Methotrexate | Arthritis Information

Last week, I began taking mtx. I was prescribed 15 mg a week. Last night, I took my second dose after dinner. A few hours later I took my regular 800mg of neurontin (for Fibro) and plaquinel. I ended up having a terrible bout of nausea. I felt like I drank too much alcohol, my stomach had that kind of burning feeling too. Sometimes, an hour or so after taking the neurontin, I do get a bit fuzzy, but I take it to help me sleep and I would never give that up! I take it about 2 hours before bedtime.

(Of course, I wasn't drinking at all) But, I do have that hung over feeling. Headache and all. Is this normal with the mtx, and will my body eventually adjust? How long should I wait before talking to the doctor about another alternative? I really want this to work. The plaquinel alone wasn't helping much (my worst joints still ache) that is why she prescribed the mtx. Isn't there an injectable form of mtx, and does that reduce any stomach upset side effects?

TIA~Debbie

I tried mtx twice (once a week for two weeks) and my reaction was so severe that my dr. told me to stop it immediately. I'm now on Enbrel and Arava. I'm not sure how long others were able to stay on the mtx to see if the symptoms/reactions subsided, this is just my experience.I know maany people have stomach problems with MTX pils so they take shots instead. maybe you should consider that. Also, I would call the pharmacist and ask if your nausea could have been caused by the drug combo that you took. Maybe it will be easily corrected by not taking those two so close together.I am on injectable MTX for that very reason, i havent had any problems with it yet.My RD had me start out on a lower dosage and work up to 15 mg by increasing 2.5 mg every two weeks. Maybe that would have helped. For I guess the first year of taking MTX I use to just cross Sunday's off my calendar as my day of rest. I never planned anything on a Sunday. I knew that Sunday due to the Saturday night MTX dose I would not feel good at all. Sometimes were worse than other's. Often I would take a shower only to put on clean PJ's and get back in bed. I would nap, read....watch TV; and my husband gave firm orders to the children "NOT TO BOTHER MOMMA!" Truth be told; I began to look forward to "My day of rest". That's something I think our bodies just need.

Over time the majority of the side effects have subsided; although I often take a Sunday afternoon nap. I do have some nausea on Saturday nights after my dose and sometimes Sunday's I'm a little quezzy too. Like I said; Sometimes are worse than others. The fatigue was always my worst symptom; but even that has gotten better over time.

MTX has made such a dramatic difference in my life I've learned to accept the bad while appreciating the good. It's never been so bad for me that I needed to change meds.

I started on a low dose and had it increased gradually, I have heard a lot of people say they have problems being put on a high dose straight away.

Do you take folic acid a day or two before I take the MXT, I was also advised to split my current done 20mg, and take it iver 2 days. I don't get any side effects that way.

It's worth a try, oh, and they recomend you don't drink alcohol while on MXT as the liver processes it the same way iot does MXT and it can be a strain on the liver if it's too much.

I was switched to injectible, but not b/c of nausea. But this is how I would take pills when I was on them: 9:30-big snack. 10:00 pm--take MTX and go STRAIGHT to bed. I was never woken up with nausea. I got my first MTX shot at 10 am one day and it made me super nauseous for a few hours. I think just b/c I had been taking it at night and asleep for that part. So I am injecting at night now. I was nauseous right after first time b/c I wasn't quite ready for bed so I'm thinking maybe the nausea is wearing off.

I do think for most people injections create much less nausea or get rid of it.

Physicians usually start MXT at smaller doses with increases in dosage as your body adjusts. I started at 7.5 mg. and worked up to 17.5 mg. You'll learn to adjust the timing of your dose over time. I inject in the evenings and usually I'm ok the next day, not wonderful but ok. Most likely you'll get used to it. Call your RD and talk with them about splitting the dose, morning and night. That might help. I know some people do that. The one constant with MXT is it reacts differently on each person and what works one week may not work the next. I've been on it for over 2 years and have had only minimal side effects. Take care. Lindy I too worked my way up to 15 mgs starting out at 7.5. I take 1 mg of folic acid daily. I was also told to take a prilosec everyday and I have not experienced any stomach problems. I have had a lot of success with MTX and wish you the same.I have done most of the things suggested as well as I add a big dessert on MTX night. It has actually become a necessity. I kind of blew it off once and really paid for it. Anyway...poor me I have to have a big ole dessert every Friday night! good advice. LindyI was started off on a lower dose and it was gradually upped. I was nauseated on the lower dose and it worsened each time the med was upped. It got to the point I was sick from Friday night when I took it, until the following Friday morning, only to have to start the process all over again that night. I took mtx for 18 months until my rheumy took me off of it. It got to the point that it caused me to vomit along with severe stomach pains and it made my joints hurt even more. I also was taking folic acid with it. I started at a lower dose as well, but am now at the maximum. I've had the fatigue, but not the nausea. too take Folic Acid every day since starting MTX, but that was to combat hair loss. I take it all once a week and my doc had me take it right before I go to bed from the very beginning so that I sleep through any nausea. Works for me.

Hope you find a method that works for you.

I also take mine right before bed. I do split it up over two night though because I was still getting to nausea. I do get really fatigued when I do take it but I can work around that. I will have to up the dose in a few weeks though so we'll see how that goes. Hopefully you will find what works for you.
Mom2
Thanks everyone. I think the first thing I need to do is talk to her about changing the night I take it. She has me taking it on Tuesday nights, and my work week begins on Wednesday. So I figure if I can take it on Sunday night, I have Mon and Tues to feel crappy...It will interfere with my Avon sales, but that I can work around.