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Methotrexate daily dose?

Posted , 11 users are following.

celinechee
celinechee

Hi ya

I have just been diagnosed with RA and doctor got me started with Methotrexate, folic acid, prednisone and neurontin. I was asked to take methotrexate on a daily dose 2.5mg per day and to return to him after one week. This is my first week taking it. I have been reading up on this medicine and apparently it's supposed to be taken once a week. Should I go back to ask the doctor? Is the daily dose normal? Does anybody take daily dose when they first started? 

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • beverley_18828
    beverley_18828 celinechee

    Posted

    Hi, you certainly need to check this out, most unusual to be given a daily dose, the first time they put me on this, many years ago my prescription said 5mg daily, something in the back of my mind was telling me this was wrong, I seemed to recall my consultant saying it was a weekly dose which at the time seemed unusual, probably why it stuck in the back of my mind, so I went back to the surgery and asked about it, the receptionist quickly snatched it out of my hand and came back with another prescription for 5mg weekly, I later read an article about someone dying because of this mistake, I was really angry that this could have been me and I had no evidence, so please make sure this is correct before you take them.
    • blair97497
      blair97497 beverley_18828

      Posted

      I agree Beverly, this is scary and literally sounds like your life was potentially endangered. I am sorry Celeine is having to get alarming warnings from here, but this sounds like a mistake to me.
  • EileenH
    EileenH celinechee

    Posted

    I think it is VERY unusual to take mtx daily. A study looking at using it in psoriasis 

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21950300

    found that clinical efficacy is better when it is taken once per week but some of the side effects are lessened by taking daily small doses.

    Providing you are taking the right total dose it shouldn't make much difference - the risk is of overdose. The study I quote used 2.5mg/day but the abstract doesn't say clearly what the weekly dose was, I assume 17.5mg/week.

    But it is definitely something to ask your doctor about.

  • Gloria814
    Gloria814 celinechee

    Posted

    Hi

      You have received very good advice from the previous comments.   Please let us know what the doc said when you called and asked about the correct dosage.   I started out with this drug very gradually.  Probably 2.5mg weekly and increase by 2.5 mg only weekly to see how I tolerated it.   Since it's just your first week you shouldn't have any serious side effects but I would check to make sure it is what was ordered.   

  • carol303055
    carol303055 celinechee

    Posted

    Hi Celine, I'm with Blair and Beverley on this one.

    ?Methotrexate is very toxic. I remember my GP stressing the weekly dose and saying individuals die due to the effect on their bone marrow from taking daily instead of weekly doses by mistake. I no longer take it due to other reasons but was OK for about 4 years. 

    ?Please say you've got specialist clarification now and by that I mean your Rheumy. Please ring them. There's a Rheumy pharmacist at our clinic, maybe there's one at yours? It really is a specialist area and I've found t here are lots of things outside my GPs experience. He's been great but that's why we have specialists! And I don't believe any of us on this forum have  that expertise. Take care. We're waiting to hear from you. Carol x 

    • celinechee
      celinechee carol303055

      Posted

      Hi Blair, Beverly, carol, Gloria and Evelyn

      I am somewhat overwhelmed with the attention I am getting from you guys. I didn't think it was so serious. I had taken six days of MTX. I am supposed to take my seventh dose today but I will stop taking it. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow and I think I will ask him face to face.  I will let you guys know what he says then. ?? thank u all for the concern you have shown me ?? I dread to think what could have happened to me. 

  • syedq51
    syedq51 celinechee

    Posted

    Hi the best advice is to consult your doc. After reading the posts from different people on this forum I have come to the conclusion that every patient has a different reaction. So its better to seek second opinion in case someone is not convinced with his docs diagnosis or the medicines prescribed by him.
  • beverley_18828
    beverley_18828 celinechee

    Posted

    Hi Celine, how did you get on with the doctor? Many people are concerned about you xx
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