Medication - opposite effect | Arthritis Information

It seems to me that everytime I take my weekly dose of methtrexate (15mg), that my pain gets worse for days. I have been on it for a year along with, at times, other drugs like leflunomide and sulfasalizine. I have been told that I am pre-Humira. Currently I am also on prednisone which is good stuff but not intended for long term use. I am a "late onset RA" patient who up till two years ago was physically fit, going to a fitness club regularly and doing aerobics workouts 3 to 4 times a week. My faith in God is what is bringing me through this hard transiton time. Beach Dreamer~~ Hello! ! I don't think we've met. I am fairly new to RA having been just recently dx'ed in June, but had been struggling with pain, swelling, fatigue, malaise issues for a year with no resulition.
I am also taking Mtx along with Placquenil. Yesterday was my second round of the Mtx. I am tapering off the prednisone and am not sure how that is working out as I seem to still having some swelling and joint pain just about everyday. Will see what RD says at next visit in 3 weeks.
Like you I also relay on my faith in God to help me through this tough walk in n my life. At times I struggle and get pretty low but it's when I get back in the faith that I can get up and go on.
I hope you can get med combo that will for you in taking care of the pain and attacking this awful disease.
Take care.
Mom2
Hi Beach Dreamer. I've had the same experience as you in the past....the pain gets a bit worse right after MTX. That doesn't seem to be happening now that I'm on the injectible form. I don't know if there's any link or not. I believe there are others here as well who have had the same experience. I hope you get the relief you need very soon. It's hard waiting, isn't it?Yes, this happens to me too. On the day I take my MTX, my joints seem to hurt much more, and it sometimes lasts until the next day. My fingers also seem extra swollen, and my rings are too tight that day. MTX also makes me feel very sick, fatigued, and foggy-brained. After this wears off, I feel good until the next week.

I'm not sure if the joint pain is from the med, or just because the MTX from the previous week has worn off at that point, but I definitely experience it too.

I took 20mg of mtx for 18 months and had the same problem. The longer I stayed on it the worse my joints felt. I told my rheumy it felt like someone threw me on the ground and stomped all over my joints. He took me off the med for that reason-he said it wasn't helping me. My pain lessened greatly along with my nausea and vomiting I experienced weekly.I too have had pain within the first 24 hours. Worse than that, I seem to swell up the next 1-2 days! How crazy is that? MTX had not worked for me and I am now starting enbrel (3 shots).Has happened to me too but only lasts a day or two.

I have this reaction also, as well as I am nauseated and get a terrible headache. My Dr is trying with spliting the dose and increasing my folice acid. So we'll see if that helps.

Lorrie

This happens some weeks, but I'm starting to wonder if it's due to the day I take it. I usually take mtx on Wednesday and wondering if any increase in swelling is due to the workweek winding down. Maybe my body only likes a few days of work and then rebels.