Methotrexate concerns

I took Methotrexate on the 29th for the first time 0.03 since then I've had more aches then before plus I've a Stomach ache too told the nurse I'm not going to take anymore awaiting my Benlysta hope you'd a good day 

I've been on Methotrexate for 5 months for Polymyalgia, this after taking Prednisone for 2 years previous.  I've found in the last 2 months my legs have become weak, my knees feel terribly sprained, all of this making it hard to walk at times and bend over. Recently both shoulders are aching much of the day.  My neurologist suggests x-rays of these joints to see if arthritis is appearing which I'll do but I believe the MTX is the culprit here and it's having more negative than positive benefits now, in fact I'm hoping these aren't permanent.  I'm seriously considering going off it but wonder to how to reduce it without overwhelming my system.  For now I'm also on a lower dose of Cortisone which replaced the Prednisone this past year.  If you gone of the MTX maybe you have suggestions on how fast or slow this can be done.  Thanks.

I have been on Methotrexate for a month now. I'm coming off Prednisolone on the advice of the specialist. I do have some pain relief from Psoriatic Arthritis with taking the Methotrexate only trouble is I feel like a zombie with no life in me. I spoke to the GP who said this will subside although I am doubtful of this. Can anyone tell me if their tiredness went the longer they took this drug? I think it's only a matter of time before I fall asleep while driving.

Hi,

Having read through some of the discussion here it seems there is a lot of negative feeling towards methotrexate that is not always warranted. I have had psoriac arthritis for around twenty years and have been on 25mg Mtx tablets for many years now, alongside the anti inflamatory drug celebrex. While it does not always control my symptoms fully I could not function without it. People vary in their reaction to any drug and Mtx is no different in that respect, some people tolerate it much better than others and currently there is no way of telling who until they try. Many of the problems people have are due to Mtx being an inhibitor of folic acid metabolism which is an essential function in the cell but is not part of its mode of action in arthritis control. If your folic acid levels are low it will inhibit cell division and  you will feel tired. Hence it is important to manage your folic acid supplementation properly, I always take my Mtx with my evening meal then take between 1 and  5mg folic acid from 24 hrs later and for at least three days, but you should give at least 12hrs between taking Mtx and folic acid supplementation to allow time for absorption of the Mtx. If you can get your folic acid supplementation right for you then you will probably find the side effects much more manageable. Other than that the one known interaction of Mtx is with caffine, so if you drink a lot of coffee (more than 4 cups a day) then you may be interferring with the anti inflamatory effects of Mtx and not getting the best out of it. To anyone wondering about starting on Mtx, I would say do not be afraid of it, while some people can not tolerate it many more do so quite well, and it is much better than getting irriversible joint damage.

HI,

I feel like absolute poop for 2 days after taking MXT. I have been diagnosed with RA, the irony being that it was the cancer drugs that gave me RA! I had a bone marrow transplant 10 years and am grateful ot be here please dont think that but the tiredness, the headaches, the mouth ulcers and the general "foggy brain" feeling is making me think that the RA pain which admittedly is much better is not worth it.

​Does anyone else feel a bit "depressed"??

I work full time and feel "cant be arsed" most of the time.

​Is it me??

I'm 16 and I was recently diagnosed with lupus and ra. I just took my first dose of methotrexate 30 mins ago and my throat is already starting to hurt and my stomach isn't feeling great either. My doctor said that another option was to take plaquenil has anyone had better results with that then methotrexate?

My dad died as a result of taking Methotrexate.  It did his lungs, and possibly his heart, irreparable damage, and the deterioration in his health was rapid - he died in a matter of weeks.  The coroner is still investigating whether the specialists who prescribed him it took proper duty of care in doing so.

Sorry to know your situation. I am now 75 yrs. last 10 yrs I am on oral methotrexate 10mg weekly plus prednisolone (steroid) 5mg daily and I am fully functional and no major lesions or arthritic pain. Perhaps my physician started me on the treatment early. Trust this might encourage you too.

Thank you for your post. I too am going out on my own without methotrexate. It's been just about 1 yr that i have been shooting myself 20-25 mg. weekly.  The last straw was water on the lungs". It hurt sooo bad to breath more than a thimble full of air.  I researched what was the cause and saw chemo. that was enough, i found a great nutritionist and we immediately started getting the inflamation out of my body with health food supplements.  i went off the meth for 2 weeks, the pain in my legs was pretty bad so I injected myself again for 2 weeks.  I stopped when i stopped eating all the crap that causes imflamation in the body...score!  I am 2 weeks off again, almost a Vegan, lots of supplements from the healthfood store, weekly Massage, and just about to look into accupunture.... Keeping hope alive.. I say keep reading, keep researching, keep listening to your own body but get off that Meth-o-trexate before your liver and body shut down...meanwhile the medical doctors get a great commission from getting you on the drug....please be careful....God bless everyone with RA.

Thank you for your post. I am supposed to start MTX next week for RA and I don't think I'm going to do it. Am anticipating grief from my rheumatologist but I have specific misgivings such as yours. Also, the fact that there is no cumulative effect to the good from this drug bothers me:  subject my body to toxins indefinitely? Because when you go off it, it seems you're back to square one. And I can't imagine teaming this drug up with other drugs, to boot.

Insult to injury, I'm starting off with an otherwise very healthy body, at 63 years of age. It seems a shame to compromise myself all over next week (and maybe die) rather than have the opportunity to assess my situation in smaller chunks. Perhaps I make no sense - maybe I'm wrong - but this is my gut instinct.

Hi I was prescribed methotrexate by the hospital a month ago but when I got home undecided whether or not to take them I Googled what the side effects would be and I must admit it scared me to even think of taking something that could make me feel worse with all the side effects. So I decided against taking them. I told my doctor about my concerns he wasn't happy. And said if you knew what paracetamol did to you you wouldn't take them. I thought there is a big difference between methotrexate and paracetamol. I mentioned it to my sister and she said she Googled methotrexate side effects and said to me do not take them. I am terrible with medicines I have terrible side effects. And I don't want to damage my body anymore by being a guinea pig.