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Methotrexate - not good for me?

Posted , 5 users are following.

DebbieHurts
DebbieHurts

My dr wanted me to try MTX to see if it helped me go lower on the prednisone.  I agreed to try it and have kept on it for five weeks.  I do not feel an iota of better; in fact these weeks have been the worst I've suffered in a long long time.  So achy and stiff hurting pain when I walk or do most anything.  I've spent a lot of time sleeping on the sofa.  I can't stand it one more week!  Wouldn't it have helped by now, if it was going to?  The last two days I've increased the pred to 15 (from 12) just to see if I can get some relief, but so far I don't feel better.  I see the dr again next week.  

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  • DebbieHurts
    DebbieHurts

    Posted

    I wonder if I should go up on the prednisone, just to get some relief, and then reduce as the MTX begins to work?  My blood work did go down from 6 weeks ago when it was 51 to this week at 40, but that doesn't mean my pain has been better.  It has been much worse.  I read both for and against the drug on Google, how can you judge for yourself?
    • noninoni
      noninoni DebbieHurts

      Posted

      Google can have a lot of misleading stuff.  Also observational studies, epidemiological studies  and case control studies can also produce misleading results.  They are only supposed to provide hypotheses that can later be rigorously tested.  However too often medical procedures are not properly tested with clinical trials.  Good testing is expensive. 

             This is why we have so many "medical reversals",  or procedures once thought to be good that turned out to be harmful.  One good example is post menopausal hormone theorapy. They used to think it was a good thing to do. They finally put it to clinical trials and said WHOA, wait a minute, it isn't good after all.   

             That is why you need to look at clinical trials whenever you can.  A clinical trial will be double blind, randomized, prospective and controlled. and there should be at least two of them with an adequate number of patients in each arm.    

    • gillian_25383
      gillian_25383 DebbieHurts

      Posted

      Unfortunately unless you have access to medical journals which can only publish rigorourously tested papers you rarely get good info on internet unless you check every web address.Fairly decent ones are nhs ones and if you have access BMJ site

      Hubby is pharmacist so tend to look in BNF. Plus he can access professional sites so get good info on drugs.Also any decent GP will answer your questions as will rheumatologist

    • noninoni
      noninoni gillian_25383

      Posted

      I agree with checking with website source and only using reputable ones. I am a statistician and I worked for major pharmaceutical companies.  I analysed many clinical trials for safety and effectiveness.  I am retired from one of them.      

           The NIH and pubmed are pretty good sources.

  • Dave-California
    Dave-California DebbieHurts

    Posted

    Hi Debbie,

    After 'getting' PMR, taking Prednisone and begining the Prednisone taper for 6 months, I had two major flares and my rheumatologist recommended methotraxate. Nervously I started it at 25mg of MTX once a week and thought it a waste of time as nothing seemed to happen. However, 3 months later a dramatic drop in pain and joint aches commenced and allowed me to commence my regular taper (slow) which is still coninuing - now 18 months later at 4.5mg pred and only one minor flare that was resolved with a 3 month "wait" on the taper at 5mg.

    I'm still taking the MTX at 25mg per week and don't seem to be having any side effects.

    So I don't know for sure if it is the result of the MTX but I wouldn't turn it down knowing what I have been through.

    Dave

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