Just starting Methotrexate | Arthritis Information

I'm pretty bummed...I didn't want to start taking the Meth. I think I was still in denial that I even had RA, but my MRI results showed otherwise.

anyway...last Saturday I took my first dose and I got super sick....running to the bathroom, etc. Then I was just unbelievably exhausted for the whole rest of the day. Then Sunday I was still sick to my stomach and just felt "icky." Is this normal?? Will it get better???

Thanks everyone...

I started on MTX and couldn't handle it because of headaches, let me rephrase that H E A D A C H E. For the 2 loooong weeks I was on MTX I had a constant unrelenting painful headache so my Rheumy took me off of that and started me on the Arava and then I had to go on Enbrel as well. I don't know if the side effects go away but I wasn't about to find out, I'm sorry you're having problems, good luck.Can't comment on the bathroom as I did not suffer that, but exhausted feeling was a part of it.

Over time the exhausted feeling has dissipated some what to the point that I can do things now that I could not be bothered with in the beginning.

I would be tempted to stick it out a little longer and let the body adjust.
If the sicklies stay with you on a day to day basis then time to look at other Meds.

One drug that I did not mesh with was Avara, had me running to the long drop all day.
I stuck that one out for two months before canning it.
Takes me a bit to remember. I was thinking i di dnot have that problem. Then I remembered i did have a few bottles of pepto when i first started MTX. Maybe it was the first two or three weeks and then i did not have that problem any more.

It is best take after supper. And then it is almost bed time. I di not really feel sick from it. I did run to the bathroom.

About almost three months into it i broke out in a bad rash. It did help with pain after about two weeks my pain meds were working. Before that i was taking four vicodine four times a day and crying and could not walk. Three or four weeks later I was taking two or three vicodine a day. However i was going for a nice long walk every evening after dinner. The point is the pain pills were working. And i was able to cut back on the pred for a while.

The Plaquinil I am sort of in between. I know i could be worse. But i sure could be better. It has taken longer to get any results from it. I do not go for long walks. But i guess i do not get stranded at the dinner table wondering how to get to my pain meds. Quess i will be taking it till November 18. Then on to something else.

Wish there were no side effects. But we have to remember bad things happen when we do not take our meds. Best of luck i hope this works for you and you get adjusted soon. Maybe there is still Plaquinil in your system and that is adding to the side effects.

I just started MTX about 5 or 6 weeks ago, and I felt sick and wiped out in the beginning. Now that I've been taking it for a bit, those nasty side effects aren't nearly as bad. I think it just takes a while to get used to it. Give it a few weeks (if you can), and see if it gets better. Also, my doc gave me an anti-nausea pill to take 12 hours after the MTX and I think that helps as well.

I am also on Plaquinel and that alone wasn't doing the trick so my rheumy added the MTX. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is the right combo of meds and by the time the real cold weather comes, it won't hurt to wake up in the morning anymore.

I hope the MTX works for you! Hang in there.

still wiped out after taking it for over a year.Check with your doc if you can spread out taking mtx pills -- if you're taking say 6 pills, maybe 3 with breakfast, and then 3 with dinner, or even, 3 one day, and 3 the next day. Check w/your doc though first. Drink plenty of water, that helps me.

I've been on mtx for about 20 yrs. A few yrs ago I switched to injectable mtx. Years of taking RA meds took a toll on my stomach, so bypassing the stomach minimized nausea.

Good luck, take care.

I have been on MTX for two years now...initially I had some fatigue but that has dissipated. I never really experienced any other side effect. However, I am only taking 10 mg. I take two pills in the morning and two at night. I also take Folic Acid.

I have been pretty much pain free since starting the MTX so hang in there...hopefully you can get some relief and stop the damage.