|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 103
|
Hi,Saw the rheumy consultant today and she has added MXT and Folic Acid to the Hydroxy I'm already taking and I'm wondering how fast any side effects can kick in with the MXT.  I'm not too happy about taking it as I thought the Hydroxy was working OK.I will start with a low dose which I think is 2.5mg once a week and 3 folic acid tablets the following day.I'm still on one prednisolone tablet for the next two weeks plus Omeprazole stomach protector and I'm wondering if it's OK to take all the tablets at the same time.Once I've finished the Prednisolone she said I can stop the Omeprazole.I have to get a blood test done every two weeks for a month then one done monthly after that.Is that the usual procedure once starting on MXT?I'll be going on holiday soon so just hope I don't get the sickness that usually comes with taking this drug.I did read that taking a yoghurt drink after the MXT can help with nausea.Can anyone recommend that? Brenda.
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
|
Hi Brenda,
I'm Lorna Ive had RA for almost 3 years now, I also take Hydroxchloroquine, Methotrexate, and Folic acid, I used to take Sulphasalazine too but Ive improved and that one has been stopped. It usually takes 12 weeks to kick in properly, but makes a huge difference, It affects everyone differently. I take it on a Saturday evening and Sunday I can sometimes feel tired or sickly, but it does not last I'm fine on Monday. In the evening I feel works better as your asleep when other side affects may bother you. You may also be affected by sunlight I was when I took it through the day. I took my other tablets together after breakfast. Hope MTX agrees with you. Take care and look after yourself. Lorna x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
|
Hi Brenda,
As far as the bloods go, I used to be weekly then fortnightly, now I'm monthly, it will show quickly if it does not agree with you. Lorna x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
|
Hi Brenda,
I don't think the 2.5mg dose will give you much in the way of side effects, how long will you stay on that dose?
It's a good idea to take the mtx in the evening then if you do feel sick you can sleep through the worst of it.
The blood tests sound about right, but I am quite concerned when you say you have to take 3 folic acid tabs on one day. Most of us just take one a day, on however many days we are told to take them.
I always have a yogurt drink straight after the mtx ( I take them with a glass of water) .I do still quite often feel sick about an hour later but I am on 15mg, and I find I am better when I have the yogurt than I am without it.
I hope you find the mtx helps you, good luck with it,
Doreen xx
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
|
Hi Brenda,
I take a similar combination of drugs and the only ones you need to take at different times are the Hydroxy and Omeprazole. I take my Omep in the morning and Hydroxy at night.
Joanna
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
|
Hi Brenda - I didn't have any side effects at all when I started on 15mg - I was very lucky - but you will see from other comments on the forum - we all react very differently. I'm on 25mg now and I know this might sound strange but if I do get any queasiness - I have something to nibble - like a plain biscuit or something. I only get really sickly if I haven't had enough to eat. Hope it goes well so you will be able to take them on holiday with confidence.
Julie
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
|
I only take 5mgs MTX with my Humira. I take it on Friday afetr my tea and then nibble little bits regularly. I haven't had much sickness at all. It's best if you try not to think about it and occupy yourself with something. I always take mine wih a large glass of water. Then I take one folic acid tablet on the Saturday. I don't think 2.5 mgs will give you many problems. YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
|
I can`t add much to what`s been said except that I was told to take my omeprazole first thing in the morning, preferably about 30 mins before breakfast. I was told one tablet of folic acid on the days I took it, but there seems to be a wide variation on the folic acid dosing - lots of people have been told different things. I never felt much sickness on MTX until I reached about 20 mgs, and I always took mine at night. Take care, Kathleen x
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 351
|
I've taken MTX for nearly 30 years. For me its been very good. I take it after my main meal in the evening once a week and don't suffer any sickness or other side effects. Over the years, I've found swallowing the copious amounts of water to be more nauseating than the drugs! I take 5mg Folic Acid once a week, not every day, but for about 28 years didn't take it at all, not because I refused, but because my Rheumy's never thought I needed it. As Doreen says, 2.5mg is a low dose, you don't mean 12.5mg? I also take Prednisolone, Omeprazole & HCQ, plus a few others. Hopefully you'll be one of the fortunate ones not to suffer side effects and find MTX as benefical as lots of others. Carol
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
|
Hello,
I am not on mtx now but had 3 trials last year on it. The only reason I came off was because my liver
played up each time. But I did not have any side effects .
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 103
|
Hi everyone,More mix up with my new meds. The rheumy consultant said she would start me off on a low dose of MTX but when I finally collected the prescription it's 6 x 2.5 mg a week(15mg in total) and 3 Folic Acid. Not too happy about it as I thought I would be starting on a very low dose and gradually increasing as time went by.The pharmasist wouldn't let me have the Prednisolone which was on the prescription as the consultant had put 'Pred' and not the full name 'Prednisolone' so I had to go back to my GP's surgery to get yet another prescription wrote out.Collected that this morning only to find out the wrong amount had been put on there too so I have to go back to the surgery this afternoon to see another GP to get the prescription changed.  Plus I have been given just four weeks of MTX and Folic Acid because I should see the rheumy nurse at the end of that time but no appointment with her is available until July 28th.I guess I will have to try and speak to her on the phone before I run out of the meds.I've spent three days running around trying to sort out this new prescription and it's still not right.Talk about feeling stressed out!!! Brenda.
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
|
When you see a doc this afternoon check the mtx dosage. AS when i had it i had to gradully get to the 6 tablets.
Not take the 6 tablets in 1 go. That was just last year. I would check it. x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
|
Hi Brenda
I think you are wise to check out the mtx dose.
HOWEVER, the thinking now in lots of places is to start new patients off at a fairly high dose of MTX, as this can be more effective than slowly increasing the dose over the weeks. Apparently, it seems to slow down the progression of the RA more effectively than increasing the dose slowly
Please try not to worry too much. The medics will keep a very close eye on your bloods etc for the first few weeks and months.
Take care
Love Jeanxxxxx
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
|
Hi Brenda,
Sorry to hear you are being mucked about and hope you manage to get the meds you need. I started on 15mg Methotrexate straight away and must say that it took a few weeks to kick in but worked very well for me for a long time (no side effects). I have been on various doses of it for nearly 4 years now and the GPs will only ever give me 4 weeks supply at any one time. It's just a policy they have. I agree with Jean that although it sounds a drastic dose at first, the blood tests they do are very thorough and if it was affecting you badly they would be able to tell. Good luck.
Julie
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
|
Hi Brenda,
I started off on 3 MTX along with 1 Sulfazalazine and 1 Hydrox. At that time I was olso on Melexicam and Omeprozole and folic acid. I increased gradually, think you are definitely better to check the dose you have been given. Good luck hope they work for you. Lorna x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009 Posts: 653 Location: Notts
|
Hi there
I hope the MTX works well for you. When I was on 25mg I had no side effec ts at all, but everyone is different.
Lyn
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
