suddenly stopping methotrexate?

[Guest guest]

I need some help. Does anyone know if suddenly stopping methotrexate

will do any harm...besides causing my RA to flare?

Long story short...when I took it last week, I had an episode of

difficulty breathing and extremely rapid heartbeat (in the 120's). I

ended up in the ER where they also determined I had a fever. They

did a chest x-ray which the ER doc called " not bad but not good " . He

did do a CT scan to check for blood clots but, thankfully, that was

negative.

I started up again Sunday with this annoying, dry cough that I've had

four times since last October...'viral bronchitis' is what I keep

hearing from my primary. When I saw him yesterday, he decided that I

have allergies and gave me an antihistamine and cough medicine!

After doing my own research (again), I'm not so sure that this isn't

being caused my the MTX. My rheumy doesn't (I should say won't) see

me until my next appointment in August. He's saying it's a primary

care problem.

I've been taking 15mg/week since November 2006 but I'm really, really

scared to take it again.

[Guest guest]

Hi ! I realize this message was posted awhile back but I wanted to let you

know that I have experienced similiar symptoms from the methotrexate and my

rheumy lowered the dosage. I still have the dry cough every time I take it but I

can recover in a day or so. It totally wipes me out, however, I have to take it

because the Arava didn't help at all. The methotrexate helps somewhat. I have

stopped taking it before on my own and the only thing that happened was the pain

got worse. I learned my lesson and started back.

[ ] suddenly stopping methotrexate?

I need some help. Does anyone know if suddenly stopping methotrexate

will do any harm...besides causing my RA to flare?

Long story short...when I took it last week, I had an episode of

difficulty breathing and extremely rapid heartbeat (in the 120's). I

ended up in the ER where they also determined I had a fever. They

did a chest x-ray which the ER doc called " not bad but not good " . He

did do a CT scan to check for blood clots but, thankfully, that was

negative.

I started up again Sunday with this annoying, dry cough that I've had

four times since last October...'viral bronchitis' is what I keep

hearing from my primary. When I saw him yesterday, he decided that I

have allergies and gave me an antihistamine and cough medicine!

After doing my own research (again), I'm not so sure that this isn't

being caused my the MTX. My rheumy doesn't (I should say won't) see

me until my next appointment in August. He's saying it's a primary

care problem.

I've been taking 15mg/week since November 2006 but I'm really, really

scared to take it again.

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