Re: RESEARCH - Reducing toxicity of MTX with folic acid

[Guest guest]

Thanks for another interesting article. My Rheumy put me on 1mg

of folic acid every day EXCEPT the day I take the MTX and aside from a

little hair loss, I've not had any adverse side effects from the MTX.

Just helps to reinforce my comfort level with my Rheumy.....Doreen

>

> [Reducing toxicity of methotrexate with folic acid]

>

> CONCLUSION: Both folate and folinic acid reduce methotrexate

> toxicity and the discontinuation rate, and decrease methotrexate-

> induced hyperhomocysteinemia. Folate is less expensive, more secure

> and easier to handle than folinic acid. The efficacy of

> methotrexate probably decreases slightly, but the benefit outweighs

> the risk. Folate supplementation should, therefore, be routinely

> prescribed to every patient taking low-dose methotrexate.

>

>

> PMID: 15965822

>

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15965822

>

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Thanks for another interesting article. My Rheumy put me on 1mg

> of folic acid every day EXCEPT the day I take the MTX and aside from a

> little hair loss, I've not had any adverse side effects from the MTX.

> Just helps to reinforce my comfort level with my Rheumy.....Doreen

>

Interesting, Doreen. I'm taking the Folic Acid (1MG) every day,

including the day I take MTX. I wonder if there's a concern that the

Folic Acid somehow affects the effectiveness of the MTX when taken

close together. At least on the day I take the MTX the Folic Acid is

in the AM and the MTX is taken in the PM. I think this is the first

time I heard of this practice. Thanks.

Bob

[Guest guest]

Bob,

In the conclusion of this abstract, the authors state: " The efficacy

of methotrexate probably decreases slightly, but the benefit outweighs

the risk. " There is some concern about reducing the efficacy of MTX

with folate supplementation, but many rheumatologists don't think it's

a big deal. Those who think it's a more serious concern recommend

supplementation with folates on days other than the day on which MTX

is taken.

MTX is an antifolate agent, but there is evidence that it works in

rheumatoid arthritis due to other mechanisms.

In the US, I think the most common protocol is 1 mg of folic acid

every day. Some rheumatologists advise 1 mg every day except for MTX

day. Some recommend other amounts on every day or every day but MTX

day. In the UK, some rheumatologists recommend 5 mg once a week, but

not on MTX day. Others prescribe folinic acid instead of folic acid.

And so on.

As you probably gather from the above, there is no universal standard.

Not an MD

On Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 12:17 PM, fullwave2 <w8nyy.1@...> wrote:

> Interesting, Doreen. I'm taking the Folic Acid (1MG) every day,

> including the day I take MTX. I wonder if there's a concern that the

> Folic Acid somehow affects the effectiveness of the MTX when taken

> close together. At least on the day I take the MTX the Folic Acid is

> in the AM and the MTX is taken in the PM. I think this is the first

> time I heard of this practice. Thanks.

> Bob

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob - from what I understand, MTX can cause a folic acid deficiency

which is why they recommend taking it. However, folic acid can reduce

the efficacy of MTX which is why my Rheumy told me not to take it on

the day of MTX therapy. He also recommended that I not take any other

supplements on the day of MTX therapy for the same reason. I hope this

makes sense..........Doreen

> Interesting, Doreen. I'm taking the Folic Acid (1MG) every day,

> including the day I take MTX. I wonder if there's a concern that the

> Folic Acid somehow affects the effectiveness of the MTX when taken

> close together. At least on the day I take the MTX the Folic Acid is

> in the AM and the MTX is taken in the PM. I think this is the first

> time I heard of this practice. Thanks.

> Bob

>

[Guest guest]

Doreen - It does make sense (and sorry for calling you Mimi in the

other reply - must be getting very tired). Thanks!

Bob

>

> > Interesting, Doreen. I'm taking the Folic Acid (1MG) every day,

> > including the day I take MTX. I wonder if there's a concern that the

> > Folic Acid somehow affects the effectiveness of the MTX when taken

> > close together. At least on the day I take the MTX the Folic Acid is

> > in the AM and the MTX is taken in the PM. I think this is the first

> > time I heard of this practice. Thanks.

> > Bob

> >

>

[Guest guest]

hello, i also take mtx & do not take folic acid on the same day, due to it

causes the med to not work right.

god bless,melynda gamez

[ ] Re: RESEARCH - Reducing toxicity of MTX with folic acid

Hi Bob - from what I understand, MTX can cause a folic acid deficiency

which is why they recommend taking it. However, folic acid can reduce

the efficacy of MTX which is why my Rheumy told me not to take it on

the day of MTX therapy. He also recommended that I not take any other

supplements on the day of MTX therapy for the same reason. I hope this

makes sense...........Doreen

> Interesting, Doreen.  I'm taking the Folic Acid (1MG) every day,

> including the day I take MTX.  I wonder if there's a concern that the

> Folic Acid somehow affects the effectiveness of the MTX when taken

> close together.  At least on the day I take the MTX the Folic Acid is

> in the AM and the MTX is taken in the PM.  I think this is the first

> time I heard of this practice.  Thanks.

> Bob

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

I guess I don't hear these things or just miss them. I take 2 or 3 mg Folic

acid every day, MTX or no. I've never been warned of any of these things and

I don't think it's affecting me.I guess I'm missing something (not unusual).

Dennis in eastexas

On Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 8:30 PM, Melynda Gamez <melyndagamez@...>wrote:

> hello, i also take mtx & do not take folic acid on the same day, due to

> it causes the med to not work right.

> god bless,melynda gamez

>

>

> [ ] Re: RESEARCH - Reducing toxicity of MTX with folic

> acid

>

> Hi Bob - from what I understand, MTX can cause a folic acid deficiency

> which is why they recommend taking it. However, folic acid can reduce

> the efficacy of MTX which is why my Rheumy told me not to take it on

> the day of MTX therapy. He also recommended that I not take any other

> supplements on the day of MTX therapy for the same reason. I hope this

> makes sense...........Doreen

>

>

>

> > Interesting, Doreen. I'm taking the Folic Acid (1MG) every day,

> > including the day I take MTX. I wonder if there's a concern that the

> > Folic Acid somehow affects the effectiveness of the MTX when taken

> > close together. At least on the day I take the MTX the Folic Acid is

> > in the AM and the MTX is taken in the PM. I think this is the first

> > time I heard of this practice. Thanks.

> > Bob

> >

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

both of the rheumies i've add agree that taking mtx on same day as folic

acid is no problem. they said the great thing re it is it does not

interfere with efficacy of mtx but does reduce some of negative side

effects with it. folinic acid even moreso. and that is taken only 1x per

week - 12 h after mtx.

monique

I guess I don't hear these things or just miss them. I take 2 or 3 mg Folic

acid every day, MTX or no. I've never been warned of any of these things and

I don't think it's affecting me.I guess I'm missing something (not unusual).

Dennis in eastexas

[Guest guest]

Hello; me too. I take it 12 hrs. after my MTX injection. Barbara

>

> > Interesting, Doreen. I'm taking the Folic Acid (1MG) every day,

> > including the day I take MTX. I wonder if there's a concern that

the

> > Folic Acid somehow affects the effectiveness of the MTX when taken

> > close together. At least on the day I take the MTX the Folic Acid

is

> > in the AM and the MTX is taken in the PM. I think this is the first

> > time I heard of this practice. Thanks.

> > Bob

> >

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>