i was recently diagnose with pa, have had fibro for many years, only 40 years old. anyway. i was suppose to start methotrexate on friday but i am so scared too. does anyone know how they felt the first time they started taking metho and folic acid. i have been reading all the posts from pa and ra since they are similar, thought i may get more replies on this site.
Hi ANB...welcome!
I remember feeling the same way you're feeling now about methotrexate. In fact I didn't take it right away. I waited..hoping things would get better...but they didn't and eventually I had to take it in order to move. I was terrified of everything I read about mtx.
I've been taking mtx now for over 14 years and I haven't had any real problems with it.
How much of the mtx are u to be taking?
i am going to be taking 10mg 1 time a week. 1mg folic acid every day. i just feel i need to take it when i have a couple days off work incase i feel tired and sick? what do you think? will it hurt if i wait awhile to start this stuff? I realy dont want to be crippled later in life. my brothjer was diagnose with pa a few years ago, it took them so long to figure out what he had so now he is in bad shape. i dont want to turn out like him. i dont have much of the psoriasis, mostly the joint pain,achey, and alot of fatiuge! They also started me on ultram with has helped me greatly, i have more energy, it must take away the pain and the fatiuge. But i noticed that i am doing so much more and paying for it the next day.yeah, take it when you know you have a couple of days off if it makes you feel better. that way u can see how you are with it. some ppl say it makes them tired...or tummy hurts. so if u have any of those problems, you'll be home to rest.
I've never had any of those problems....i've been pretty lucky as far as the mtx goes.
Good luck!
Kelly
No one wants to start MXT or any of the assorted medication cocktails that are prescribed to us, but we do start them, and for most of us the meds work. They work in varying degrees. If they don't work we go on to the next cocktail and hope.....start taking the MXT. I have RA, PA, OA and am taking 20mg. of MXT and also being infused with 400 mg. of Remicade every 7 weeks. I have no more pain, inflammation, or swelling from the RA and PA. Start the meds now and don't wait until your joints are damaged. It took many starts and stops with different combinations of meds until I reached this point. I've spent the past 2 years reaching this point in my battle with RA and PA. I have damage in all of my joints but I can live with the damage pain now that the pain from the active RA and PA has subsided. Start the MXT when you have the next day off from work.
Was ever so reluctant to try the mtx but in May I relented and all I can say is, "Life Is Sooooooooo Great!" I'm on a dose of 20mg. a week and 1mg. of folic acid a day. Take the mtx before going to bed and I can honestly say I haven't experienced any nasty side effects. However, in the last two to three weeks I've had the itchies so bad for two to three days after taking the mtx. Called my rheumy and she told me to take benadryl and if that doesn't control it she then wants me to come in for additional lab work. Tried the benadryl and it works really well but find it difficult to stay awake.
Hi, I posted this on the PA board but repeating it here in case you don't get it,
I take MTX to supplement infliximab (remicade). I started on a low dose (2.5mg) and built up to 7.5mg, apparently this makes the nausea less as you get used to it gradually. I'm not sure what advice you've been given but I take 5mg folic acid every day apart from the day I take MTX. I also take a multivit that has folic acid in it. Take your MTX at night so that if you do get nauseous it is easier to bear. You can get some tablets to help if you do have nausea, they are called buccastem in UK and you put them under your top lip nad let them dissolve. I had some nausea when I took a higher dose of folic acid but only for about a day. Now I'm settled on a lower dose and ocasionally get a bit queasy (especially if I've been drinking during the week...) but not much more than that. Remember everyone is different and although some people will be really affected others will be fine. All I can say is give it a go - if it works and you can cope with it you'll feel the benefit!
Good Luck!
KT