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Methotrexate side effects; can anyone identify with these?

Posted , 2 users are following.

HelenF
HelenF

I started on methotrexate 7.5mg weekly 6 weeks ago for treatment of RA, along with sulphasalazine e/c tabs 1g bd and folic acid 5mg rescue. I have increased the last two doses of MTX to 10mg and 12.5mg, and am supposed to be on 15mg next week.

I feel increasingly awful! I feel weak and wobbly, especially when getting up in the mornings, severely tired [am asleep within seconds of lying down] and increasingly stressed and irritated. It is quite difficult to run the 4.5 miles I am used to doing especially whilst wobbly!

The weakness I am experiencing really affects my QOL.

I haven't really suffered diarrhoea or nausea, but my mouth is gets quite sore sometimes.

Can anyone identify with these?

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Yes Helen, unfortunately I can identify with your experience taking MX and sadly with a few more side effects. This is my personal experience and I will relay this as follows:

    I suffer from PMR (Polymyalgia Rheumatica) and take steroids which completely eradicated any pain. However after 18 months my Consultant prescribed MX as my blood sed rate was not decreasing as it should and apparently MX would solve this. Hoever for me it did the opposite and my sewd rate went up.

    I started to tke MX 7.5 plus folic acid 13 weeks ago. After about 5 weeks I had total exhaustion, breathlessness, felt absolutely and totally unwell. My doctor seemed reluctant to take me off this drug so I stopped taking this myself after 7 weeks but I still felt that it was poisoning me and six weeks later having come off it I still have all the symptoms. I sleep most of the time and can only manage to get out for the endless rounds of tests my doctor and consultant are putting me through to find out what is wrong with me.

    I know what is wrong with me it is MX, but when I bring the subject up they sort of mumble into their chest and say - well it shouldn't be in your sysytem now. Although I did notice on one of these sites somebody said it take 3 months to leave the system - so i should know if that is true in another 6 weeks of torment.

    It seems my doctor and consultant are trying everything to prove it is not MX.. In the last three weeks I have been tested for UTI with antibiotics, underactive thyroid, liver tests (ALL NEGATIVE) chest Xrays, spine Xrays, groin Xrays, back Xrays. Tomorrow I am having bone density scans and I am also booked in for a brain scan because I said I felt unsteady and wobbly my Consultant said I might ave a lesion or space in my brain. (I can almost foretell that these will be negative too} Incidentally I am too tired to eat sometimes and in the las 4 weeks have lost a stone in weight.

    It seems they are desperately trying to find a reason other than MX and trying to distance themselves from this drug.

    One thing my doctor emphasised that whentaking MX you should have a blood test every two weeks without fail.

    Hope you are feeling better by the time you read this as I have read that this drug does benefit some people -

    Never again will I take a drug without researching it. I did put a posting in the Polymyalgia Rheumatica site headed PMR and Methotrexate a couple of weeks ago

    Good Luck and I wish you well

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    have you had your blood tests, it sounds as though your ALT's are up as these are the symptoms I am suffering at the moment. I am highly allergic to sulphasalazine so do not discount this as being the problem.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    [quote:2f1ec3c2b7=\"Sparky \"]have you had your blood tests, it sounds as though your ALT's are up as these are the symptoms I am suffering at the moment. I am highly allergic to sulphasalazine so do not discount this as being the problem.[/quote:2f1ec3c2b7][quote:2f1ec3c2b7]

    I have been taking Metho for 8 week, I to have PMR they say I should not feel anything for about 12 weeks, however, I have severe cranial pressure in my temples and was worried in case I had GCA, Dr does not think so, however upped my steroids. I also have depressions which is totally out of character for me even when I am so unwell with the PMR, I swear it is the Metho, can any help have they had this. [/quote:2f1ec3c2b7]

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