Starting mtx..what to expect? | Arthritis Information

 

I should have labeled this post "WHAT! No more beer?!!!"   

Anyway, I saw my RD this morning and since my swelling and pain have increased, he said I can't wait any longer to start the mtx. I'll probably take my first dose (4pills) tonight. What can I expect? Are you usually homebound the day after or can you do stuff? How long does it take your body to get used to it? Once you are used to the mtx, can you then do stuff the day after? I'm asking because I have 7 children and when the doctor says to take medicine the night before a day when I can rest, I'm wondering what day that would be. I'm guessing it wouldn't be wise to wait until my 3 year old leaves for college!

Thanks for your help guys,
leilaLelia, everyone has different experiences, but for me the side effects weren't too bad compared to the positive effects.  I am tired the next day still and  I have been on MTX for 11 years.  Don't put off taking it, it will probably make the other 6 days of the week better for you.  Talk to your family and get them involved in helping out.  I hope you feel better soon, let us know how you do after your first dose.
Waddie
Thanks Waddie and SnowOwl. Yes I also have the folic acid supplement to take on the other 6 days of the week.
I think my friends and I play a little know variant of pictionary...."full contact pictionary". We started after "flag pictionary" got a little boring.. Why don't you all take the folic acid on the day you take MTX?I take my folic acid every day. I started out on 3 pills I think and worked my way to 6. I too always take it after I eat and with plenty of water. I drink a bottle of water on my way to work and drink a full bottle with my medicine. I never had any problems with it other than feeling tired a day or two afterward. It's not so bad that it keeps me from doing what I need to do. Best of luck to you. Sno- my RD said that about taking more than 1 mg of folic acid but didn't tell me not to take it the day of. My RD never said anything about taking or not taking on MTX day.  It's something to keep in mind.  I take 2mg every day.  I was losing hair and had an occasional mouth sore.  I get mouth sores too but I really always did. I called them ulcers- little bumps that can be painful on the tip of my tongue.
I also was losing hair at first but Babs suggested I take Biotin. I take 5000 mcg's a day and now my hair stays in my head.
It just goes to show you how every RD has a different idea about treating RA...

edited  to correct one of my pet peeves - I used loosing instead of losing!
wanttobeRAfree2009-01-09 18:27:55Leila, I was completely freaked when I first started MTX, which was just a matter of weeks ago. Other than a nasty taste and dry mouth, it hardly bothered me at all. Those two symptoms have lessened. I take five tablets once a week and folic acid every day. My big problem right now is the insurance company making me try different NSAIDs because they don't care to pay for the one that works. Had a fairly excruciating flare in my foot last night. But bluehour MTX is a DMARD not a NSAID. It helps slow or stop progression of your RA. Want, sorry, I was changing subjects without notice. Explaining about MTX, then going on to whining about my problems with the NSAID.
Leila, I also forgot to say that I take my five MTX three at lunch and two at supper. Supposedly separating them like that helps with avoiding stomach upsets.

I wasn't on MTX very long.  I felt tired the next day.  I also started losing my hair on it and was saved by Biotin.  As for the Folic Acid, my RD said to take it every day.  He even put extra accent on "every day" when he said it.  It's obvious the RDs differ on the folic acid issue.  Maybe taking the folic acid on the day I took the MTX was the reason it did nothing for me? 

 

 

Bluehour,

I'm curious.  Which NSAID does your insurance not want to pay for?

Thanks everyone!
I don't know why my RD said not to take the folic acid on the day I take the mtx. I was doing my deer in the headlights impression, so I didn't think to ask.

I took the mtx last night. Unfortunately I woke up with some really swollen, painful hands and wrists, so I ended up busting out the pain meds at about 11am. The net result was a coma that lasted 4 or 5 hours. Boy am I tired!! But I'm not nauseous, which was my biggest concern. I tend to be kind of barfy.

Bluehour, when we changed insurance companies, the new one apparently doesn't cover a whole class of migraine meds. Of course they happen to be the only ones that work for me. So, while trying all of their alternatives, I end up puking in the Home Depot parking lot on two separate occasions because my migraines were totally uncontrolled. (told ya I was barfy). The insurance company finally relented and agreed to pay for 80% of one of the medications in that works. Leaving me to pay a mere per dose....God bless 'em.

Leila Leila-
I have always taken a list of my current meds and any questions I have for the doc to my appointments. I leave it on his table before he comes in to examine me. This way I don't feel hesitant to ask later on. I find this works well.
Are you eating before the MTX and drinking lots of water? It really helps. I also took a prilosec every day for a long time.
That is great advice, thanks, I'll try it!

I did have a little something before taking my mtx. I do need to up my water intake. Any tips on that?I just started MTX and havn't had any side effects at all yet. No folic acid here, doc never mentioned it???Kweenb, blue cross doesn't want to pay for celebrex. I'm now trying the generic of relafen. The first of the two I had to try and fail at was a pill that turned out to be a massive dose of aspirin. Leila, I'm barfy too, and stressed that I needed something that did not upset my stomach. And the idiot doc gave me aspirin, and idiot me took it though I KNEW better. So after four doses, my ears abruptly started ringing so loudly I thought I would lose my mind. That by far is the worst side effect I have ever had. I'd rather barf in parking lots. Well, maybe not, but I got off that crap right away.
Leila, do drink lots of water all day long and take all your medications with food. Ranger05, I'm very new to RA but you should find out about folic acid, I think that's standard to be taken with MTX.Is the folic acid you can buy at health food stores the same thing? Or does it need to be in RX form? Strange because i've now read that folic acid can help with liver function while taking MTX. Strange beause I drink often while taking MTX and my doc knows this?!
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