Methotrexate experience

[Guest guest]

Well I took 12.5 mg of methotrexate just once and got terribly ill and

exhausted. So one week later I went and had my bloodwork drawn and my

white blood count is down to 2.5 and normal on my test sheet is 4.0 or

above.

Has anyone else had this happen and what did your doc have you to do?

I didn't take it this week since I take it on Monday and I will still

ill that day and my counts being down I didn't know what to do. I

should hear from my doc tomorrow about my bloodwork.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

,

I didn't have any other adverse side effects from methotrexate except

that it lowered my white blood cell count. My liver enzymes stayed

normal. My rheumy added Arava instead of increasing MTX, but it just

continued the decline. That was too bad, because the Arava was working

very well on the pain and inflammation.

When my count got to 2.2 (normal 4.0 or above), he told me to quit

taking the MTX and the Arava. He gave me a choice between Enbrel and

Humira, and I chose Enbrel. It took my insurance company a month before

they approved me for the Enbrel. During this time, I was on no

medication for RA except Bextra that I believe I was on at the time.

I've been on Enbrel for over five years, and it works very well for me.

I have no joint damage. It took a while for my WBC count to come back

up to normal, but it finally did.

Had you been taking a lower dose of MTX previously? I never did get up

to that much. Your rheumy may lower the dose or take you off of it.

Good luck!

Sue

On Wednesday, September 24, 2008, at 09:02 PM, ktandtm wrote:

> Well I took 12.5 mg of methotrexate just once and got terribly ill and

> exhausted. So one week later I went and had my bloodwork drawn and my

> white blood count is down to 2.5 and normal on my test sheet is 4.0 or

> above.

>

> Has anyone else had this happen and what did your doc have you to do?

> I didn't take it this week since I take it on Monday and I will still

> ill that day and my counts being down I didn't know what to do. I

> should hear from my doc tomorrow about my bloodwork.

[Guest guest]

,

The med does cause fatigue. Are you taking Folic Acid? My white

blood count has been low. I would call the doctor's office, and not

wait for them to call you. My rheumy took me off the med for

awhile. Keep us posted, Tawny

>

> Well I took 12.5 mg of methotrexate just once and got terribly ill

and

> exhausted. So one week later I went and had my bloodwork drawn and

my

> white blood count is down to 2.5 and normal on my test sheet is 4.0

or

> above.

>

> Has anyone else had this happen and what did your doc have you to

do?

> I didn't take it this week since I take it on Monday and I will

still

> ill that day and my counts being down I didn't know what to do. I

> should hear from my doc tomorrow about my bloodwork.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply . Unfortunatly I can't take any of the

bioligics because I have Mixed connective tissue disease which for me

is RA and Lupus. My doc said the bioligics can cause the Lupus to

get worse. Guess we will see what he wants to do next.

>

> > Well I took 12.5 mg of methotrexate just once and got terribly

ill and

> > exhausted. So one week later I went and had my bloodwork drawn

and my

> > white blood count is down to 2.5 and normal on my test sheet is

4.0 or

> > above.

> >

> > Has anyone else had this happen and what did your doc have you to

do?

> > I didn't take it this week since I take it on Monday and I will

still

> > ill that day and my counts being down I didn't know what to do. I

> > should hear from my doc tomorrow about my bloodwork.

>

[Guest guest]

hi katie

are you taking flolic acid? also ask for folinic acid. they give it to

cancer patients on much larger doses of mtx than RA patients get. helps

with side effects. take both. the folinic acid is by rx from your doc

and taken once per week. folic acid you buy at health food store and

take 1 mg per day.

also milk thistle will regulate your liver enzymes.

monique

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I guess docs may be diffrent but I'm taking Folic Acid because I'm on

MTX but I take the Folic Acid once a day (1 MG)per prescription and the

MTX is just once a week. Others may have a different routine.

Bob

--- In , Sauve <moniquesauve@...>

wrote:

>

> hi katie

>

> are you taking flolic acid? also ask for folinic acid. they give it

to

> cancer patients on much larger doses of mtx than RA patients get.

helps

> with side effects. take both. the folinic acid is by rx from your doc

> and taken once per week. folic acid you buy at health food store and

> take 1 mg per day.

> also milk thistle will regulate your liver enzymes.

>

> monique

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

I saw my consultant yesterday and have to start methotrexate but she told me to

take the folic acid two days after the methotrexate. I hope that this helps

x

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[Guest guest]

for ppl with side effects to mtx my rheumy adds folinic acid by

prescription once weekly IN ADDITION to the folic acid to prevent bad

side effects.

Hi ,

I guess docs may be diffrent but I'm taking Folic Acid because I'm on

MTX but I take the Folic Acid once a day (1 MG)per prescription and the

MTX is just once a week. Others may have a different routine.

Bob

[Guest guest]

--- In , Sauve <moniquesauve@...>

wrote:

>

> for ppl with side effects to mtx my rheumy adds folinic acid by

> prescription once weekly IN ADDITION to the folic acid to prevent bad

> side effects.

>

Ahh.... Got it. LOL! I just thought you had a spellcheck

malfunction. I learned something new today.

Bob