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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Debbie,
None of us like taking these strong drugs but mtx has done wonders for a lot of people.
It is scarey when you read the list of side effects but most people don't suffer anything more than nausea after taking the mtx and this can be helped by taking them at night so that you sleep through the side effects.
With regular blood tests anything untoward is picked up quickly .
Mtx can affect the liver ,which is why we have to avoid alcohol, or at least stick to one unit a day.
Is there any reason you can't wait until after Christmas before starting them?
Doreen xx
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009
Posts: 7
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jeanb wrote:ISSY - have you asked your GP for a stomach protector? Many of us have something, as the combination of daily/weekly drugs can affect tums!
CAROL - do you find it has helped to take the mtx a couple of hours after food? Reason I ask is that I normally take mine just after food. Do you find it helps to wait until the food has settled?
Love to all
Jeanxxxxxx Jean may thanks as always you send me in right direction, the answer is obviously NO and it has not been mentioned , something else to add to the list on 29th ......ta Issy
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Aw, SO sorry Debs, this is a disappointment for you but of course best to wait until the naughty liver has settled.
Enjoy your holiday and sangria! (LOL)
Much love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Dear Debbie,
It IS frightening to begin a med like mtx, I won't pretend I found it easy, BUT one thing is for sure, that uncontrolled rheumatoid is far more dangerous than mtx...
The Drs will monitor you extremely carefully and so any problems, like blood count, liver or platelets, will be found immediately.
A usual dose of mtx for rheumatoid, is between 7.5mg to 25mg. In 'medical' terms this is a 'small' amount of this drug. For rheumatoid it mostly acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory apparently, and it has been used for years and years now so they know much about it.
RE alcohol. I must confess that I avoided wine drinking (really, this was a sacrifice!) for ages and ages, however I began to have a glass here and there until I was happy with one an evening but never on the actual mtx day (odd, but somewhere in my mind I couldn't do it)....On occasions like (the rare) wedding, celebration, I would have more but never exceed three.
The nurse said to me that the bloods around Christmas time always shoot up! LOL
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/19/2009 Posts: 182 Location: kilwinning north ayrshire
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Maria_R wrote:Debbie- thanks for posting this- it's been helpful for me to read as my rheumy was talking about putting me on it if the increased doses of sulf don't work.
Maria i take mine on a tues after tea i have had no problem, been on them (6 one day a week) since sept 1 folic acid on the frid thats all i take i try to do without painkillers as i dont like them my trusted hot water bottle useally works for me when in pain sylviaxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/19/2009 Posts: 182 Location: kilwinning north ayrshire
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amanda_lewin wrote:Dear Debbie,
It IS frightening to begin a med like mtx, I won't pretend I found it easy, BUT one thing is for sure, that uncontrolled rheumatoid is far more dangerous than mtx...
The Drs will monitor you extremely carefully and so any problems, like blood count, liver or platelets, will be found immediately.
A usual dose of mtx for rheumatoid, is between 7.5mg to 25mg. In 'medical' terms this is a 'small' amount of this drug. For rheumatoid it mostly acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory apparently, and it has been used for years and years now so they know much about it.
RE alcohol. I must confess that I avoided wine drinking (really, this was a sacrifice!) for ages and ages, however I began to have a glass here and there until I was happy with one an evening but never on the actual mtx day (odd, but somewhere in my mind I couldn't do it)....On occasions like (the rare) wedding, celebration, I would have more but never exceed three.
The nurse said to me that the bloods around Christmas time always shoot up! LOL
Love,
Amanda im the same amanda i like a vodka but was scared at first but have some now but dont take any on same day as mtx i dont know why i just dont want to take any same day or on the night before bloods get taken just incase it shows up lol have a lovely christmas with some nice wine xxxxsylvia
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Thank you Sylvia, I am very happily sipping some lovely French wine hubby bought back from Brussels...
Talking of Vodka, my son was laughing yesterday as he noticed this bottle of vodka wrapped in leather with studs on it! LOL
(It was next to the Glenfiddich whish I was buying for my Dad!)
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 5
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One of the best bits of advice is to make sure you get the blood tests. I know it can be scary reading about the side efffects, but if you get the blood tests these should catch most of the problems before they casue any real harm.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 327
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I think most of us were a bit scared about taking MTX at first, but it really is worth it for most people, it does help slow down the progress of the disease, I believe. As for the alcohol, nobody told me I shouldn't drink(!) and the information leaflet simply pointed out that MTX can affect the liver and as alcohol could also affect the liver then it should be drunk sensibly. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I do like the odd vodka, not to mention the occasional wine  and I really haven't changed my drinking habits. Anthea x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009
Posts: 235
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Hi all, had a lovely holiday. It was so nice to rest and be refreshed. The first time in 3 years I haven't caught a bug on the plane over and spent the week ill in my room!!  Just have to wait for hols to be over so can catch up on liver results and sort out next step. Thank you all for support and encouragement, and advice!! Hope you are all well and pain free. Deb x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009 Posts: 48
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Hi,
It is really interesting to hear how other people take MXT. I always take it with a meal so my poor stomach has something to shield it. I was told this by my nurse. It usually works quite well and I find it better if I have something quite heavy for the meal e.g fish and chips. Makes a treat out of it. The only side effect I used to have when I started to take it was a quick run to the toilet a couple of hours after I had taken it. I also take mine at night.
Tonights the night! can't wait for my dinner. I do take a stomach protector and having tried a couple which made me sick have found a really good one called Mebeverine which I take 20 mins before I eat.
Hope you all have a Happy New Year and a less painful 2010.
Jayne
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 52 Location: northern ireland
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on the subject of mtx when iwas it for a few days i got great relief from my pain but after a few days the pains started coming back not as bad as at begining of my R.A do you think if my dose was increased that would help do you have to be on it for 12 wks before the increase it bloods all appear normal last result
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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What doseage are you on at the moment Rosie?
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 52 Location: northern ireland
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Damned76 wrote:What doseage are you on at the moment Rosie?
Julie hello julie hope you had a nice xmas i am on 7 and half mg at the min
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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For me it took about 10/12 weeks for the methotrexate to kick in but they started me at 15mg. Might be worth phoning your rheumy nurse or rheumatology helpline.
Julie
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