Well, I finally start some RA meds tomorrow - my first course of methotrexate. I've been prescribed 1 mg. of folic acid. Is that the usual dose? Does more help more? Any other suggestions to mitigate the side effects? Thanks!
What is your dose of MTX? I was originally rx'd 15mg/wk of MTX and 1mg daily of folic acid. I recently increased the dose to 1600mcg (1.6 mg) but it hasnt been long enough to tell if it will make a difference. I go to the doc on Monday and plan to ask all about MTX and Folic acid.Check with your doctor or pharmacist. I am on methetrexate but can only tolerate 7.5 mg. I take 4 folic acids per day and that has helped alleviate some of the negative aspects of MTX. I think the pharmacist said the max dose of folic acid is 6, and that would probably be for someone who is on a much higher dose. I also find it helpful to drink a lot of water and to eat a high protein diet the day I take MTX. If I eat scrambled eggs with toast and juice with my morning dose(I split the dose and take 1 at each meal)and eat a good lunch and dinner, I do better and am less dizzy.What is the dose on the Folic acid you are taking Linda? It comes in 400mcg and 800mcg tabs OTC and then at least in 1mg tabs by perscription. The max dose on folic acid (folate) is 2400mcg (2.4mg) per day.I take 9mg of folic acid on friday and 10mg of mtx on monday. Same every week except now I have to add predinisone twice a day. I just started on mtx two weeks ago. its not working yet. I wonder if I space out my folic acid if it would help with my nausea? Any suggetions? Maybe it is too much on your stomach at once. You could try 1 mg per day. You probably need to ask your doc to call in something for the nausea. Reglan works well and doesnt cause the drowsiness that Phenergan does. It also comes in generic-metocloprimide.I've had phenergan before when I was pregnant no problems there. I 'll ask when I give them and up date on thursday. thanks for the advice
Iam on l2.5mg of mTX and 2mg of folic acid per day. I was getting the odd mouth sore with l mg. As soon as she upped it to two, I haven't had one since (fingers crossed). I also take MTHX just before I go to bed. It takes time before it kicks in, around 6/8 weeks on average. (I take Plaquinel every day too). Good luck, we all need it. How did the medication go? You didn't turn into a troll did you?
I was so paranoid on the first dose.
No, AZ, I'm not a troll - yet. I'm actually not noticing much different. So far, a tiny bit of nausea, but nothing outrageous, my hair is still on my head. No fever, chills, nothing. Not very different from taking teeny tiny vitamin pills. I had my banana! Are you still feeling good effects from taking it? I know I'm not supposed to expect anything for another 4 - 6 weeks, but I'd like to see a change. And I'd love to get off the prednisone.
1 mg always worked for me. I quit paying for prescriptions of folic acid because I could get it much cheaper on line. I order 300 pills at 800 mg each for ! I supplement that with a multivitamin that gives me 400mg. So I am well over my 1g dose.
Susan
Hi. This is my first time to post on this board. I started taking MTX 3.21.06. I took 4 tablets. 2.5mg. Also the Folic Acid 1mg tablet. I had been taking 20mg of Prednisone before this for about 2-3 weeks. That evening, after taking MTX in the morning, I started with a headache that stayed with me for 4 days. The following week, I took my dose of MTX again and I had a headache for 1 1/2 weeks. I called my Dr. & he said he didn't think it was the MTX, but stop taking it. I have appt. with him the last friday of this month. He said if I wanted to try it again before I came in, it would be ok. That way he wants to make sure it is caused by the MTX. I will try it again. This RA is really something. Between my right thumb & index finger I have a large knot. My feet will bother me, my neck, my knees, my hands, & elbows. I found out what having a flare means. Like today, I felt terrible. I was SOOOO tired, my ankles & feet hurt to walk, my elbows hurt, in fact I think everything hurt at one time or another.
Does anyone have problems with sweating? I have big drops of water that just falls off of me at times.
I don't know if this has anything to do with RA or not, but I find I have a terrible time remembering some things. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a fog. Scarey
I think it is so nice that one can come on these boards & get answers. Trisha Hi Fiona. Thank you for your reply. I just hope that I willbe able to take the MTX, as after reading on this site, I see it can really help. I just want to feel better. I'm a person that is always on the go & always into something. Summer is coming & all I can think about is my garden & boating, but the way I'm feeling,I just don't think I will be able to do all those things. Yesterday the sweating was so bad that I told my husband I was raining.
Well like I posted above, I will try the MTX again Sunday night. I hope you have a good weekend Trisha
Welcome! You sound like a lot of us. I didn't have a headache when I took the MTX, but some people seem to have. Several people recommended eating a specific diet & taking the pills just before going to bed. That worked for me.
I had a brief time when I was sweating day & night - but haven't experienced that in at least a month. But I know exactly what you mean about your hands & feet - I think just about all of us have had a flare like that.
I think the fog is definitely part of the RA - but whether it's part of the flare or just caused by the pain, I don't know. I know that once my flare passed (and it went from Dec. until the end of March), my brain cleared, too. I hope the same thing happens with you!
Good luck. Hope you find some answers here.
Everyone is different with different meds. I know that you will
find your mix. I am still working on it. I am on MTX and
pred -- so far the MTX hasn't bothered me YET. :) If it
gives you horrible headaches, try another drug. There are others
just as effective for people. I couldn't bear living with painful
headaches.
Good luck.
The MTX didn't bother me the first night, but last night, I woke up with horrible stomach pains. I ate half a banana & went back to bed. Seemed to works. Thanks for the idea, AZ - it really helped.
I get headaches, nausea, and the mtx makes want to sleep all the time. I haven't had any sweating though. I can't eat after I take the mtx it makes me sick. I eat at least a couple of hours before I take it.MTX makes me sleepy too. I buy my folic acid at the store for 2.00 for 100 pills. It was cheaper than the co-pay on the perscription. I always take something for nausea with the MTX.
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