Methotextrate - am I supposed to flare on 1st day? | Arthritis Information

Hi. I just took methotextrate for the first time last night. On the advice of the majority of members on this board, I took 5 pills instead of the 8 my rheumy prescribed. Thankfully, I don't think I was hit by any major side effects. Only a really tiny almost non-existant headache.

Unfortunately, I woke up to a humongous flare. My knees are completely inflammed and my shoulders are very stiff. I usually take mobic when I flare, but now I am afraid to because mobic is an NSAID and I read that we aren't supposed to take any NSAIDs while on methotextrate. Is that true? What can I take as a substitute?

Do you guys know if the flare I am getting right now considered a side effect of methotextrate? For those who methotextrate worked, how soon do you start feeling better and seeing results?

Thanks,

Cindy

Hi Cindy, Sorry to hear that your flaring right now. As far as the Mtx is concerned I found that it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to start working. I don't know about Mobic cause I've never been on it, however my RD has me on another NSAID and I have been on it since I started Mtx and I haven't had any problems. I've been on the both for about 9 years. The only major side-effect that I deal with is major exhaustion and my stomach is upset for a couple of days.
Hope your feeling better soon I would talk with your pharmacist and doctor about taking an NSAID with the methotrexate. NSAIDs can impair kidney function, which can impair the elimination of methotrexate. Also, both can be a bit hard on the liver.

My RD gave me a prescription for naproxen, which is an NSAID, and I also read it should not be mixed with MTX. My understanding is it's OK as long as you get regular blood work done. I have also seen an increase in my symptoms on occasion right after my MTX dose, but it doesn't happen all the time. For me, it took several months for the MTX to really kick in, although I suspect it started doing its thing sooner than that. Everyone is different.

As an aside, while looking up naproxen to confirm it is in fact an NSAID, I found a line from Wikipedia that says naproxen is made from human feces!!! Since it's Wikipedia that says it, I'm not entirely sure that's true. Anyone know? Yuck!!

Does your Rd know that you decided to only take 5 of the 8

that was prescribed?

If some people on this forum gave you advice to cut the mtx

down to that level you should be informing your Rd before

you do. He may have a reason for you to take the 8 pills.

You need to discuss this with your Rd.

Advice is only advice.Your Dr is your DR.

[QUOTE=Jesse88]

[/QUOTE]

It looks like someone was vandalizing Wikipedia (see the History tab of the naproxen page for more details).
JasmineRain2008-05-25 18:19:05

Cindy

No one on this board is qualified to tell you how much of your prescribed medication to take. that is your doctors job. Now you won't get hurt by taking less than prescribed but dosage questions and how to take your meds is something you should be consulting him for. As for the mobic, your blood is being monitored for any possible kidney or liver issues so take the med as prescribed. Again if you have a specific question about your specific case that needs to go to the medical team.

A messge board is good for general advice but its a lousy place to get specific advice. We don't know you or your medical history. Please be careful about taking general advice too specifically

oh and the flare is simply a coincidence expect the med to kick in about 6-12 weeks. Of course it working is also contingent upon you taking the prescribed doseI take Mobic and MTX. I am on 15 mg of MTX (6 I guess). I agree, check with your RD about quantities. I think my RD hopes to phase out the Mobic in time, but it is my only form of relief right now. I am having blood work every 2 weeks.

I don't know about the flare; make sure to give the nurse a call!!!

If the flair stays more than 24hrs talk with your doctor. I get toxicity from almost every drug i try except areva but it's not working for m :(

I flair up, calves get big, thighs, muscles in arms, face, eye lids, you name it, it will flair up including my lungs, heart etc.

It's something not to take lightly, so talk to your rhummy immediately.

I started feeling better after 3-4 weeks and it was probably 3 months before I felt almost good as new.

My RD also prescribed Naprosyn on an as needed basis. However, I no longer feel I need it and haven't taken any in a very long time.

Just wanted to say thanks for everyone's concern and advice.

By the way, I couldn't take the pain anymore, and took a mobic when I woke up today .. I feel guilty about it, but my knees were just too inflamed and I could barely move.

I also have naproxyn and piroxicam in my medicine cabinet. Hopefully, I won't have to resort to those too.

why are you feeling guilty abouttaking the mobic? the medicatio nwas prescribed and you are being monitored for any possible interaction. These drugs are being prescribed to you for a reason and you are not doing yourself any favor by not taking them as prescribedi agree whith Buckeye.. the meds are to help. why suffer

Boney
Hi guys,

I guess I am feeling guilty because my rheumatologist told me that the mobic isn't really a long term solution to my RA. He said its just a painkiller. I told him I read that its also good for combating inflammation, but he said I am wrong.

I also don't want my body to be immune to the mobic. It's like a magic pill for me, it always makes the inflammation go down. I am afaid my body might become more resistant to it if I use it too much. Am I being an idiot?

Cindy74, Here is some information I found on Mayo Clinic.com on mobic.

You can find all kinds os good info there or just start there

during your research on medications or any thing else healthwise.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601497

mobic is an anti inflammatory, a mild one. It is also used to treat pain. Your body will not become resistant to it. But even if your body eventually becomes resistant to it you are defeating the purpose of it not to take it when needed at this point in time. Its kind of never finding the right occassion to use the "good" china. You have to deal with the here and now. If you can get the disease under control now you may not ever have to worry about resistant meds in the futurethanks maimi and buckeye ... I love that "china" analogy.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com