Hi Everyone,
I have been reading all your post for about 6 months. Thank you so much for all the information! I have been taking MTX for about 5 months. It seems that every 5 or 6 weeks I develop a terrible cough and have to go on an anti-biotic and off the MTX. Has this happened to any of you?
Again, thanks for all the info it has helped me tremendously!
Anne
It hasn't Bear, but welcome aboard!!I've been on Methotrexate for about 4 years, and I've not had the problem you describe. *knocks on wood* :)
I do know there are some members here that have been on and off their Methotrexate/biologics for various infectious reasons, so hopefully someone will pop in and be able to share with you!
Hi Anne, I was on MTX for about 2 months, had stomach problems, etc., so they put me on injections. As far as injecting them goes, I didn't have any trouble. But not long after I started MTX, I began to have dry cough. It didn't get better, just worse and worse.
I had no other symptoms, so I wasn't too worried about it. I just started using my Albuterol inhaler much more often. At my next rheumy appt., I told her that I still had cough and it was worse. She took me off of it immediately. She said the dry cough is a sign of allergy to MTX and with my history of drug allergies, she didn't want to take any chances.
Haven't they mentioned anything to you about that? But maybe your cough is different.
Hope you are doing better soon.
Nini
Mtx can cause pneumonitis, which can lead to lung scarring. if this persists, I think I would ask for a chest xray to make sure your lungs are OK. Best regards, PatAnne, I have not experienced what you are describing, but would get it checked out further. This sounds serious, and may need some more attention.
Welcome, and glad you have been helped...wish I could be more help to you now.
Thank you all so much for your replies....I new I went to the right place
It's nice to be able to check in and see what everyone else is going through, it helps to know that I am not alone in all of this.
Thanks to everyone!
Anne
Hi Anne...welcome!I've taken MTX for 5 years now I guess. Although I've had brochitis on a couple of occations I haven't experienced what you describe and I would consider it a problem. Everyone gets sick from time to time and often those of us on these medications get sick more often than others. What you are describing could easily be an allergy and you need to be careful. A continuous dry cough with no other cold type symptom is not a good sign. Definately encourage your doctors to investigate further.
GP's often do not understand the warning signs that come with these RA medications and she may not be relating your continuous cough with the MTX. Make sure your RD is aware of the problem. MTX & Lung problems can be serious if allowed to continue. There's a change that you won't be able to continue on MTX just as Nini wasn't.
Welcome to AI. Glad you're here.
Hi to all!
Just an update....I went to my pcp and he feels that I have been getting these infections due to the RA and not the MTX. Although, this was my pcp not the Rheumy.....He put me on a steroid, antibiotic, inhaler, and cough medicine. I see the RA doc next week, it will be interesting to see what he says. So for now, off the mtx (due to the antibiotic) hope the pain doesnt come back before I can take the medicine again.
I hope you all are doing well and I can't thank you enough for all your posts and help.
Anne
hmmm! He (PCP) took you off MTX. I had pneumonia this spring and was never taken off of the MTX. I think I would let the RD know today that the PCP has taken you off of the MTX.Depending on what I have my PCP will take me off of it too. For anything involving the lungs I think it's a good call to come off of it until it clears up. MTX slows the healing process and if this has been going on for a while it's best to stop it until you can get it under control.
Persoanlly I think it's more likely the MTX is causing the cough not the RA is casuing the cough. I'd keep a record of the reoccurring lung infections if I was you. It's a documented problem with MTX. Be careful.
Hope you'll soon be feeling better.
The pcp didn't take me off the mtx... but last time this happened the pharmacist and the RD said that antibiotics and mtx shouldn't be taken at the same time, as it makes mtx even more toxic. Actually, the PCP didn't know that! So, I just knew not to take the mtx because I have been through this in June. When you had pneumonia did you take an antibiotic? Lovie, I kept asking the doctor if he thought it could be the mtx and he insists that it is not. I also think it is due to the mtx. After all I read about mtx it sounds like that is the problem. They think because I have two small children that I will be more at risks for colds etc..... When I see the RD next week I am going to question him more about the mtx and lung infections but I remember he told me last time that lung problems only happen in about 1% of the people taking mtx....my luck I would be in that 1% :).....Smart move Bear. Sadly the majority of our PCP don't know much about these RA medications. Biologics are even worse. Luckily my PCP has done some research and corresponded with my RD because she doesn't see many RA patience. She was honest with me when I first started seeing her and I've been impressed with her pro-active response to my case. It's obvious she needs to learn more and she's doing that. Every time I go in she knows more and more about these medications and how we react.
I too am surprised that you had pneumonia and were allowed or advised to continue MTX.
The predisone should help quickly. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Hi Anne,
I just wanted to welcome you to the family.
I have not had any issues with mtx in the 2 yrs I have been on it. I am going to see about switching to the shot because of stomach issues. Before I came here I had no idea it existed.
When I went to pick up the prescription for the antibiotic back in June the pharmacist actually stopped me before I left the store (the girl that checked me out didn't see the notes on the bag that said he wanted to talk to me). The crazy part is that the RD didn't mention it when I called him. You just never know! It's scary. It makes it so obvious that we have to check, double check, triple check everything!!!
Hello Bear and welcome! Yep, you're right and now that I know this...I will be asking some questions. Thanks so much!!!
Michelle~ Lot's of folks have NEVER been taken off of MTX for any reason so that's maybe not that odd; I don't know. I was on MTX for years and never had any sort of infection that would cause them to take me off of it. It wasn't until I was taking MTX & Humira that I got so sick on a couple of different occations and they warned me against taking both MTX & Humira. They seemed to act as if either would be a problem.
Oddly enough we could survey 4 people and get 4 different Dr.'s opinions. All you can do is question your doctors to make sure you've understood their directions correctly.
So often the pharmsist is the most knowledgable about the medications.
Gosh, I wish there was one set of rules for all. When I had the sinus infection they did take me off of Humira, but not the MTX. I know that MTX can interact with certain drugs and sulfa is one of them, but I cannot take sulfa drugs.
Something to question.
I wish they could all agree as well. It sure would make things alot easier on us trying to figure things out.
It didn't take me long after visiting these websites to notice all the differences in our doctors.