I was reading dar's post and I am on methotrexate. Very quickly after I started I had a pressure in the center of my chest. It didn't hurt. Then four days after I took the pills 7.5mg I had stabbing pain. My dr told me to take prilosec. Even though I didn't have anothe stabbing pain that week the pressure was hard and still there. The next week my dr took me to .1ml injection of methotrexate. The pressure died down to where I hardly noticed. Then the next week (this past thursday) he uped me to .2 ml injection(which is the same as 7.5 mg) it cam back almost right away and now I have a cough, the left side of my throat is swollen so much it hurst to swallow and I had a dizzy spell in the shower when I twisted around. I called my dr to take me off the methotrexate (even though he doesn't think theya re related) he wants to put me on a steroid I forgot the name and thenput me back on methtrexate when the chest pain goes away. I haven't been moving anything. I have been taking it very very easy he thinks it that col... thing when you move something to hard. Any help. Am I crazy. I don't want to not believe my dr but I don't. Should I get a second opinion. Has anyone felt this?
I have heard that some people do have difficulty taking MTX. I don't know if this is your case. What should be done is a physical exam of your lungs and possibly a chest xray.
The prilosec is for acid reflux type symptoms. But none of this explains your swollen throat or dizziness.
Your symptoms seem like a very usual response, almost allergic. I doubt your doctor sees this often, but should take it much more serious.
You need to get a physical exam by a doctor, if he won't see you tomorrow. I wouldn't want to take any more MTX under those circumstances. This is not a normal reaction to MTX.
If your Rheumy will not see you tomorrow, head to the ER. Definitely do not take any more without fully knowing what is going on.
If your throat swells any more, you need to go to ER right away as that is one of the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.
I agree, I would hold the MTX and follow up.
MTX's not for everyone....sadly; that might include you.
CHest pains are scary because they could be all kinds of things....often very serious things. Waiting is not the best thing to do when dealing with something so serious.
I do have a great deal of inflamation in my breast bones and ribs. If you push on those breast bones they'll hurt. Does your do that? You don't have to lift anything to cause it....but lifting something unusual can cause it. I'd think thought that an increase in MTX would stop it (Always has for me) not increase the pain.
Definately continue to seek help. Your RD might not be willing to investigate; but someone has to.
Best of luck!
Hey,
Can someone tell me what the mtx is and does? Maybe even side effects I keep seeing it on here and I don't really know what it is. A lot of you seem to be on it though.
nora
Methotrexate. We shorten it to MTX because we refer to it so much and it's such a long word.
It's one of the stronger DMARDS prescribed to RA patience. It's also used to treat cancer in much higher doses.
What medications are you on?
Gotchya. I'm sorry....I did read that in another post last night. (It's hard to remember who's situation is what).
DMARDS are disease modifying agents that slow the progression of the disease. Naproxin is the same things as aleve but in a higher dose than you can buy OTC. Naproxin will reduce your inflamation for a short time; and also help with the pain, but it won't help you long term. It's not an actual "Treatment".
I'm certain that your doctor will discuss different DMARD treatment options with you. My first one was Sulfersalizine. Then a couple years later I started Plaquinel. I managed real well; but eventually I was put on MTX. It's not usually prescribed first unless your doctor believes in being really aggressive. Considering your doctor sent you away that first day with only Naproxin; I doubt that will be her first option.
Predisone might be prescribed short term and that will go a long way toward making you feel like your old self again while a DMARD has time to get in your system. THe majority of DMARDS I've been on take several weeks to three months to really make a noticable difference.
This first stage as they begin to find a treatment that works for you is certainly the most frustrating of all. It's a complicated process. Hang in there.....sometimes it take a while to figure out what works best for you.
is there an alternative to prednisone? I have been on that through out the years for one thing or another and i always gain a ton of weight and have even more trouble sleeping than usual. Not to mention my wonderful disposition.You won't have to be on it. For me it was just a booster type of things I take during really bad spells.
Many here fall into the trap of taking it long term. I've never been like that.
Just tell your doctor you'd like to start a DMARD treatment without it. She might not prescribe it at all.
The thing is DMARDS take a while to "kick in". Predisone just kind of gets you over the hump in the mean time. If you're in a position to wait it out and live with your current circumstances you won't need it at all.
You always have the power to refuse any medication you want. Don't let any doctor tell you other wise.
Stella, I've used MTX for 5 months with very few symptoms. What you're going through is definitely not a normal reaction.