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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/25/2013 Posts: 83 Location: warwick
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so.. now finally have the go ahead to get on the rollercoaster , starting the mtx tonight , feeling scared to actually take them although I know I have to ! would be glad to know your experiences and any tips. on the plus side met my nurse last week and she was lovely , think she will be very supportive. 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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Tabs or self injecting? Either way the number one tip is to make sure you take you folic acid tabs at the right time. If you get nausea it may well be that you need more folic acid. Your rheumy nurse will be your guide for that. Don't expect miracles over night. It can take several weeks / months for the meds to take effect although some people benefit sooner. Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/25/2013 Posts: 83 Location: warwick
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tablets.. have got folic acid to take the following day
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/24/2013 Posts: 703 Location: Hexham
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julie_warwick wrote:tablets.. have got folic acid to take the following day It's funny (strange) how different teams recommend different approaches. When I was on the tabs I was told to take the folic acid on Friday and the MTX on Monday. My son, who's a doc, says that they were trained as med students F = Friday = Folic Acid, M = Monday = MTX as a way of remembering. That aside I am afraid I cannot offer any great insights into MTX tabs as they did absolutely nothing for me - no effects either good or bad, to the extent that they decided I just wasn't absorbing it in tablet form. I hope for a better experience for you. Fingers crossed. Good Luck  Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/29/2013 Posts: 106 Location: Surrey
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Hello, I started on MXT tablets in February & have recently changed over to injections. I have had a positive experience so far but I tend to be tired on the day I inject & a little sensitive in the Summer sun! There are lots of people on the forum with great advice if you have any questions Louise
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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hi Julie,
i can't lie i was absolutely petrified when starting Methotrexate ( as i am with any new drug ) but i put my faith in my Consultant, Rheumy Nurse and GP.
i presume you are starting on a low dose and told to work up gradually?
unfortunately it didn't work for me but it is the gold standard drug usually given to start with and hopefully it will work well for you.
i take my folic acid 2.5mg 2 days after Methotrexate, that's one thing that we all vary from on here. hope to hear you have started now and feel calmer about it all, keep faith that it Is going to work well you'll just have to be a little patient as it can take 12 weeks.
best wishes
Suzanne
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/21/2010
Posts: 178
Location: aberdeen
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I was extremely anxious when I was first prescribed mtx, but when after 10 weeks or so the pains and swellings subsided, I knew they were doing what they were supposed to. As others have said not all people react the same way to mtx and your dose will probably be adjusted as time goes on. I started on 15mg per week, upped to 20mg back down to 15mg and now on 25mg per week. Whether it is the mtx or the disease itself I don't know but I do get times when I feel completely exhausted, maybe for just a day or it can last a couple of weeks. Folic acid is essential when you are taking mtx, how much and when seem to vary between members, I started on one 5mg per week and this was increased to two per week then just recently because of the continuing fatigue I take two on wednesday and one on friday - having taken the mtx on monday - here's hoping it does the trick. Best of luck julie - perhaps you could write yourself a short note detailing how you feel now and compare that with the new and improved you in the not too distant future.
.....eve xx
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/28/2013
Posts: 3
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Hi Julie,
I started on MTX tablets 2 months ago. Like you I was scared but knew I had to. Was rough for 5 days after taking the tab (5mg) but over the next 8 weeks the rough/side effects decreased and now only last for 2 days after taking tab. Have now been told by rheumy to increase to 7.5mg (which I will start this Weds!). I take Folic Acid for 6 days a week (but not on MTX day) to lessen the side effects. Unfortunately I have not seen any improvement yet - was told I need to be on at least 10mg to notice a difference! Hope this is of some help. Will be thinking of you, drugs affect people differently and so hopefully things will go smoothly for you.
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/25/2013 Posts: 83 Location: warwick
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thanks everyone. nice to hear some positive stuff , I was dwelling on all the horror stories ! I am on 15mg at the moment , was terrified to swallow the stuff but slept well , a miracle in itself , feel a bit off colour and shaky but so far nothing too bad . hope that's not just jinxed it ! good idea about keeping note of how I feel. here's hoping for some success. 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 242
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Hi Julie I first took methotrexate by injection in 2004 and had an awful reaction to it. I have just taken a bravery pill and I am trying it again, 7.5mg by injection. Been on it 3 weeks and feel absolutely awful for 2-3 days after the injection, I take folic acid 6 days a week except metho day. I believe this is supposed to help the side effects. However the metho is working, it has brought my CRP down dramatically so I am persevering with all the nastiness and hoping the side effects get better. Don't give up on it straight away. I was advised there are less sicky problems on the injections to the tablets so if you don't get on well, ask to change to injections. Best of luck and think positive Love Rebecca
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Rank: Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/19/2012 Posts: 13
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Hi Julie I started methotrexate January this year. I listened to advice on this forum at take mine Saturday night so I can sleep through any side affects and be well for work on the Monday. Works wonders for me. Only side affects were mouth ulcers and some slight nausea but my folic acid was increased from 1 to 3 a week and I'm fine. I note someone else has mentioned the fatigue I think that must be the RA and you have to learn to pace yourself. Good luck with your RA journey and I hope the gold standard drug works well for you too Gill
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2013 Posts: 144 Location: Dumfries
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Hi Julie
I started on methotrexate in March of this year, it's been a learning curve for me but I always drink loads of water before and after I take them and don't eat anything too rich on the day I have them either. I had terrible nausea and indigestion with them for a while but fingers crosses that seems to be gone now. I hope they work out well for you.
Lisa x
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