Hi everyone: I'm on my second week of MTX. I've noticed that I'm not sleeping well at night. This has progress to the point where I'm only getting about 15 mins per hour through the night. This is on top of extreme fatigue during the day. Has anyone else experience this. Is there a solution?
Jan

hi Jan,

as Lyn has said ... yes i definately feel Methotrexate has affected my sleep ... and i have scrolled back in the Drugs Section and started a Thread on it on 18th September.

i said then that i am not a good sleeper anyway and have had to take a sleeping tablet for many years but that gave me enough sleep to feel refreshed and able to face the day.

since my post i am now also on one Anti-Depressant to take alongside my sleeping tablet, i really didn't want to but my GP said they aren't addictive and my quality of life was being affected.

this has helped but i'm not back to where i was before starting Methotrexate.

my Consultant, Rheumy Nurse and GP have all said there is no known side affect, but that's not to say it isn't affecting me.

i will be coming off Methotrexate as it hasn't worked for me and going onto Anti-TNF, but my Rheumy Nurse said last month they would call this a " fail " anyway as it has been logged everytime i see them about my lack of sleep, ( i have also failed on Hydroxy ) you have to fail on two DMARD's before being considered for Anti-TNF.

i don't get pain at night i can get comfy in bed, if you aren't worrying about anything else then i feel you should have this logged by your Rheumy Department and i would go along and see your GP.

do let us know how you get on,

hope this helps.

Suzanne x

Thanks everyone for your speedy responses. I did manage to get an emergency apt with a GP at my surgery. She gave me a script for sleeping pills and a sick note for two weeks. I want to keep on the MTX to at least see if this will pass and if there will be an improvement in the RA symptoms. I also came of the ibuprophen as it increases the toxicity of MTX. I had such an awful day and night. My husband travels with work and I don't have any other support so it is a bit of a worry being on my own. It is always difficult to get a solid nights sleep but it has been gradually decreasing since changing my meds. Fingers crossed it will settle down. I just have to phone work and give them the bad news! Thanks so much for your support--it means a lot. Jan

Hi Jan

You mentioned you were taking ibuprofen as well. That can make people not sleep (along with Volterol). I never take them after 6 pm or I end up awake most of the night.

I failed on MTX as it made me so ill and sick!

Anne