Guest guest Posted February 4, 2007 Report Share Posted February 4, 2007 , I noticed your message in passing and have to offer a response because there *may* be some urgency. Of course, I can't say for sure, not being any sort of medical practitioner (and even they won't authoritatively 'diagnose' people over the net!), but.... I know from my dear departed wife, Annette's, treatment with MTX - oral then by injection - that there is a known risk of a lung condition developing due to use of this drug. It does seem to me at least possible that the worsening symptoms you describe may well be symptomatic of this very adverse side effect - and if it is, then you will *have* to stop taking it and find some other treatment for your RA. Given the number of new - and in some cases undoubtedly better - drugs now available, finding an alternative shouldn't be difficult, with the proviso that most of them are very expensive for whoever will be paying the bills - if they will. :-( You must get it checked out - but let me say that Annette's consultant told us that there is no conclusive, reliable test for this lung condition, other than the empirical one of ceasing administration of the MTX and observing whether or not the adverse symptoms go away. If they do, and perhaps if they then re-appear if you resume taking MTX (but I see that as a potentially foolhardy thing to even consider), then you can be sure that the MTX is to blame. And if it is, the adverse symptoms will only ever get worse - your body will never adapt to it with perseverance, if I've understood this problem with MTX at all correctly. Best wishes Nigel On 4 Feb 2007, at 20:48, susan100250 wrote: > HI all, > I've been taking oral MTX now for about 4 months and have been > noticing > that I get severe hay fever/sinus symptoms the day after I take it and > the symptoms slowly improve through the week until it's time to > take it > again, then blam... it starts all over again. It seems to be getting > more severe each week now. I've looked up side effects and allergy to > MTX and didn't see hay fever/sinus symptoms as a side effect. Do > any of > you have this problem or have any of you heard of it? I thought it was > my imagination at first, but it's been happening so regularly that now > I'm sure it's not. > What do you all think? > Thanks, > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2007 Report Share Posted February 5, 2007 Dear Nigel, Thank you for taking the time to read my question and for your thoughtful reply. After reading your response, I believe I do need to take this symptom seriously and talk to my doctor about it as soon as I can. I remember hearing that MTX can cause lung damage, so perhaps my symptoms are for me a precursor to this adverse side effect. I also wanted to offer my sincere sympathies about your dear Annette. She and I joined the group about the same time, and she was a well-respected and helpful addition to the group. I can only imagine what you're going through, but please know that many people have you in their thoughts and prayers, myself included. Take care, > I noticed your message in passing and have to offer a response > because there *may* be some urgency. Of course, I can't say for sure, > not being any sort of medical practitioner (and even they won't > authoritatively 'diagnose' people over the net!), but.... I know from > my dear departed wife, Annette's, treatment with MTX - oral then by > injection - that there is a known risk of a lung condition developing > due to use of this drug. It does seem to me at least possible that > the worsening symptoms you describe may well be symptomatic of this > very adverse side effect - and if it is, then you will *have* to stop > taking it and find some other treatment for your RA. Given the number > of new - and in some cases undoubtedly better - drugs now available, > finding an alternative shouldn't be difficult, with the proviso that > most of them are very expensive for whoever will be paying the bills > - if they will. :-( > > You must get it checked out - but let me say that Annette's > consultant told us that there is no conclusive, reliable test for > this lung condition, other than the empirical one of ceasing > administration of the MTX and observing whether or not the adverse > symptoms go away. If they do, and perhaps if they then re-appear if > you resume taking MTX (but I see that as a potentially foolhardy > thing to even consider), then you can be sure that the MTX is to > blame. And if it is, the adverse symptoms will only ever get worse - > your body will never adapt to it with perseverance, if I've > understood this problem with MTX at all correctly. > > Best wishes > Nigel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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