More info on Methotrexate, please

Hi Sue,

Everyone reacts differently to medication. Tell UR rheumy the pain is coming back. Sometimes it takes time for the body to adjust to new meds and other times taking two meds together can help the other to work better. 

There are so many new meds for RA . Many online to learn what's available for RA TREATMENT. Many pharmacies can help if u have no insurance. Ask UR doc about the programs offered with different meds. Especially biologics. They are very expensive but like MTX help stop the damage to joints .

 

Leflunomide can do dammage to all your other vital organs,e.g. can cause high blood pressure,kidney failure,liver,etc. 

methotrexate is an older drug first used to fight cancer and was ineffective for my wife.

If you have any doubts about any of these drugs,check them out at medicines at the top of the page.

All drugs have a different effect on different people,they are not a one size fits all.

 

I was diagnosed with RA in 1997 and was used as a "guinea pig" for a new treatment, Sulphasalazine.   I have RA in my feet, hands, wrists, shoulders but not, fortunately, in my knees or hips.   Unfortunately, I was allergic to the sulphasalazine, lost a lot of weight, sickness, nausea, headaches etc and was put on Methotrexate in January 1998.   Started out with just 3 2.5mg tablets a week which has gradually increased and now I'm on 8 2.5mg tablets a week which isn't bad considering I been on this medication now for 17 years.   I don't recall any pain coming back as such, but this could be because I was diagnosed early by my doctor and seen within a month by an RA consultant at Charing Cross Hospital.   However, I do suffer chronic fatigue i.e. excessive tiredness but I put up with this because I count myself fortunate that the Methotrexate works for me and I have been told that this medication only works for about 30% - 40% of users.   I am nearly 69 years old and still lead a fairly active life, although I do have to watch my weight ( I eat fresh veg all the time and try to keep to low fat foods) and I have had to adapt and adjust certain things in my life.   I can only drive an automatic car now, as a manual car gives me dreadful pain in my feet and hands and wrists.   I have to use a shopping trolley when I do my weekly meat and veg shopping as I can't carry anything heavy.   I have heavy shopping delivered approximately once a fortnight to three weeks and I have a marvellous husband who does the hoovering and ironing!   I still have a drink, low abv red wine and a brandy & pep.   I think, Sue, if the methotrexate doesn't suit,you may have to go on a different medication but if it does work for you, you will need to adapt/adjust your life accordingly, like I have done and be thankful that the RA is kept at bay.   I did have to have a couple of cortisone injections about 4 and 5 years ago which helped enormously, but haven't needed them since.   I see my RA consultant once a year now and have blood tests every three months.   So far, so good and I can only hope and trust that I keep like this for many more years to come.  Hope things go alright with you.