Guest guest Posted June 16, 1999 Report Share Posted June 16, 1999 , I am so glad you told me about the folic acid. I had no idea. I will stop taking it on Sunday nights when I take my MTX. I'm going to discuss this with my doctors at Stanford next month. I can't believe they didn't tell me about this problem. I was sorry to hear all of your problems. I feel so badly for you and your family. Keep me posted. You are in my prayers. Take care and God bless you! Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 1999 Report Share Posted June 18, 1999 Dear Amy, you are in my prayers always. It has been great supporting each other this way for my morale. My doc did say that if you needed to take the folic acid on the day of your methotrexate that it would have to be timed carefully both before and after needing a several hour window so as to not negate some of the action of the methotrexate. Interesting to note that the Arava , though it is the same class as Methotrexate.. an antimetabolite, it doesn't cause mouth sores or bone marrow suppression, so there is no need to use the Folic Acid! Let me know how it goes with your appointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 1999 Report Share Posted June 18, 1999 Hi, Good luck with the appointment! I just thought I'd mention a few things. I've been through methotrexate therapy before and didn't tolerate it well. It's taken me a while to find a therapy that works well and I'm almost in complete remission, it just took time. Make sure your doctor has you biopsied at least once a year (it doesn't hurt). If taking the pill form of MTX is too expensive or if it upsets your stomach, MTX is available in an injectable form that is cheaper and doesn't bother your stomach too much. I hope it's the treatment for you and good luck again! See ya in remission, Chad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 1999 Report Share Posted August 1, 1999 --- Lee Ann Walter <SAWalter@...> wrote: > From: " Lee Ann Walter " <SAWalter@...> > > Hi Annette! > My Doc. plans on starting me at 7mg of MTX a week > plus the folic > acid. What is the folic acid for anyway? Hi Lee Ann Someone else may have a more specific reply but I believe the folic acid simply helps with some of the side effects of Methotrexate(MTX). I suffered from mouth sores at first(and still do occasionally) but went up to 3 folic acid tabs a day and it has helped a lot. 7 mg of MTX is a very low dose, I'm on 17.5, so hopefully you won't have any problems. === C McCullough thelockhorns@... _____________________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 1999 Report Share Posted August 2, 1999 > Someone else may have a more specific reply but I > believe the folic acid simply helps with some of the > side effects of Methotrexate(MTX). I suffered from > mouth sores at first(and still do occasionally) but > went up to 3 folic acid tabs a day and it has helped a > lot. 7 mg of MTX is a very low dose, I'm on 17.5, so > hopefully you won't have any problems. That what the doctors told me. Folic acid counters the side effects, specifically the mouth sores/ulcers. I guess I have been lucky. I'm on 20mg MTX per week and 5mg folic acid per day and have had no mouth ulcer problems. Cheers Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 --- Lee Ann Walter <SAWalter@...> wrote: > Does any one know how much Folic acid a day is safe? > I am on 1mg a day right now. Hi Lee Ann I'm on 3mg a day and have been told that up to 5mg is okay. === C McCullough thelockhorns@... __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 Lee Ann Walter wrote: > > Does any one know how much Folic acid a day is safe? I am on 1mg a > day right now. Lee Ann, I'm on 1 mg a day also. Marsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 Lee Ann, Try adding L-Lysine, one tablet a day for maintenance, if having an occurance, take 6 per day......for cold sores.... My daughter's doc gave her this advice.. Ellen http://www.a-better-way.com/naturalherbs A better way Herbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 At 09:16 PM 9/2/1999 -0400, you wrote: >From: opaoma <opaoma@...> > >Lee Ann Walter wrote: >> >> Does any one know how much Folic acid a day is safe? I am on 1mg a >> day right now. > >Lee Ann, >I'm on 1 mg a day also. >Marsha FWIW, I was reading a blurb in the PDR about a particular prescription vitamin that had 1 mg of folic acid. It had a warning in it that said, " folic acid in doses above o.1 mg daily may obscure pernicious anemia in that hematologic remission can occur while neurological manifestations remain progressive. " (p. 3170 1999 PDR, Vicon Forte vitamin supplement.) Beyond that, I don't know if there is any other danger to taking folic acid. You might consider checking to see if taking it as " folate " is safer. I don't know if it is, but many of the nutrients we need in small amounts become toxic in larger amounts like Vit A and E, but are safe if taken in a different form, such as betacarotene for Vit A. With betacarotene, the body makes as much Vit A as it needs and discards the rest. I'm wondering if there's another form of folic acid that is safe like that. Just a thought. Kathy Fowkes fowkes@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 