Dosage | Arthritis Information

Having just read a thread about mtx side affects - and in the past about other ra meds. I think it would be very useful if members say what dose and how long they have been on which meds rather than just talk about the bad time they are having. I do sympathise and it's good to know that others have similar reactions but it may be scary for those new to that med or about to take it in a much lower starter dose. Good idea. I edited my post on the "Methotrexate blahs" topic.Cheers kweenb

I do get peeling skin! (also memory loss lol) the roof of my mouth has been peeling for a while now but that might be down to my addiction to Thai chilli crisps

PhatsYes, Phatgirl2, I realize that every person can experience different side effects, but it's usually one that's listed as "possible" side effects for the particular drug. I just hadn't seen peeling skin as a side effect to MTX.Tinker - when my daughter was three, her dose was 15 mg. inj weekly. Hi Suzanne, poor little girl. that must be horrid. Was that a starting dose? How is she now? has the dose changed?

sending blessings

Thanks, Tinker. Her maintenance dose was always supposed to 15 mg, but she started at 10 mg and ramped up to that.

She was on folic acid with it, and she would feel pretty yucky about 48 hours after a dose, but that was all. No vomiting, etc. We just knew to be at home so she could take it easy that afternoon. It was very tolerable from that standpoint.

But - it never helped her JRA, and she got pneumonia, then staph while she was on it. We had to keep stopping for the serious infections, so we decided it was just too much for her.

She is doing well on AP (Zithromax) right now. We never have to treat for pain, and she never misses school or activities (knocking wood frantically!).

Hey y'all. I'm on 25 mg injectable right now with my only side effect being extreme fatigue the day after I take it, but that could be the combo of it and the enbrel (I take both shots Saturday night). I originally was on 7.5 mg of the pill form, and had icky nausea and headaches the evening I took it and the day afterwards. Taking folic acid helped, and drinking lots of water. All of that went away with the injectable. I've been on injectable for 4 mths, and the 25 mg for about 2, and no hair loss or peeling skin yet. (I'm getting married in less than 3 mths, so I really hope it doesn't develop lol)
It's a mean drug with mean possible side effects, but it's worked wonders for me. Started on 15 mg MTX in Aug '06. On 20 mg injections MTX right now. Was at 25 but dialed back to 17.5 because my hair was starting to thin. Back up to 20 mg because aches and pains were back. Other than that, no side effects right now. At the beginning I think it made me tired, but that may have been RA doing its thing. Hair still thinning, but better than the alternative! :) [QUOTE=kweenb]Yes, Phatgirl2, I realize that every person can experience different side effects, but it's usually one that's listed as "possible" side effects for the particular drug. I just hadn't seen peeling skin as a side effect to MTX.[/QUOTE]

No need to be nasty! Your original post didn't say anything about peeling of the skin.

My op isn't specifally about side affects, rather threads/posts about them with no mention of dosage or duration of the particular medication.

I too realise we are all different and not everyone gets the same or indeed any side affects. That was not the point.

Phats, how is kweenb's post "nasty"?

[QUOTE=Phatgirl2][QUOTE=kweenb]Yes, Phatgirl2, I realize that every person can experience different side effects, but it's usually one that's listed as "possible" side effects for the particular drug. I just hadn't seen peeling skin as a side effect to MTX.[/QUOTE]

No need to be nasty! Your original post didn't say anything about peeling of the skin.

[/QUOTE]

I believe that Tinker started this topic because of NCH0202's topic labeled Methotrexate Blahs where she said she had peeling of the skin. That is why I questioned the peeling of the skin as a side effect in my first post.

I was "snippy" because it seemed to me that you were "snippy." We all know everyone reacts differently to drugs.

Kween,

I wasn't being "snippy". Not everyone knows about side effects. I was trying to be helpful. If we start assuming what people know and don't know about meds and side effects I think we are asking for trouble.

Tinker....Kween answered your question.

PhatsPhatgirl2, I apologize.Thank you for the apology. No hard feelings Tinker,

I'm not sure what you are getting at? I guess post whatever will help and whatever you want to? I'm not sure what you are asking.

PhatsGetting back to MTX side effects and dosages...

Dec/06 I started with 7.5mg MTX + 1mg Folic Acid. I had tummy issues ( gas and diarrhea), which I was told would probably subside once my body got used to the med. At 10 mg, my hair was really thinning so the Folic Acid was increased up to 5mg. Tummy issues and hair loss continued. My RA Dr. increased MTX to 17.5gms. Acid reflux attacks were coming more often & diarrhea was still a problem. My dr. switched me to injectable MTX 17.5 mg. About 2 days after I had my first injection I had a new unpleasant side effect ... it felt like bugs were crawling on my scalp, arms & legs. Yuck! It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.

I'm now on 400mg Plaquenil... still experiencing tummy problems but they're not as bad as when I was on MTX.

Thanks Phats, that would be a yay - I guess post whatever will help

It's great that some of you are posting what dose of meds you are on in this thread, but I was hoping to get people to say what dosage/duration they were on when they post about RA topics (esp 'side affects) generally rather than make a list here.