Hi
I had an appointment with the consultant yesterday. I have come off sulfasalazine because of an extremely sore mouth. I took my first methotrexate last night it is a very low dose and I'm to take one a week on the same day and folic acid the next day. I am taking it at night just in case there are any side effects. Fingers crossed it works as I was quite nervous about starting on it as its such a strong drug.
Take care Debs

Hello Debs

Sorry to hear that you have to change drugs. Yes it is all very daunting when you have to start
a new drug. I was on mtx but I had to stop because it upset my liver. It is easy to take but
take the advice to take it at night as it does help as I remember.

Good luck you should know a difference within about 6 wks .

Rose x

Hi Debs

I have been taking mxt for 8 years now without any side effects. I take it at night to avoid any feeling of sickness and I can honestly say I have had no problems with it. I hope this is the case for you too and that it starts to work very soon. It takes a dfferent amount of time to kick in with each person but it seems to be around the three month stage before any real benefits are felt. Good luck with it.

Sheila x

Hi Debs
I have been on mxt for about seven months now and I take 20mg on a sat and the folic on a wed I have to agree with the other replys in that it is the gold standard and I have felt better for being on them all the best

Hi Debs

I know how upsetting the hair loss can be. It is probably because you have just started the mxt and it is a shock to your system. I was experiencing this after dropping one drug and changing to another. It has settled down now and yours will too. I would ring your rheummy nurse and tell her though, she might advise you to take more folic acid to counteract the side effects. This helps a lot but be aware that the more folic acid you take the less effective the mxt will be. It is a fine balance sometimes. I hope you go on ok with it.

Love Sheila x

Yes you should check this with the nurse. I have been told not to take the folic acid on mtx day. Other people only take one folic acid dose per week. I don't think I have so far heard on anyone who takes folic acid on the same day as they take their mtx, but as I'm quite newly diagnosed myself I could be wrong. Good luck from Naomi.

Hi All
Since the 17/11/2011 when I noticed hair loss after I started on mtx I called the hospital and was told to stop taking it which I have done and I have noticed that although I am still loosing some hair it is not as bad as it was. I also visited my doctor who checked my scalp. It does seem to be the mtx that has caused it and I am really disappointed that this has happened. I have an appointment in January at the hospital and I don't know what tablets will be offered to me as an alternative. I am only taking 1 x hydroxy at the moment. I am suffering pain in my knuckles and my left index finder has swollen, but apart from that I am coping with the RA at the moment.

I was so upset by the hair loss as if its not bad enough having RA!! I am now paranoid about my hair and I am not at all vain!!!!!! It doesn't help having fine hair in the first place!!!! Oh well onwards and upwards as they say
Take care everyone Debs x

hi debs, i am 25mg mtx and 6 days folic with hydroxy thrown in i am fine i take mtx am as within about 1/2hr, i feel a surge of energy for about an 1hr so i get the chores done then after that i need to sleep but we all find our thing with it,i feel loads better with mtx,i am on inj now much better to handle for me the tabs made me feel sick, the hair didnt happen with me at first but i did get it cut shorter in case, i do lose a little now but i am not one to bother that much,i asked my nurse about losing hair and was put on folic 6 days instead of just 1 so it helped,all the best,dorothy

just to say, hope all goes well for you,every time a change is needed we all worry and get nervous,try and keep positive, dorothy