Feed Me Advice On Methotrexate For Psoriatic Arthritis

I am also on MTX, I have been on it for a while now, It has helped me a bit. Like most DMARDS these take a while to start working up to 3 months is the expected time it takes. You need to make sure you have regular blood test because of the internal damage it can do.  

Hello Sammie what country are you in? One way of coping with whats happening to you is reading up about the disease. if this freaks you out though stop and ask questions of either your rheumotologist or rheumtaology nurse. Write a list for each appintment. Here in the UK the Arthritis Research UK site (a charity) has excellent information on both the disease and the drugs used.

I've just written a long post for someone else who was recently diagnosed explaining the process of treatment from my perspective. I suggest you have a look... Your methotrexate dose will go up bit by bit as your body comes to terms with it and the Rheumtology department monitors your inflammation rates. Unfortunately the inflammation will reduce bit by bit unless youre very lucky so patience is required. But your rheumotologist will keep trying drugs and different combinations until something that works is found. Is Lyrica  an antinfammatory? I dont recognise the brand name in the UK. and again the NSAID can be changed again and again until something effective is found. It does take time though so dont expect rapid results. There are people who have rapid repsonses to drugs of whom I have always been jealous... never been me alas.

You have started on a long journey but you'll get there in the end!

I also havePsoriatic Arthritis in my knees, when it was first diagnosed I was put on methotrexate, I was a bit apprehensive at first, but willing to try anything, pleased to say when they get in to your system, they really worked for me, I was on them for about 2-3 years, after that time, my legs were fine and I was clear for about 6 years, not on any medication, until last year, had a tumble and it is all back and I am struggling to walk, after having 2 steroid injections in both knees, which has been of no effect. On my next appoinment I will insist to go back on methotrexate and hopefully will start feeling better, in my opinion, its worth the hassle of the blood tests. Hope it works for you. Maureen

change from pills to injections (they're easy to self-administer) and made a big difference to my pain control.