Methotrexate and Exhaustion | Arthritis Information

I added Methotrexate two months ago and I think the worst side-effect is the waves of exhaustion I'm experiencing. I am generally an energetic person and am having a hard time dealing with this. Seeing RA doctor first week of April and have lots of questions. My joints are much approved, but not sure the side effects are worth it. We were traveling out of town for over a month and cut the prescribed dosage (15 mg) to 10 mg. This helped a lot; when we came home kicked it up to 12.5 mg and the exhaustion started again. Is this a side-effect for others taking Methotrexate? I'm going to reduce amount back to 10 mg until I see him.

Sharon

This is very much what I experienced when I was on Methotrexate. I built up to the highest allowed dose. I was nauseated for two days post injection, and completely fatigued all the time. Unfortunately, I didn't receive any benefit from the drug at all, and my RA continued to progress. I went off of mtx two years ago shortly after I began Enbrel, which has been miraculous for me.

If you're not already taking folic acid with your methotrexate, ask your doctor about it. Also have him/her check your vitamin D levels. Mine were seriously low and I didn't know it until after I'd gone off the mtx...I don't know that they'll make a difference in your fatigue, but it might. Best of luck to you.

I'm always tired for two days after I take my 15 mg MTX. I take it in pill form.

Do you experience this side effect all week?

Kweenbe,

I feel fine the day I take the Methotrexate (Wednesday). My lowest day seems to be on Saturday. It's almost unpredictable; the exhaustion and the gnawing stomach seem to come in "waves" from Thursday through Monday. I sound like a hyprochondriac explaining this but at the time it's hard to keep up my daily pace. It is better than when I first started.