Off MTX 2 weeks | Arthritis Information

 

I just got a voice mail from my RD to stay off the MTX for 2 weeks due to this infection I have. I'll see him on Thursday for my regularly scheduled appointment and will ask him more then but does anyone know if this will cause me to feel badly for the next two weeks? I have been on a combination of Enbrel and Mtx for 12 months and in October, with my doctor's consent, I stopped the mtx and had absolutely no changes. I would think however that it might be one of those things that is different for everyone.

Wannabe,

I had to stop taking mtx for a couple of weeks due to low wbc.  I didn't notice any difference.

Hope you don't notice much difference as well!

Oh Crap- because even on the MTX for some reason I have been feeling progressively worse since the day after Thanksgiving. Hope this doesn't ice my cake.... Oh- in my slow posting I see others have had no reaction. As usual RA is a crap shoot.I had to stop my methotrexate and Enbrel once when I got sick.  I had just started my Enbrel.  I think I had only had one shot at the time so I don't know if it had time to work. I didn't know you had an infection.  Was it something to do with your teeth/jaw deal?I usually skip my dose of MTX every fourth or fifth week, and I haven't noticed any ill effects. I went off of it for two months earlier this year (I needed a clear head for a big project at work) and felt fine for the most part, but I definitely noticed my symptoms starting to return toward the end. I'm resigned to the fact that I'll probably always need MTX in my mix if drugs, but it's nice to know that I can take a break from it every few weeks and still feel good.
I'm usually pretty lucky about not having reactions so I'm going to think positive.
La- I have a cellulitis infection in my gum. Yet it was not there when I initially went with the sensitive tooth which was xrayed before and after and has no sign of infection it it....
I'm taking clindanmycin for 10 days. The dentist does not think the infection is linked to the throbbing teeth/jaw.
I'm not familiar with cellulits-what is it and how do you get it? Well I don't know too much either except that it's a bacterial infection caused by staph I think.
My dentist did not elaborate at all. I didn't think anything of cellulitis. I thought it meant a fatty lump. (cellulite/cellulitis LOL) Then kweenb googled it and alerted me to the fact that it can be difficult to get rid of when you have an autoimmune disease.

edited to catch spelling
wanttobeRAfree2008-12-15 17:09:09Sheesh another thing to worry about! I hate to say that I did a 2-week washout last year at Christmas time because of suddenly high liver enzymes.  The nurse when she called said, "I know you are going to hate me telling you this".  I had no idea what she was talking about, but I soon learned.  It was a fullblown withdrawal, like you see addicts going through.  After that, I never took it again - a bad drug for me.  Good luck, as I suspect you will be fine as most everyone seems to have been able to handle it well.  JSNM- yeah it just dawned on me that this a pretty bad time of year to be crap shooting.... I've been off for about two months now. At first it wasn't so pleasant; but I adjusted. I have however been on Humira all this time. I thought I'd have to increase my Humira but I leveled out after a few weeks. It hasn't been nearly as bad as I originally feared. I have some problems; especially with my back but I had a lot of that before too. I'm glad your liver is back to normal Lovie. The only other med I am on is 2 mgs prednisone. MTX actually stays in your system for 20 weeks, so even though you might feel a bit worse for not taking it, you won't be completely "off" it either, and you definitely shouldn't have all the martinis you want. One wouldn't hurt, (so my RD says), though.Thanks Gimpy. I guess I'll wait until Christmas Eve for my martini after all... Enjoy your martini Christmas Eve !  Hope you're feeling better soon. Holy cow...I thought the half life of mtx was like three or four weeks.  That's the last time I listen to my pcp about an RA drug!  I've been partatking in a little too much absinthe lately.  It's and aquired taste...and one that I kind of like.  Thank you all for the well wishes!  [QUOTE=bob_h76] Holy cow...I thought the half life of mtx was like three or four weeks.  That's the last time I listen to my pcp about an RA drug!  I've been partatking in a little too much absinthe lately.  It's and aquired taste...and one that I kind of like. 
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The half life might be 3 or 4 weeks. Half life just means when it's reduced by half----you still have to get rid of the other half. I know the liver processes about 90% of the MTX you take within 48 hours, and it takes about 20 weeks to completely wash it out of your system. But then AP doctors only require you be off it for 6 weeks before they do mycoplasma testing, so there must be only trace amounts by then.

By the way, my RD says a little bit of alcohol is okay---like, a drink a day. I usually have one but not on MTX day or within 48 hours after. A lot of other RDs aren't so relaxed about it, though.Will do! so sorry you're dealing w/ this wantto!!  Hopefully it'll clear up quickly. Babs- I hear you!  Everyone's RD seems to have a different idea how things should be handled! The antibiotic is giving me heartburn so I am going to have to pick up prilosec again at the grocery store tonight. mending is GOOD!!   I hope you feel better very soon.Get well soon!!! Hope you win the crap shoot.
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