Can Methotrexate lower your pressure?
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi All,
I had my monthly checkup with my Rheumotologist today. I was diagnosed with RA about 4 months ago, an autoimmune about 7 months ago. It has been a difficult year I won't lie but i was feeling somewhat better the last month and a half. I was alittle surprised to see that i haven't made as much progress as i thought. Although im not in constant pain, my joints lock here and there. He said that my inflammation level is at 27 and it should be at 20 or below. I started at 29 so there is some progress. He wanted to increase my dosage of Methotrexate from 5 to 10 tablets. Im not too crazy about this as this is life long and I want my body to fight on its own if anyone can understand. Mayb im being naive but i don't want to lose hope of being med free some day. I brought my concern to him about my dipping blood pressure. I always had a normal pressure of 116/70 and now its 100/52 and 98/64. I don't feel any signicant symptoms except for slightly dizzy yesterday. I think its the Methotrexate. He says no. Has any one expierenced low blood pressure with this medicine? Is this affecting my heart? I just developed Raynard's and am afraid to take those meds as it supposed to lower my pressure even more. Any advise would be great. Thanks and God bless.
0 likes, 8 replies
lyn1951 Nu2this
Posted
Lack of pain would lower your blood pressure.
You mention 5 - 10 tablets, do you mean 5 - 10 mg tablets.
?I hope you understand you only take them ONCE A WEEK, sometimes people have problems understanding that, I used and still do take my MTX on a Friday night, after I come home from work originally, then if I had any reaction I had the weekend to recover, I was terrified when I first started on them, but have now been on MTX for nearly 14 years, it has been a big help in keeping my arthirits under control.
?My levels at there worst were 77, that's getting up into the higher levels of inflammation, really angry sore joints and local GP telling me it was post viral, but I just go worse and worse, until I presented at ER.
Good young Dr, he picked what was going on, and did a blood test that showed the high levels of inflammation, not supposed to do that test in ER, as its a GP's responsibility, but he had missed that something was going on, I think I may have been taken pity on, I was a mess, could not walk easily, struggled to get in and out of chair.
?You need to work with you GP or primary care Dr, to sort out if you have conflicts of medications going on, and that includes natural or alternative meds you may be taking, something is making your BP fall.
mark38381 lyn1951
Posted
lyn1951 mark38381
Posted
Blood test ESR & CRP measured
mark38381 lyn1951
Posted
lyn1951 mark38381
Posted
Yes, RF came back negative, also specialist did psoratic arthirits genetic test, even that was negative, although she tells me that's what I have.
Also Celiac as there was a possibility that's what I had.
?I have found that cutting out ALL WHEAT had helped the last couple of months, I really went for it and totally checked everything to make sure there was no possibility of wheat, and I noticed the difference in pain levels about 4 hours later, and started a BIG improvement over the next few days by staying really strict, but of course very hard to stay really strict.
My last bloods came back significantly lower than they have been in the last 14 years, so trying to stay strict with myself.
EileenH Nu2this
Posted
Your body won't "fight RA on its own" as you put it - it is your own immune system fighting your body by mistake that causes the problem. The methotrexate damps down that unwanted activity and stops the RA damaging your joints. You need the amount you need - and yes, I'm afraid it is being a bit naive to think you will be drug-free one day.
Like lynn I'm a bit concerned about the dose you are on though - what dose are the tablets and you ARE taking it just once a week aren't you? If you are taking too much then it COULD cause low BP.
carole78111 Nu2this
Posted
Nu2this carole78111
Posted
Thanks Carol,
That is my fear that some of these meds cause damage to other organs. But if you don't take them the disease progresses much faster. I just hate that most doctors don't truly discuss long term effects. You start off with one and end up with 20. I try to stay positive changing my diet and taking alot more vitamins. I would prefer to be taught to eat according to my condition and start with lower dosages of meds. Nutritionist are so important to medical well being but they are doctors last recourse....why? I do take my meds don't get me wrong but do as much on the side to manage it through food. Tumeric, ginger and oregano are so beneficial. Wish mt doc would suggest that along with mu meds. He flat out told me MTX does not lower mt BP but i honesty never had this issue prior to the pills