Methotrexate & Psoriatic Arthritis

Dont take tablet my advice, its more for people with psoriasis.

I have PA , am also 44 &  have been on methotrexate for about five years, firstly the tablets then changed to injections about twelve months ago. It has worked well for me but I do find the not drinking a bit tedious to say the least... I have become a bit boring I'm afraid! The official line of no alcohol is because your body may struggle to cope with alcohol in addition to the toxicity of methotrexate & this could result in liver damage. When my Rheumy first put me on mtx, he asked about my drinking habits, I said I drank within recommended limits & he didn't make an issue of it. I saw a Rheumy nurse once who told me just to skip my meds if I wanted to have a drink!  But after having raised lfts a few years ago, I decided that it wasn't worth the risk and stopped drinking regularly. I loved my wine as well! Now I only have a couple of glasses at Xmas or a birthday but I am a very cheap date! You will have regular blood tests when on mtx so they can pick up potential problems early, before significant damage occurs. I think your decision whether to start mtx now depends on the severity of your symptoms. If you only have trouble with your knee & you can take painkillers it might be a good idea to postpone until after your wedding if you think you will want to have a good drink. If your pain is really bad though you may want to go for it because mtx takes several weeks or even months to start working and don't forget the drug not only reduces inflammation & therefore pain but also halts further damage to your joints by the arthritis. At the end if the day, it's not a very nice drug but it does work. Good luck whatever you decide to do but hopefully you have a good team of Rheumy nurses as I do who you can call for advice & reassurance 

Thanks for the advice, it's appreciated. To be honest, I do not even take painkillers for the knee currently and I still go to the gym - it does throb at times and is a dull pain a lot of the time - what they are advising me is that taking the drug will help lengthen the time between now and me needing knee replacement, and also minimise any similar damage in the long term to my other knee and I guess other joints that I cirrently dont have a problem with. Neither is my actual  psoriasis too invasive for me, many of my friends don't know I have it and luckily it's not an aggressive form and it's easily managed. What I am wrestling with is that socialising  - and travelling abroad - is a major part or mine and my partners life, and although I don't drink excessively (I'm out a maximum two nights a week, mostly just the one), it's not something I see ever giving up completely or winding back significantly, it just wont happen. So I'm think it will be a good idea to leave this until end of March, which actually gives me around a 4 month window before my next week long trip.

Hi, I have been on mtx for 4 years.. got to 25mg then came down to 12.5 and had issues so back up to 20th.

I have blood tests every month and drink alcohol .. The side effects of mtx are nasty but body copes mostly, try and eat good stuff and lots of water to help. Also folic acid in between the weekly dose will helprobably too. I wouldn't delay as it takes 3 to 6 months to work so sooner the better, I had lots of health issues remain positive mostly so don't want my stoopid decease to ruin me completely,!

Take care and good luck! X

For years I controlled the symptoms with Rosehip GOPO and ibuprofen / diclofenac over the counter.  In the end I had a massive flare up in October 2014, diagnosed in February 2014 and am now on methotrexate and sulphasalazine.  I am finally waking up without significant stiffness and am able to sleep through the pain.  Keep an eye on your hips and knees - the disadvantage of not taking DMARDS is that the disease destroys the joints - I've been told I've narrowly escaped joint replacement.