Methotrexate??? | Arthritis Information

 

I was just wondering for all of you who have gotten relief with Methotrexate, at what dose did it help you?????  I am currently at 12.5 mg methotrexate along with 400 mg Plaquenil and 5 mg prednisone.  So far I am still the same.  I will go up to 15 mg meth. next week.  I have been dealing with PMR and RA since Jan 08.  June 13th I woke up feeling rested and feeling good.  That lasted one day.  I know I have to be patient, but after feeling good for one day I really realized what I have been missing!!!  Thanks.

Hi Mom2 - I increased each month over a 4 month period, ending at 25mg.   Still not full relief, so added enbrel to the mix in Aug 07.  I have since decreased my mtx to 17.5mg.  The two together seem to be doing okay.   Hard to say for me. I think I was up to 15 mgs and 20 mgs prednisone with no result. Then my doctor increased the prednisone to 40 mgs and I was immediately turned around. I tapered off the prednisone over the course of a year to 2 mgs. I was doing good until I had to stop the MTX for 3 weeks.  I went into a flare- got out of it by increasing to 20 mgs MTX and 10 mgs prednisone but I've never re-gained the level of comfort or remission blood work numbers I had prior. RD increased dosage to 18 mgs. weekly and I experienced some relief then added Humira and the combo worked magic for me.  Lindy LinB2009-06-18 15:30:18I started on 20 mg prednisone in Feb. 08.  Then I started on Plaquenil Dec. 08.  Then I started on 7.5 mg Methotrexate the end of this April.  I stayed on 7.5 mg for one month.  Then I have been increasing it by 2.5 mg every two weeks.  Currently at 12.5mg but will increase to 15 mg this coming week.  Then will increase another 2.5 mg after two more weeks.  Then back to the rheumatologist.  I have been very patient, but since I felt good one day, I have become very impatient.  I live in Connecticut, so all this rain is getting to me and evryone else!!  oh well for me I am currently taking 20 mg/wk of MTX (8 pills) and it is working fairly well - but I still feel there is room for improvement in my everyday pain level & functioning.  That said, I have not had a full blown flare since November! so it is making a significant difference.  I guess I am just plain greedy because I want to feel "normal" not just "fairly good".  SIGH.

Mary-Pat

At the start, I gradually went up to 15mg, injection (GI disease-Plaquenil made me lose 30lbs from diarrhea).  It took over 6mo to kick in and eventually, I no longer needed DH to help me dress, eat, open doors, and I could hold a cup again. Those things have not gotten that bad for more than 5 yrs. That said, I still have problems, stiffness/mild swelling, pain,& fatigue with feverlike bodyaches/ brainfog. I wish I could take Prednisone like most of you but I went into anaphylactic shock last time so can never take it again. I dunno if RD will increase Mtx dose or not but I kinda hope so after my bedbound day yesterday and not so great today.

CathyMarie2009-06-18 23:03:39bump I was in almost constant flares for over a year before I sought medical help (no insurance, no moneyI took MTX for many years and found great relief on a higher dose. The lower does wasn't effective....but the higher I got the more relief I found. After taking it for years I was taken off of it due to elevated liver test; but have done well without it due to the fact that I had also added Humira a couple of years before stopping it. [QUOTE=cataholic] And I think I'd have to be near-death before I could be convinced to take prednisone!  Man, I just HATE taking all these meds!!I'm maxed out at 25 at the moment but for 18 months, 20mg was doing the trick
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