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methotroxate - side effects? Options
Kal
#1 Posted : Saturday, May 19, 2012 12:17:10 PM Quote
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Hi all,

I have been on methotroxate for 15 years and don't know whether my chronic fatigue is down to the tablets or the disease anymore. I lost my job recently have now read the methotroxate leaflet more carefully of the side effects to this drug may cause:

1) excessive tiredness
2) difficulty to concentrate
3) mood changes
3) light or no periods
4) loss of libido

I wonder if the tiredness & difficulty to concentrate had a detramental effect on me losing my job? Has anyone else suffered from any of these 5 side affects and is it possible to suffer from side affects 3 & 4 just in the last few months? i will be seeing my speacialist in July, but wanted any input before then.

I'm also suffering severly from depression too - although that is not listed on the list, but might be a result of job loss making it worse than normal. Can methotroxate cause depression?
I'm putting to much on to my partner and am worried about losing him as well as I'm not coping well! I don't know what to do, things seem to be spiringly out of control. I've tried a light dose of anti-depressants before, but don't really like them. it's all getting a bit much! :'(


Kx
Maria_R
#2 Posted : Saturday, May 19, 2012 7:51:00 PM Quote
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Posts: 856
Dear K

Sorry to hear of all your problems.

I'm sure you already know that some of the symptoms on your list are part and parcel of having RA. I also understand that depression can be part of it too. I've only been on methotrexate for 2 yrs myself so can't really comment, except to say that I haven't noticed any effects on me. I certainly suffer from the 1st 3 but have done ever since I was diagnosed with RA.

I suspect losing your job is a big part of how you feel as it's well known that stress can make RA symptoms worse. You don't say what the circumstances were and I'm certainly not going to pry, but if you look in the work section, you'll find that lots of us have experienced problems at work- myself included and it has really impacted on the RA.

I've had a tough year personally and have felt worse than I have for ages. I seem to have had so many minor illnesses and there are times when I could just cry for no reason.

Have you contacted your rheumatology nurse/ dept- it could be that the mtx is no longer working as well.

Please don't struggle alone: it might be worth a visit to your GP as well.

Look after yourself and let us know how you get on.

Sending you big hugs

Maria x

Naomi1
#3 Posted : Saturday, May 19, 2012 10:08:27 PM Quote
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Location: Torbay
Sorry you're having such a hard time. I think most of those side effects could also be caused by the RA itself. I wouldn't be surprised if these things contributed to your difficulties at work. I know that I find work difficult and my performance has suffered because of fatigue. Trying to hold down a job and deal with a serious illness is a hard task. Sometimes it seems that problems are piling up and it can feel overwhelming. My mantra when it all gets too much is 'if one day at a time is too much then just deal with one thing at a time'. I hope you feel better soon. It's important that you're not alone with all this. People on here will support you and try talking to the GP too. I have joined a facebook support group and have a couple of friends who I message with regularly. This has helped my feelings of isolation and depression a lot. Good luck, keep posting and I hope things get better soon. Naomi x
Dorothy-W
#4 Posted : Sunday, May 20, 2012 12:34:55 PM Quote
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hi im on mtx, its not nice feeling down but sometimes we exaggerate how things are because we are down,i was not in a good place either,job loss, death of my husband the stuff we carry around with us in our heads and blamed being put on so many meds as that was when all my feelings came to a head but it turned out i was menopausal plus r.a and i felt really bad misrable bit depressed etc,it floored me i was not able to do what i used to which got to me,the symtoms are much the same ie.tired moody etc,i did go to the rehumy about how i felt it scared me i admit but they were really good they helped me go through the list and sort each thing in turn,have a word thats the advice i would suggest it works and remember someone will be there to help even if it feels mega it can be sorted,look positive and talk to someone about how you feel.even if they dont understand just to listen can help,i found my good friend was great she had no idea what i was on about but nodded and grunted in the right places and i actually listened to myself and decided to go down the what positives i had not the negatives, takes time,i still have a rant off and on,talk to your doctor firstly for advice maybe the meds need reviewed,15yrs is a long time, all the best,dorothy.
zena_mary
#5 Posted : Wednesday, May 23, 2012 9:34:22 AM Quote
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Hi, I really feel for you. I was in the same possition just over a year ago. It is the pits! My ra became completely out of control, I was a wreck. You have had some very good advice here. The rheumy team are the ones to seek help and advice from. On top of everything everything else, I found, in the end, that I was just trying to fit too many things into my life, I was creating too much stress for myself. Some of which I could avoid and some I couldn't.
Its very difficult but with the help of steroids and a change of drugs I came through it. I still get days when I feel crap and cry for no apparent reason but my family know me by now and just accept how I am!
I hope you will be feeling better soon, best wishes Zena xx.
Kal
#6 Posted : Saturday, June 02, 2012 7:33:00 PM Quote
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thank you soo much for all ur lovely responses, much appreciated xxx
sylviax
#7 Posted : Monday, June 04, 2012 6:13:34 PM Quote
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Location: Newton Abbot
So sorry to hear you're feeling down - I know what it's like when everything seems to be so overwhelming and exhausting. Even before I had RA I suffered with depression on and off and it affects everything, especially relationship with nearest and dearest. You're already doing the most important thing which is talking to people and there have already been some brilliant advice from these lovely members. The only bit I can add is to accept that some anti-depressant meds can really help - I'm on Citalopram and that seems to help me a lot. Perhaps you could talk to your GP, because you need not struggle alone.

Hope you feel brighter soon - Sylvia
Be kinder than is necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle
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