Starting Methotrexate....eeeek?

[artsyamerican]

Well...Sulfasalazine tanked...so now my Rheumy is going to try Methotrexate....I'm scared...but having been in so much pain....I am more enthusiastic hoping this will be the one!  Anyone else on Methotrexate?

[sewandsew]

I've been on it for four weeks and finally seeing improvement.  It was tough not having anti-inflammatories but I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I, too, was scared.  The bit of relief has sent the "scare" off.  Good luck and I hope it helps you.

[artsyamerican]

Thank you! Did you have many side effects? I like the fact you only have to take it 3x a week!

[sewandsew]

artsyamerican

I have not noticed any side effects.  None.  I see the rheumy tomorrow and had a blood test last week.  I guess they have to monitor your liver.

Why do you take B-12?  I take it too for the low white count.

What kind of art work do you do?  (from your name I assumed you were an artist)

[love2teach]

I have taken methotrexate for about one year without any side effects. I only take it 1x per week. My rheumy is currently reducing my dose in hopes of taking me off it. I started taking Methotrexate to help reduce the 60 mg per day of prednisone I was on.  I also take 400 mg. of Plaquenil.

Best wishes,
Carol

[Carebear]

Dear Artsy,

Don't be afraid. I've taken Methotrexate for three months now, and I feel better than I have in years.  The side effects for the first few weeks were mild...just a small loss of appetite.  It has changed my life for sure.

You will hear from others who did not however have the same experience.  We are all different.  But remember that Methotrexate is the Gold Standard treatment for RA.  It is by far the most safely used and beneficial medication of all the DMARDs, outside of Plaquenil.

Good luck.  Let us know how things go.

[kim31072]

I have been on it for 4 months and have had no ill side effects.

I take a daily vitamin that has folic acid(which helps cut down on the side effects some experience-some rheumys offer prescription strength-mine did but I decided to see if OTC was enough first)

I take it once a week and I chose  friday night and dont plan much of anything for the next day or two as one of the side effects can be nausea/tiredness.

So far I have done well and am pleased.

Rheumy said it is one of the meds that most people call about because they get NO side effects so they think its not working at all.

I hope it works as well for you as it has for me.

I previously tried Imuran and Arava and both didnt work out for me-the Imuran made me violently ill after about 2 months and I got no reduction in labs or symptoms with the arava so I was eager to switch.

[eyeamdry]

i posted a long answer and it went cyber-crazy.  So, yes I've taken it for 5 years with no side effects.  Lucy

[artsyamerican]

Thanks to all of you that shared your experiences with Methotrexate.....today I started my second weekly dose and so far so good.  I've been having weird gland hurty (lol) things going on ...but that could just be from the Sjogrens in general.  I can't believe how much better I feel - joint wise and brain fog wise (I hope its not the placebo effect!) But I guess my body has been so weighted down with inflammation that any little bit helps! So between the Methotrexate, Folic Acid, and my new low carb/no sugar diet - I'm feeling pretty darn good! Yipee!!

[gold55]

Hi,
My Mom has RA, secondary SJS and Myasthenia Gravis.  Methotrexate has been a life saver for her!!!  She takes 10 pills on Sunday and by Monday evening she is up and running and good for the week!!  When she was hospitalized after a fall, the hospital failed to transpose her Methotrexate meds to her electronic file which resulted in no Methotrexate for 2 weeks!!!!!!   Ay yay yay..............it was horrible!!!  Her entire body felt like it was on fire!!!  It wasn't until we got her into skilled nursing that a nurse reviewed her meds with me and commented that Methotrexate wasn't in her hospital file!!!!!  I thought she was going down hill......none of the docs knew what to do about her pain, etc etc ...... it was a horrific mistake!!!   What I'm really trying to say is she's had no side effects and she cannot function without her Methotrexate!  She's been on it for ~3 years or so.  Wishing you a good result with this med!

[TripleC]

Thanks to all of you that shared your experiences with Methotrexate.....today I started my second weekly dose and so far so good.  I've been having weird gland hurty (lol) things going on ...but that could just be from the Sjogrens in general.  I can't believe how much better I feel - joint wise and brain fog wise (I hope its not the placebo effect!) But I guess my body has been so weighted down with inflammation that any little bit helps! So between the Methotrexate, Folic Acid, and my new low carb/no sugar diet - I'm feeling pretty darn good! Yipee!!

You are same as me... I just did my 2nd dose of Methotrexate on 12/19 with a daily dose of Folic Acid.  I will change my diet after Xmas.   So far no side affects.