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I have RA and am taking methotrexate thru injections.

Posted , 7 users are following.

wendy34506
wendy34506

I inject every Sunday. Within minutes, i feel awful. Nausea, dizzy, shaking and almost blacking out. I have taken it for 12 weeks now.

There should be an improvement. I am dreading Sundays now.

Anyone else feel like this?

0 likes, 20 replies

20 Replies

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  • lucynewas
    lucynewas wendy34506

    Posted

    Ate you taking 5mg of folic acid on the other 6 days?
    • leslie19171
      leslie19171 lucynewas

      Posted

      you only take folic acid day after in one dose not everyday mxt on one day a week same day each week folic acid day after once aweek

    • lucynewas
      lucynewas leslie19171

      Posted

      My consultant has prescribed daily folic acid. And so far all bloodsorts completely normal.
  • leslie19171
    leslie19171 wendy34506

    Posted

    yes it should start working are taking the folic acid the next day that should stop the side affects if not see you doctor under no circumstants stop taking it i stopped taking the tablets i am in so much pain i will go back on asap
  • Goose_Girl
    Goose_Girl wendy34506

    Posted

    What time do you take it? What is your dose?
    • leslie19171
      leslie19171 Goose_Girl

      Posted

      i not back on it but will as soon as possible r the injections skin or muscle
    • lucynewas
      lucynewas Goose_Girl

      Posted

      I take 20 mg on Saturday mornings into the front of my thigh - swap each week. 1 take folic acid every night except Saturday. This gives the mtx a chance to metabolise. I also take high strength rosehip and probiotics as a system balancer.
    • Goose_Girl
      Goose_Girl wendy34506

      Posted

      Try taking it an hr or so before bed, that way if your going to get side effects you hopefully won't notice them since you'll be asleep. I wish you the best of luck.

  • shaz6098
    shaz6098 wendy34506

    Posted

    I take 20mg (tablets) MTX on a Friday evening, then the other 6 days I 5mg of Folic Acid.  I found I nausea within hours of taking the MTX and in waves over the weekend.  I also found it helpful to take my MTX then go straight to bed.  My GP gave me folic acid initially, as I really struggled when the dose was increased.  Now I collect both on the same hospital prescription.  

    You might find it helpful to arrange to speak to your consultant / or GP about the side effects.  I found mine did settle down.  Hopefully things will settle for you too!

    Good luck

    • wendy34506
      wendy34506 shaz6098

      Posted

      Yes. I do have a message that i left for my specialist. Long weekend here so have tp wait till Tuesday for a reply.

      I did wait till the evening last night. It wasn't as bad as previous weeks. I inject it in my stomach. Take folic acid the next day.

      Thanks for your comment

  • shirlee86000
    shirlee86000 wendy34506

    Posted

    I took a 5mg folic acid once a week while on methotrexate I wonder why some take it 6 days a week, high doses of folic acid can have bad side effects too
    • leslie19171
      leslie19171 shirlee86000

      Posted

      When i was on mxt i was always told to take folic acid one day aweek i came of mxt big mistake pain so much worse also can you tell me r injections skin or muscle when i see my doctor i am going back on it
    • shirlee86000
      shirlee86000 leslie19171

      Posted

      Hi Leslie

      I too came of methotrexate about a month ago due to raised enzymes, I then went on holiday so the rheumatologist kept me off it ( as I also have weird marks on the palms of my hands) but oh my goodness the pain came with a vengeance I have been in agony, I went to see him again last Friday and I got a steroid injection in my backside it's just started to take effect today thank goodness, so I go back in December where they are going to put me back on methotrexate ( I am not looking forward to it either) but you kind of forget why your on it when pain free, I don't think I will moan again as the pain is so bad

    • shirlee86000
      shirlee86000

      Posted

      And my pain came back worse too, it also went to other joints but my hands and wrists were the worse, I hope to eventually go on biologics, as apparently the side effects are not as bad, but the criteria with my rheumatologist is methotrexate twice then another medication before you can go on biologics
    • leslie19171
      leslie19171 shirlee86000

      Posted

      thats what i have told my brother who has just gone on it if you come it the pain comes back with avengance i came of mtx big mistake will go on ìt asqp

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