Newly Diagnosed-Question | Arthritis Information

I am to start my meds this coming Friday. I will start with five pills of MTX. I was wondering how long it takes before the MTX begins to work. One of the most disrupting symptoms of RA to me is the fatigue. Sometimes it hits me like a load of bricks, and comes with no warning. Will this get better, or is this an unrealistic expectation?

Thank you much!
V

about 6 weeks but keep in mind you are at starting dose and it may need adjusting to find your "sweet" spot

Thank you! At least that gives me some idea of what to expect.

VGood luck, Vee. Thank you, Lin B. I am hoping this works for me. good luck!!Hi Vee,

It took only 3 weeks for me to see "amazing" results...however the first week was "really bad" the fatigue got worse, and had some other side effects, the second week was a little better and luckily the third week was "much" better...I guess the key is to not give up, and to be determined. My side effects were SO bad the first week that the Dr. even considered reducing my dosage the following week, but I didn't want to give up, after only one week-glad I didn't! I'm sorry, I don't mean to worry you, I'm just trying to share with you my personal experience...(I've been on Methotrexate for about two months now...) Regarding the fatigue, I've had one or two episodes that have "hit me out of nowhere," usually lasts only one day or so (much better than before the meds) and the next day I will wake up with sore joints...(I call these fatigue episodes my flare-up warnings)...I still don't know what to do about them...I guess like many here have suggested, just take it one day at a time, and don't fight the fatigue.

Good-luck and many hugs!

Sandy.

Thank you, Sandy. How much MTX to you take a week? Has the rheumy increased your MTX any? Do you take folic acid?

Oh my, now I'm getting annoying. Asking too many questions! LOL

Blessings,
V

It took about 2 months for the MTX to kick in. I reccomend that you take it at bedtime. Hopefully that will allow you to sleep through any side effects.

Hi Vee,

You're so cute! There is NO such thing as TOO many quest. :) and you are not getting annoying...I'm new to all of this as well, so I don't know how much I can help; but I'll be happy to share my experiences with you! First of all I have Psoriatic A.; however I also have some similar symptoms with Rheumatoid A. although all my tests came back neg. (apparently this is possible) and as my Rheum. explained it really doesn't matter at this point, because he would of treated me the same for both. - With that said, I chose the injection over the pills, just because I have a very sensitive stomach, and I had heard that sometimes the pills caused a lot of nausea, etc. so just chose to start with the injection. I give myself .8 milliliters of Methotrexate a week and take 1 mg. of Folic Acid a day. I will send you in a private msg. my email, so "please" feel free to contact me at anytime if you have any quest. I would "love" to go through this with someone as well..

Hugs,

Sandy.