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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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Hi all - would be grateful for advice on the situation I'm in - I think it's only me that can complicate things in this way  I ordered my Mtx prescription for today but couldn't collect it until after work and had picked Jim up from school. I take 10 tablets each week, normally at lunch time on Tuesdays. As I had 5 left, I took them at lunch time today, thinking I would take the other 5 now. However, got to the doctors and there is a sign on the door to say they are closed for staff training!  The receptionist omitted to mention this to me when she told me my prescription would be ready on Tuesday. The earliest now I can get the tablets is around 6.30pm tomorrow as I am working late (also have appointment with orthotics in the morning so can't take any more time off work tomorrow). The question is - do I take the rest of the tablets tomorrow when I can get them? I thought the point of MTX was that you had a 'blast' all on the same day. Don't know if it would be bad for me to take them on 2 consecutive days????? I wish I hadn't taken any - I could have just delayed the whole dose until tomorrow if I had known. I've phoned the rheumy helpline but it says that they will respond in 24 to 48 hours - ooops. Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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I think if it was me i would take them tomorrow now Julie. Can't be helped. YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/26/2010
Posts: 271
Location: hampshire
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Hi Julie, what a pain for you! Have you tried ringing nras helpline at all? Maybe they will have someone there you can speak to. Failing that what about NHS helpline?
good luck!
lots of love
Heatherxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Julie,
Like Julie, I too think I would just take the rest of the dose tomorrow, I don't think it would do any harm.
Could you ask at the surgery when you collect the prescription? Or at the chemists?
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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Hi julie,
I agree with the girls ... I'd take the other five tomorrow when you get them. I can't see how it would make a huge difference.
Joanna
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 714
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Julie
I would ask for professional advice. My Rheumy nurse told me you cannot take your Methotrexate earlier than 7 days but you can take it later. However, if you take the other half tomorrow, you will have to ask if you can then take your normal dose next Tuesday, (6 days).
I hope you let your doctors know the inconvenience and worry it has caused you.
Take care.
Jackie
xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 327
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I'd get professional advice, Julie. And if the worst comes to the worst and you don't take them tomorrow I don't think missing half a dose for one week will be too harmful. good luck. Anthea x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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Thanks for the advice - the helpline didn't ring back today. I think I would just normally leave it and start on full dose next week and not worry about it. I'm only in a quandry because I don't want my blood results to be wonky as I have the second anti-tnf assessment on Monday. If I don't take them - it might make things look worse, If I do take them, it might make things look better than they are. C'est la vie - might just miss them and keep schtum (v naughty).
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 336
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Hi Julie, I don't think it will be a problem taking the other five tabs tomorrow. I am taking my MTX as a split dose four tabs on Tues and four on Sat, I've been doing it for three years. If this happened again you could have asked your regular chemist to loan you the tabs untill you pick up your prescription, I'm sure they would oblige you if you normaly pick it up from them. Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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I never thought of speaking to the chemist Glenys. It's reassuring to know that you can split the dose though. Thanks
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Julie The rules are: If taken orally, methotrexate may be taken all in one dose or split up and taken two or three times over a 24-hour period, once a week. For example, you can take it all on Monday morning or on Monday morning, Monday evening, and finally on Tuesday morning. The key thing is that the full dose is taken within a 24 hour period. I take mine in two lots to avoid side effects! Unlike the others, and from recent experience with mtx, I wouldn't continue the rest of the dose outside the 24 hour period. The amount you have taken will keep you ticking over for the next week without problems I suspect; the stuff stays in your system for weeks! I stopped mine about 6 weeks ago (due to neutropenia) and haven't had any problems yet, but sadly restart tomorrow. I don't think you need worry about blood results and anti tnf assessment for the time involved. Go with the flow it'll be right  Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Hello Julie oh deary,nope i would not take another 5 tomorrow id leave for next week at full dose as stays in system for while anyway wouldnt make any difference much to your assesment. silly doctors surgey for not telling you,youve ahd stressful time. ive had only half a dose one week due to running out and chemist short of supply didnt feel any different for change for 1 week more than that may have done. lv melly  cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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Thanks for the advice Lyn and Mel. Hope it goes ok with the restart of Methotrexate today Lyn. Are they taking blood tests soon to check for effects?
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Julie No blood tests for another three weeks, which I think is rather silly! You can't tell some people though can you? I didn't restart the mtx when I was told to but don't want to push my luck by leaving it any longer! If I start getting infections again I'll be straight back to the docs!! Thanks for asking Julie, Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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I think you are doing the right thing Lyn. It's a good job really looking at how long they were going to leave you without more blood tests. At least you will have only been on them for three weeks when you get tested. Hope things work out.
Have decided not to take rest of MTX. Helpline haven't phoned me back (quelle surprise) and I think I have a chest infection anyway.
Thanks for all your advice.
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Hi your welcome ps do get your chest infection checked out,take care feet up cup hot choccie. lv melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Julie I have occasionally missed my Methotrexate when I am going on holiday for up to two weeks and my bloods have not been affected. Im sure you will be ok, I do my own blood charts and they are always much the same whether Ive missed them or not. My Rheumatology doctor says 2 weeks is ok but not too leave it too long. Your usual chemist would be more than happy to help you out if you had asked them, I have also done that when my inhaler ran out. Hope your ok Lorna x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009 Posts: 653 Location: Notts
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I think it's correct what the others have told you. I'm surprised at your surgery not informing you of staff training, but you could have asked your pharmacist to let you have some tablets to tide you over. I did that a couple of weeks ago when forgot to put my repeat prescription in when going off on holiday. I just took my repeat prescription down to the pharmacy, and they gave me enough to last a week.
Lyn
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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How are you today, Julie?
I wasn't sure what to comment about the mtx dose as knowing myself I wouldn't have taken it!! LOL
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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Thanks for asking Amanda - I still have a dreadful cough but feel a bit better today thanks. I didn't take the rest of the metho. The helpline phoned back yesterday morning with a contact number but I was at work and felt it was a bit too late to take them 2 days later anyway. Typical of this disease though, my wrists and knees have been horribly swollen for about a month and now I'm going for the assessment on Monday - it all appears to be going down a bit today! We shall see.
I'm loving your blog and so glad that the midwife seems to be a nice approachable person. Have you managed to keep enough fluid down today? Are you back to schooling the children? I always have so many questions LOL.
Julie
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