Lee Ann Walter wrote: > > Does any one know how much Folic acid a day is safe? I am on 1mg a > day right now. Lee Ann, I'm on 1 mg a day also. Marsha<<< Does it depend on how much MTX you re taking? And isn't the folic acid suppose to prevent the clod sores? Lee Ann --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- ATTENTION ONElist MEMBERS: Get your ONElist news! Join our MEMBER NEWSLETTER here: <a href= " http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/newsletter2 " >Click Here</a> ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Please visit our new web page at: http://www.wpunj.edu/icip/pa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 1999 Report Share Posted September 3, 1999 <!doctype html public " -//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en " > <html> I take 2.5 mg a day, and it is useful for both the mtx and my PCOS. & nbsp; I don't take it on weekends, when I take my mtx. <p>Janet <br> & nbsp; <br> & nbsp;</html> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 1999 Report Share Posted September 3, 1999 Lee Ann Walter wrote: > > Does any one know how much Folic acid a day is safe? I am on 1 mg a > day right now. >>Does it depend on how much MTX you re taking? And isn't the folic acid suppose to prevent the clod sores? Lee Ann<< Marsha and Lee Ann, I recently questioned my RD on this subject. She says if on a low dose of MTX, no more than 1 mg dly is needed. Anything more would counteract the effect of MTX. Increase to 2 mg only if mouth sores are present except on MTX day and day after. Catja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 1999 Report Share Posted September 3, 1999 I believe folic acid is one of those vitamins that is just excreted in excess. our office puts certain pregnant moms on 4 mg per day with no side effects.--Alysia Lee Ann Walter wrote: > Does any one know how much Folic acid a day is safe? I am on 1mg a > day right now. I > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 1999 Report Share Posted September 3, 1999 <!doctype html public " -//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en " > <html> " folic acid in doses above o.1 mg daily may obscure pernicious anemia in <br>that hematologic remission can occur while neurological manifestations <br>remain progressive. " <p>Now can someone translate this for me?? <p>Janet</html> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 1999 Report Share Posted September 4, 1999 At 09:44 PM 9/3/1999 -0230, you wrote: ><!doctype html public " -//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en " > ><html> > " folic acid in doses above o.1 mg daily may obscure pernicious anemia in ><br>that hematologic remission can occur while neurological manifestations ><br>remain progressive. " ><p>Now can someone translate this for me?? ><p>Janet</html> I had to really think about it too! :-) From what I can figure based on root words and such, it looks like it's saying that if you have anemia, the folic acid in doses of 1 mg or larger can mask the anemia when the usual bloodtest is given to prove that it's there, making it look like the anemia is better, when in fact it's still there and progressing, and still causing problems. If there were any other contraindications for folic acid, I'm sure it would have been listed, so unless you have anemia, I wouldn't worry about it. :-) Kathy Fowkes fowkes@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 1999 Report Share Posted September 4, 1999 LeeAnn, My doctor allows up to 5 mg a day six days a week of Folic Acid to keep the mouth sores. He has one patient who needs the full five to get rid of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 1999 Report Share Posted September 4, 1999 It means that if you have pernicious anemia (which results in a low hematocrit) taking Folic Acid (which increases the hematocrit) would mask your illness. Since we do not have the pernicious anemia we do not have to worry. We get a boost from the folic acid because the side effect from Methotrexate is also bone marrow supression - which results in a lower red blood cell count and lower hematocrit. Taking folic acid can keep us from getting anemic too!!! It works really well for me personally! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 1999 Report Share Posted September 4, 1999 Catja848@... wrote: > > From: Catja848@... > > > > Lee Ann Walter wrote: > > > > Does any one know how much Folic acid a day is safe? I am on > 1 mg a > > day right now. > > >>Does it depend on how much MTX you re taking? And isn't the > folic acid suppose to prevent the clod sores? > Lee Ann<< > > Marsha and Lee Ann, I recently questioned my RD on this subject. She > says if on a low dose of MTX, no more than 1 mg dly is needed. Anything more > would counteract the effect of MTX. Increase to 2 mg only if mouth sores are > present except on MTX day and day after. Catja > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2000 Report Share Posted March 13, 2000 I always get an Upset Stomach if I DO NOT take my Folic Acid. [ ] folic acid From: PBias@... Has anyone ever gotten upset stomach after taking folic acid? I never seem to remember to take the folic acid but on the rare