Starting Methotrexate | Arthritis Information

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What day a week do you take your methotrexate and Why?

 

My RD told me I could pick whatever day I want. He also told me not to drink alcohol the day I take the pills. I asked if wine on other days was ok and he said yes.

 

I am thinking starting on Monday...any pros and cons to what day you take yours?

 

 

Thanks, you all are very helpful

Tink

sTinkerBell2009-02-18 11:22:40I take mine on Tuesday so if I feel like having a drink on Sunday I can.Tink, when I took my injections, I took it in the evening (so I could go right to bed) and I took it when I felt I could rest the day after if needed.  For me, that was a Mon. night, though thinking about the drink on Sunday thing...  Usually on Wed. and I also drink lots of liquids.  I don't drink much so alcohol isn't an issue.  If I'm going to have a drink I don't drink on Wed. or Thurs.  LindyI take mine on Mondays now.. I use to take on the weekend but that messed up my Sunday!!
 
read my hints about how to feel okay when taking it... they came from the RD himself.
 
Take a cough med two hours before dosing... then every four-6 hours after dosing (this is for MTX headache)
TAke extra B6 50-100 mg for the tummy.....
 
good luck!  I hope it helps!!
I take mine on Tuesday.   Mainly to leave the weekend open for wine-drinking.  I do keep it at no more than 4 glasses/week.  No alcohol the day before, day of and day after for me.   Do you work? I'm not on it now; but for years I took it on Saturday's so I could have Sunday to rest. You'll have to see how you do but for the first couple of years I usually lounged around all day the day after. It makes some people really tired and some very ill feeling. I sure did for a long time. It got better over time but for a long time Sunday's were Momma's day of rest and my dear, dear husband instructed my family not to bother me unless it was absolutely nessesary. I usually got up; took a shower and put on clean jammies and napped all day and watched TV. By Monday I felt much better but often still pretty tired.
 
Now if work isn't a consideration I'd highly recommend taking it mid-week and resting up for a nice weekend free of hassels!
 
Good Luck. Hope all goes well. Try not to worry yourself sick about it. It's a great medication for so many. I'm sure you're going to do great.
My RD said NO ALCOHOL! Not EVER! Gees... Your RD's seem to be more fun than mine.
I take mine on fri night because, with 7 kids, saturday is the only day I can get help. I would be a complete mess if I took it on a weekday. It does kinda ruin my weekend, however.
My RD said take it right before bed so you can sleep through the worst of it.

I am to start with 4 pills the first time to see how I do. Then I guess I try the 6 pills. He never really said. But he told me NOT to drink on the day I took it. Not really a problem for me. I could take or leave a glass of wine I guess. I think I will abstain from alcohol the day before , day of, and day after, just to be careful.

I wonder why it is better to take it at night? Does everyone get sick from it? Or only some? I know everyone has probably talked this subject to death, but I want you all to know I appreciate your responses.

Tink

I started taking mine at night, but it seemed like I was still tired the next few days, so moved to daytime as it was easier to remember to take with my other morning pills.   The first few weeks I had some queasiness, but nothing since then.    I do work, but still chose Tuesday so my weekends are more open.   I try to schedule less the few days after taking . It helps that I can work from home if needed and can head home early, nap and finish up in the evening.

It wouldn't hurt to watch your alcohol intake for the first few months and see how your liver reacts to the mtx.    You should be having blood work every month for a while.  I think I did the monthly tests for about 6 months and then went to every two months.
[QUOTE=leila]My RD said NO ALCOHOL! Not EVER! Gees... Your RD's seem to be more fun than mine.
I take mine on fri night because, with 7 kids, saturday is the only day I can get help. I would be a complete mess if I took it on a weekday. It does kinda ruin my weekend, however.
My RD said take it right before bed so you can sleep through the worst of it.[/QUOTE]
 
mine too!  No alcohol except very special occasions... I don't think "saturday" qualifies
 
I've had four or five drinks in 18 months.... 
I have never been ill from MTX. I take it with the rest of my meds after breakfast. Every morning I drink 16 oz of water on my way to work and it takes 16 oz, to swallow all my pills. I think I notice brain fog and fatigue for two days after but it hasn't stopped me yet.  [QUOTE=leila]My RD said NO ALCOHOL! Not EVER! Gees... [/QUOTE]
Ditto. Mine was firm about it. I also take it on Fri. evening. Sleep most of it off but I'm still mostly wiped out Sat. I started out with 4 pills and I am now up to 7. I did get really sick with it the first couple of times I took it. After that it wasn't to bad.  Good luck and I hope it works for you.

Tink, Good luck and Cheers! I also place a high value on my glass of wine, altho I've cut back the last few weeks. But I'll chink glasses with ya on a non-mtx nite!

Mo
I started with 4 and am now up to 10. I don't feel horrible, just really tired and slightly hungover. So it's kinda like drinking, just minus the fun part. I started out with 6 about 6 weks ago. I take mine Friday night to sleep off the worst of it. (I hope anyway.) The first few times was fine. Then, I started having a queasy tummy most of Saturday, and part of Sunday. Fatique is pretty bad, but I last through it.
I was just boosted up to 8 pills a day. I take Folic Acid to help counter the side effects as well. Was 1 mg a day, but he upped it with the MTX to 3 mg a day now.

Liver profile every month right now.

Hope that helps you some.


My doctor never had a problem with me drinking some alchohol either; until my liver panels started coming back high. I was on 25mg and had been on it more than 5 years before I ever started having problems. I'm sure that the alchohol contributed to my problems. Eventually I had to be taken off MTX because my liver panels continued to be high., I was off of it two months before it ever returned to normal. If MTX turns out to be a good medication for you and you hope to stay on it long term I'd advise being very cautious about your achohol intake. If I had it to do over again I would only drink occationally verses on a regular basis like I did. At times I'd have a glass of wine or more every day....never a "Get drunk" (Ok; never is a little strong) situation; but a very causal drinker for sure. I never really worried about it.

I haven't restarted MTX because I'm doing pretty well on Humira alone and I do enjoy having a glass or wine several times a week; but when and if I start having problems again I will be far more careful than I was before. Liver problems can become very serious business if left unchecked.
 
MTX was a very good medication for me. I always felt like it worked better than anything else.
Lovie2009-02-22 07:56:13Hi Tink - I have taken MTX for almost 2 years. I started at 15 mgs. gradually built up to 22.5 mgs. I have had very few problems. I take it at bedtime and have only had some mild nausea a couple of times. I usually have a day of rest one or two days after I take it because I feel pretty wiped out. Sometimes that lasts all day, sometimes it lasts only 1/2 day. I don't drink very often, but I never really did before so that's not a big sacrifice for me. You are not supposed to be out in the sun on MTX since you are at an increased risk for skin cancer. I'm probably not as good about this as I should be.

I hope it helps you feel better. It would be great to get some relief for you. Good luck, and try not to worry about it.

Dawn
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