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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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 Hi everyone. I am a newbie to nras. I have had RA for almost 9 years now. I have been on mtx all the time. At the start I was taking Hydroxy as well but stopped taking that when I experienced flashes in my eye. The hospital said to keep taking but I was scared so stopped. Just before Christmas 2010 I got a breathing problem and was told to stop meds. I had a CT scan, xray etc but it was decided not mtx. In the meantime had the biggest flare up by far. I couldn't do a thing. excruciating pain and depression. Doc said 23 joints were affected. I had high dose steroid injections on 3 consecutive days and suffered quite bad side effects but made me able to move again. I am now back on meds but have changed from 20mg injs to 20mg tablets because I lost confidence in injs. I am now doing well but my hair is coming out in handsful. It doesn't seem to be coming out from the roots but breaking off half way down. Does anyone else have this problem. Sorry this is so long winded but it is my first go
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/14/2011 Posts: 301 Location: South Hampshire
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Hi Sheila Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you are having so many problems at the moment. I had a problem with hair falling out on the MTX tablets and being very thin. It did break off a bit as well, but mainly it was from the roots. Maybe someone else will have had the same problem. I had to stop MTX because of all the other side effects. It's nice to hear that it worked for you for all that time - as I go to the hospital on Wednesday with my 22 year old to find out what treatment they will start her on! People do say the injections have less side effects than the tablets - but I am no expert on MTX. I'm on Leflunomide, sulfasalazine, prednisolone and Humira now - but still not totally sorted out yet! Anne 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/18/2010 Posts: 351 Location: Herne Bay Kent
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Hi Sheila
I too have experienced hair loss but it does seem to have slowed down a bit now. It does seem to be one of the side effects of methotrexate.
Best Wishes
Sue
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Sheila Ah yes flares ... does nature really have to go this far to make us slow down?! Its a real downer to be suffering with so many painful and tender joints at the same time. At least the steroid jabs helped and you were able to get mobile again. MTX is known to cause hair problems. I had this issue on 10mg but was advised to take zinc supplements which actually seemed to do the trick. Mine was mainly thinning from the roots though, which made it very thin. I then decided I would keep it short which at least helped it to look in better condition! 20mg is quite a high dose; if the hair problem persists you may need to mention it to the rheumatology nurse who may wish you to be considered for alternative treatment with less side effects. Good luck, hope it settles down. Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/5/2010 Posts: 364 Location: mid glamorgan
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Hi Sheila
Welcome to the forum,
I take 20 mg mtx tablets I used to have the injections but they were too toxic for me, but the tablets do seem to have more side effects, I know what you mean about your hair mine is breaking off and feels quite cotton wooly(the joys eh?). sorry that youve been having such a bad time lately hope things get better soon. Love Ceri xx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Anne_P
Thank you for the nice welcome. I do hope your 22 year old son/daughter gets his/her meds sorted out soon. It is terrible for a young person to get this awful illness.
Regards
Sheila G x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Sue 10
Thanks for comments. Might consider going back on injs if hair keeps falling out.
Regards
Sheila G x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi LynW
Thanks for your help. I will enquire about zinc at the chemist
Regards
Sheila G x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Ceri44
Thanks for comments. It helps to speak to someone who is experiencing the same thing even if nothing can be done.
Regards
Sheila G x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello and Welcome,
Welcome to the forum.
Sorry I cannot give you any advice myself on this subject but I believe it is a
side effect having your hair to thin/fall out. I was on mtx but had to stop it.
Keep posting and suggesdt you speak with your RA nurse
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 103
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Hi Sheila,
When I first started taking MTX I was also taking one Folic Acid a week.After a few weeks of starting MTX my hair started to come out,some from the roots and a lot breaking off halfway up the hair shaft.I mentioned it to the rheumy nurse and she suggested I upped the Folic Acid to four a week.I now take MTX on a Sat. and one Folic on Mon. Tues. Wed. and Thurs. The hair loss has now stopped and my hair has thickened up to how it used to be.So it may be worth you asking your rheumy nurse if increasing your Folic Acid may help your hair loss. Brenda.X
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Brenda
Thank you so much for that info. I was beginning to think I might have to change meds again. I am waiting a reply from my rheumy nurse so will ask about the folic acid.
Regards
Sheila x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Rose
Thanks for reply. It seems to be very common but I will ask rheumy nurse about increasing folic acid.
Regrds
Sheila x
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Rank: Newbie  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/11/2010 Posts: 2 Location: Bedfordshire
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Hi Sheila
Welcome to the forum.
Sorry to hear you've been struggling. I've gone through a bad patch with my meds but things seems to have calmed down again. I was started on Hydroxy but it never worked, so since January 2010 I take 12.5 of MTX and Folic Acid the day after. Late last year I noticed my hair breaking off and becoming thinner and hey I don't need to lose any more hair as mine is already fine. I know that hair loss is yet another side effect of MTX so I've been eating more foods containing protein. I think over the last few months though my hair has fell out less with less breakage too but I'm keeping an eye on the hair issue. I've been thinking of taking hair supplements but holding off as I like to take the natural route, hence eating more protein, plus some supplements already contain folic acid so I doubt I'll be allowed to take them anyway.
I'd be interested to see what your Rheumy nurse says, so if you have time could you let me know how you got on.
Good luck with your Nurse.
Warmest regards
Suz x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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I too will ask the nurse about increasing folic acid, although more folic acid reduces the efficacy of the mtx. Caught between the devikl and the deep blue sea, really, but I would love my thick hair back! xxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Jean
Thank you for your comments on hair falling out. I thought I had got the solution by taking more folic acid, although I haven't got reply from rheumy nurse yet, but I didn't know it altered the efficacy of mxt. Oh dear! back to the drawing board. I can't risk mxt not working as well as they wanted to put me on another drug along side mxt. I said I would try to manage but I am only just managing at the moment so they probably wouldn't recommend more folic acid. I am very disappointed about that. If you hear of anything else that might help please let me know.
Regards
Sheila G x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 346
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Hi Sheila welcome to the forum. My hair has gradually got thinner and i don't seem to have as much volume as before. I am on mtx 15 mgs orally.
Bevxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Brenda_I
I still haven't been able to speak to rheumy nurse yet about hair falling out. Not her fault she has tried to contact me but my phone was off, although it is a week now. This morning I had a full hand full of hair fall out in the shower. I am really upset now so I am not waiting for rheumy nurse, I am just going to up folic acid myself and see what happens.
Sheila G x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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It's scary, isn't it Sheila. My hair brushes are full every day, despite washing them every night. My hair is now very thin and it used to be full. Mind you, I also blame my age - I will be 70 in 2 years  Only joking - I don't feel my age and try to enjoy life to the full - hair or no hair Love Jeanxxxxx
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