Injectible MTX Question | Arthritis Information

I'm thinking about asking the RD to switch me to injectible MTX because I think it will give me more "bang for the buck." I've been reading about it online and it sounds complicated. I know some of you do it, apparently without any difficulty. But I'm worried about the part where you draw the MTX into the needle. I don't know if I'd get the syringes that are already loaded so I want to know ahead of time what may come. The site talks about tapping the air out of the syringe before injecting. Now, I seem to remember hearing that it's very, very, very bad to inject an air pocket into yourself and it could be fatal. Surely I'm missing something here. I can't believe laymen would be allowed to inject themselves if this was a possibility. Is it true that you must be very careful not to inject air into yourself? Or does it not apply because of where/how you're injecting? I know you inject into fat, not veins. Is that the difference? Jesse, you don't have to worry about air with a subcutaneous shot. i asked my doc the same thing. It's really not complicated it all. Seriously, if I can do it anybody can.Also, you can't feel the needle going into your skin. Or if you can, it's so nothing it doesn't even qualify as pain.Thanks, Linncn. Another question: Popping pills is so easy. How much of a hassel is the injectible overall? Since I don't have any serious side-effect issues I'm just trying to weigh the pros and cons of switching. Some people have better results with injectible and that's what I'm hoping for. We were told subcutaneous is safe, because of what you said - it is into tissue, not a vein.

If you are really really really nervous, I think some people stick and pull back a bit, to see if there is a 'flash' (blood going in the syringe), that means you hit a vein. Somebody who self injects will tell you! As hard as it seems to get a vein when they need one.....

Bubbles - my daughter had a PICC line and I had to do it. That is an IV. I had all these pre-filled syringes of heparin and saline, and they had bubbles in them! I'd whack and whack and whack, and threw out like every other one. I was terrified I was going to kill her! I took some in to an appt., and the nurse said throw out whatever you want, but don't get too freaked out because it isn't like TV and a little bubble will not kill you.

Jesse, like the others said, it is very easy. I, of all people never thought I could do it, but it really, really easy. I switched because the pills were really affecting my tummy and liver enzyme tests. My rheumy didn't think switching would make a difference, but it has and I have been doing the injections for about 2 yrs now. They do not come prefilled, but drawing the med into the needle is very easy.

deb

Jesse, I guess their is slightly more hassle than dropping some pills into your mouth. I didn't make the switch because of side effects, for me the 8 pills weren't doing the trick and I was still having frequent flares. I can honestly tell you that the shot, although their is more to it than the pills, is really nothing that you, or at least I, would call a hassle. It takes a couple of minutes, I can't really feel it, and it works better for me than the pills did. Hope that helps. What does your RD think?

Oh, I just saw that you haven't spoken to your doc yet.

Linncn2008-02-20 11:13:13

Thanks everybody, you've convinced me. Now if I can keep up my nerve until my March visit, I'll ask the RD about it. I'm also hoping it all costs the same as the pills.

The cost is pretty low, you have to buy syringes though, but still that's not expensive. When I got my script for the syringes my doc gave me 999 refills. I remember being I guess not shocked, but it just really hit me that this disease is forever. It made me kinda sad.
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