I have a couple of questions.
First, did anyone feel worse after starting methotrexate? I'm up to 12.5 mg and my flares are shorter in duration but closer together. Seems like I'm flaring for two to three days, with one day relief, then flaring again.
Second, do you feel "normal" between your flares, or do you still have some symptoms?
I did feel worse the first month or so on MTX. It was like I felt like crap Sat (the day after my dose), Sun, o.k. Mon and Tues, and back to crap the rest of the week. After about 4-5 weeks, I started having relief for the majority of the week. About week 7 I stoped flaring at all and began to doubt I needed anything. It was a great feeling. I don't know how long you've been on MTX, but it took a while to work. The only problem I had is when my Rheumy and I decided to cut back on my dosage. Good luck.< =text/>_popupControl(); Since I have horrible brain scramble going on...please refresh me on how long you have been on the mtx and when you started the 12.5 mg?
It could possibly be that you need to switch your plaquenil to a stronger biologic. Before I started Humira and was on mtx and plaq...what you described happening to you happened to me. It seems the mtx is starting to it's job...but needs an extra oomph to really kick it into gear. For some people..mtx in combo with a biologic works best. For some people...mtx alone..for some people...a biologic alone works best. Just depends on the individual.
Define "normal" lol. Between flares when my meds were working...I felt ok. Still battled fatigued and a degree of morning stiffness.
I started on 7.5 mg of MTX on September 28th. I just increased from 10 to 12.5 mg last friday. Will take 12.5 mg again this Friday, then up to 15.
My RD mentioned going straight to Enbrel instead of increasing the MTX. I opted for trying the increase because my insurance won't pay for the Enbrel - I don't meet their criteria.
My RD refers to me as having an atypical presentation of RA because my flares are "episodic." I have no pain, fatigue, or morning stiffness between flares.
hi, I'm on 20mgs, and honestly I don't notice the after effects. I want this pain in my foot to go away! I want to walk the beach without pain!! I'm going to a foot doc next week (His first opening) as my RA < NOW, thinks , 'hey, it might be a naroma, (sp)' a hard pea sized lump, I have that!, on my foot and a bigger swollen lump the size of a 1/2 marble....sort of hard to describe on the bottom towards the toes. Hurts like the devil ! Like a hot poker stuck in your foot!!.
I believe mtx is a good drug for this disease, cheap and easy to take, if you can do the pills. I have a lot of food in my stomach before I take mine. (8 pills once a week). It does take time to work well.
Take care, Lynda
I had alternating good and bad days when I started MXT with no pattern. The only pattern was the day after fatigue and brain scramble. Then I'd feel good for 2 days, then back to pain and inflammation for the next 4-5 days. This went on for a long time and then increased the dose and I'd have 3 good days, then another increase to 4 good days. Liver enzymes rose and I had to decrease but I still had 4 good days. Started on inj. MXT and now have little side effects and have 4-5 good days. I'll take them. I'm flaring now so I may with any luck get 1 good day. Tapering Pred. and the flare is from that and I'll just have to wait it out. Lindy