Methotrexate | Arthritis Information

Hi all,

Hope everyone is having a good 4th.

Can anyone tell me what time day of you take the methotrexate and do you take with meals? My dr. told me to take now that he suspects I have RA as well a Polymyalgia Rheumatica, but Im scared to take it. Already on Prednisone. Also, has anyone out there ever had basically a knot come up in the middle of the palm that hurts? My hands and fingers and wrists have been swollen and hurting for weeks, but yesterday a small firm knot came up in the middle of palm and it hurts. I was thinking, now what? Anyway, any info is sure appreciated; trying to get up the nerve to take the MTX tonite.

I take my MTX Saturday night a few hours before bed. I think it's best....especially in the beginning to take it on a Friday night or Saturday if you have to work on Monday morning. It might make you pretty tired; and maybe a little sick feeling for the first few months. It passes after a couple days but I found it difficult to work the next day due to fatigue that first year. I'm pretty much fine with it now; I might take a nap on Sunday. Honestly I always take a nap on Sunday....but that first year I spent the majority of Sunday in bed.

It's not as bad as everyone thinks it's going to be; but if you are prepared for it you won't surprised. It's been an amazing medication for me and I wouldn't change anything except I wish I had started it sooner.

Good Luck!

Thank you so much, Lovie. I think I will try and take tonite. Hope it helps me too.if you haven't taken folic acid for a week.. I'd wait.. it truly helps w/ any reactions..

I take it on Saturday after dinner.. I also drink alot of water the day I take it.. I found when I don't, I get a hang over type headache... like dehydration can cause.. and I drink alot of water the following day.

I totally agree w/ Lovie to take it consistently the same day and on Saturday evenings if you work.. I missed a dose and took it on Sunday.. I was a mess the next day.

I use to want a little nap on Sunday when I take my MTX ... but that feeling is pretty much gone since I am feeling loads better lately.

Good luck!!

I've taken mtx for 16 years now without any problems. It's worked very well for me. I've never had a problem if I've forgotten to take it and ended up taking it the following day. I always take my mtx after a meal and try to drink plenty of water. Mtx has never made me tired. I do take folic acid, in fact I take 5 mgs every day to my 25 mgs of mtx per week.

Good luck!!

Kelly

I take mine on Monday mornings. I had a hard time coming to terms to using it and when I finally got the guts I decided to start the week fresh. I was afraid of the side effects. Then I realized it's been around a long long time, is most widely prescribed and it works for many people. I sure was in a lot of pain too!

They started me on 3 a week and kept progressing by a tablet every 2 weeks when it was clear I was tolerating the drug. I am on 6 a week now where I have stayed.

It didn't kick in until my prednisone was increased to 40 mgs. or maybe it was just time....I don't really know. However suddenly I starting getting better. I am now tapered down to 6 mgs. prednisone and still feeling pretty darn good.

The only thing I noticed with the MTX is hair loss and fatigue for a few days after I take it. Since I started taking 7500 mcgs of biotin a day that has really reduced the amount of hair I am losing. (Thanks babs for the suggestion!) The fatigue is a nusiance but I'm the type that pushes myself so I haven't allowed it to stop me from my normal functions.

All in all I happy being on this drug.

Hope you get as good of a result as I have had!

Thanks all for the advice. I really appreciate it, going to go take it now and drink a lot of water.Paula, if you find you are having difficulties with your MTX, consider splitting the dose up over the course of the day. It really helped me to minimize the fatigue/queasy side effects. When I tried taking it all at once, I felt much worse. I'm on the injections now, but I used to take two at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime on MTX day. My RD never told me about that, I learned it here (thank you!) but he said it was fine to do it that way. Hi Paula,

Regarding the knot in the palm of your hand, it may be a nodule. I'm not sure exactly what they are but they are common in people with RA. I have had some for years that gradually disappeared. As far as I know they don't do any harm.
Thanks Jesse and Jana. So far this morning, I dont feel nauseous or anything, so maybe Ill be ok with this drug. The pain is still the same, but I guess this drug takes a while before you see any benefits. Hope it will help me get off the Pred. Thanks again.I'm real glad to hear you're feeling ok this morning and no ill effects. That's a really good sign. Those that have problems see them pretty quick. Hopefully you'll be one of us that are in the positive club.

Folic acid does help....but I didn't even take it for the first two years and I was fine. In fact I have neglected to get my presciption filled for about a month now and I've been fine. I never really noticed it did anything different for me. Other's swear by it though. It certainly won't hurt you.

I've also never had a hair loss problem. That's pretty rare....but one of the scarier side effects. Don't let the sounds of that cause a panic. It's nothing like taking cemo.

I take mine at 4 pm Friday.. if I'm going to have any nausea its gone before bed.. usually I get real tired early and am in bed about 8 and asleep by about 9.. Saturday morning I generally sleep in til 9 or so..

I usually eat around 530 Friday night.. so far theres been no problems with that schedule.Thanks, Lovie and Kathy. Lovie, I think my hair is falling out due to the Pred; but cant be sure. I am still feeling pretty good this morning so guess things are Ok. Someone mentioned Biotin for hair loss, I may try that. Anyway, thanks both for the replies. Paula, I'm so glad you've had a good experience with the MTX so far. It will probably be smooth sailing for you if you've done so well already. Don't worry if it doesn't start working right away. Everyone is different, but it took five months before I felt much improvement and when I was switched to the injections it took another two and one-half months before I saw the additional benefit. But it was worth waiting for. Some feel better sooner, others later and there are even those who found no relief at all. Hopefully you'll be one of us who now swear by it. We're rooting for you!!!Thanks so much, Jesse. I havent, of course, felt any benefit yet and last four or five nights have been soooo bad. But I am going to hand in and hope it starts helping fast! thanks again what dose did they start you on Paula?My Dr told me I could take divided doses the day I take MTX. I take a double dose of Folic Acid the day before I take the MTX and the day after and then the regular 1mg daily in between.

MTX works a little at a time. Each week gets better. After a couple months look back and you will see a difference. If I had to go off it forever I would be one sad lady.