occassion that I do I get an upset feeling. Maybe that is why I don't remember to take it? Pat B ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 0.0% Intro APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW! 1/975/1/_/494167/_/952960535/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit our new web page at: http://www.wpunj.edu/icip/pa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2000 Report Share Posted March 13, 2000 Dear , I also get an upset stomach if I forget to take my folic acid; at the beginning, it happened to me quite often; now I think I got used to it. I put the bottle on my kitchen table not to forget it next to the pepper mill because I have to take it 3 times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sometimes I am asking myself : Which day is it today, I get mix up, but it is quite an habit by now. I always see the bottle and it really helps me. Take care. Jocelyne Harper wrote: From: Harper <AHarper@...> I always get an Upset Stomach if I DO NOT take my Folic Acid. [ ] folic acid From: PBias@... Has anyone ever gotten upset stomach after taking folic acid? I never seem to remember to take the folic acid but on the rare occassion that I do I get an upset feeling. Maybe that is why I don't remember to take it? Pat B ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 0.0% Intro APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW! 1/975/1/_/494167/_/952960535/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit our new web page at: http://www.wpunj.edu/icip/pa Enter: Please visit our new web page at: http://www.wpunj.edu/icip/pa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2000 Report Share Posted June 23, 2000 Amy: Tell me more, please. I am taking Folic Acid because my Dr. said I needed to because I was taking MTX. I am injecting 10ml MTX weekly. Please give me more info. Thanks Patty from Missouri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2000 Report Share Posted June 25, 2000 Patty from Missouri, I take two folic acids a day. They have helped so much with hair loss and the scalp burning I have from the MTX. Now, I'm no expert, so I'm sure that others can give you more scientific information, but it's changed my life. Why we don't take folic acid on the MTX day has something to do with it altering the effectiveness of the MTX. Others in the group advised me and when I asked my doctors about it, they said they agreed with the group. , the group founder is on vacation, but she has helped me more than I can say. Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2000 Report Share Posted September 8, 2000 In a message dated 9/5/00 2:17:21 AM Pacific Daylight Time, egroups writes: Hi all, The folic acid is a methotrexate antidote so to speak. When you take it , it stops the action of the methotrexate. That is why the doc usually says NOT to take it on the day you take your Metho shot or pills. The Metho can help tremendously with the mouth sores, fatigue, anemia and is well worth taking. I have heard reported doses of anywhere from 1-5 mg per day for six days a week from friends on the list over the years. It is pretty cheap, but somehow you need a prescription anyway to get the 1 mg pills-the healthfood stores have it around here-but in much smaller doses-so you would be taking three pills to make up for 1 mg-pretty bad if you already take a few dozen pills a day to deal with, so I asked for the prescription. It was and is not reimbursable, but at least it is in the higher dose and is a teeny pill too. I personally endorse taking it -- at least 1 mg six days a week for everyone taking methotrexate right away! It can only help, and I am unaware of any side effects from that small a dose, just good effects! Join the Mailing List website for Psoriatic Arthritis by going to and sign up expertly for . We now have over 350 members globally! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2000 Report Share Posted September 9, 2000 My folic acid is covered by my insurance. Also, my Rheum, explained to me the reasoning larger doses of Folic Acid is by prescription is because, it will mask certain illnesses in elderly people. Becky [ ] Re:Folic Acid It was and is not reimbursable, but at least it is in the higher dose and is a teeny pill too. I personally endorse taking it -- at least 1 mg six days a week for everyone taking methotrexate right away! It can only help, and I am unaware of any side effects from that small a dose, just good effects! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2000 Report Share Posted September 11, 2000 , please let me know if you get an answer to your question regarding the ratio of folic to B12. I currently take 10 mg/day of b-12 (hydroxycobalamin) IM injections and about 1 mg./day average of folic acid but I have no idea what the proper ratio should be. Thanks, Steve Bullock Folic Acid > > Is anyone using a good folic acid that they could recommend? And do you know > what the ratio should be for B12 to Folic Acid? I am taking B12 injections > twice a week but I am not taking Folic Acid, I just found out that I most > likely should be taking Folic Acid to balance out the B12. Thanks, > > This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.