, Arava, and

another I can't remember now. None of them helped, in fact, had adverse

effects on me. I'm taking the max injectable dose, and have no side effects

from it. I also have blood tests done monthly because MTX can damage the

liver and kidneys, even though I've been taking it for 16 years. Regular

blood tests are just a fact of life for us.

Dennis

[ ] Re: Oral vs. Injectable Methotrexate

> It seems that most people are on MTX and something else. My doc has

> me just on the MTX. Any ideas why?

>

>> >

>> > Yes. The injectable MTX bypasses the digestive system, so the

>> > gastrointestinal problems are minimal. Another benefit is that

>> injectable

>> > MTX is mostly absorbed by the system before getting to the liver,

>> where oral

>> > MTX goes to the right away while still in its full potency.

> Liver

>> problems

>> > are one of the bad side effects of MTX that you want to avoid.

>> >

>> > I hope that makes some sense to you. I know what I mean, but I'm

>> having a

>> > difficult time putting it in words.

>> >

>> > My daughter has been on injectable MTX for three weeks and it has

>> really

>> > helped her Humira to finally work. She is feeling very good for

>> the first

>> > time this year. I hope this will work as well for you also.

>> >

>> > Lori

May 14, 2006

My understanding is that even if Mtx alone isn't effective, they

have found that Mtx boosts the effectiveness of most other RA

treatments. I don't think they really know why this is so, however.

> > >

> > > Yes. The injectable MTX bypasses the digestive system, so the

> > > gastrointestinal problems are minimal. Another benefit is

that

> > injectable

> > > MTX is mostly absorbed by the system before getting to the

liver,

> > where oral

> > > MTX goes to the right away while still in its full potency.

> Liver

> > problems

> > > are one of the bad side effects of MTX that you want to

avoid.

> > >

> > > I hope that makes some sense to you. I know what I mean, but

I'm

> > having a

> > > difficult time putting it in words.

> > >

> > > My daughter has been on injectable MTX for three weeks and it

has

> > really

> > > helped her Humira to finally work. She is feeling very good

for

> > the first

> > > time this year. I hope this will work as well for you also.

> > >

> > > Lori

> > >

> > > _____

> > >

> > > From: [mailto:RA-

> > SUPPORT ] On

> > > Behalf Of eandsspivey

> > > Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 8:37 PM

> > >

> > > Subject: [ ] Oral vs. Injectable Methotrexate

> > >

> > > Is the injectable MTX easier to tolerate than the oral? I'm

up

> to

> > 30

> > > mg. of the oral and it is doing a number on my digestive

system.

> > >

May 17, 2006

i'm pretty new to all of this but i'm also only taking oral mtx

(don't know the mgs although i should, but eight pills on saturdays).

so far i've had no ill effects and i'm hoping it stays that way.

rheumy says there are other options (thanks to you guys i already

knew that) but i'm hoping it doesn't become an issue or at least not

for a long long time. good to hear other people are also on only mtx.

gives me hope. thanks ! ! ! ! !

bonnie/boys

> >> >

> >> > Yes. The injectable MTX bypasses the digestive system, so the

> >> > gastrointestinal problems are minimal. Another benefit is that

> >> injectable

> >> > MTX is mostly absorbed by the system before getting to the

liver,

> >> where oral

> >> > MTX goes to the right away while still in its full potency.

> > Liver

> >> problems

> >> > are one of the bad side effects of MTX that you want to avoid.

> >> >

> >> > I hope that makes some sense to you. I know what I mean, but

I'm

> >> having a

> >> > difficult time putting it in words.

> >> >

> >> > My daughter has been on injectable MTX for three weeks and it

has

> >> really

> >> > helped her Humira to finally work. She is feeling very good

for

> >> the first

> >> > time this year. I hope this will work as well for you also.

> >> >

> >> > Lori

>

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