Injectable MTX | Arthritis Information

OK...doc said keep vials in fridge. Pharmacist said it doesn't matter. ARGH! Which is best?

Don't it just drive ya crazy??

jamie

Hi Gram...
This seems odd, because I am a Gram too and what a way to go!
Anyway, I leave mine mtx at room temp and I take mine orally. I measure out 1cc and mix it with diet pepsi and drink it. My rheumy said that it absorbs better that way. On the day that I take it, I drink tons of water and eat a lot of soda crackers and it really helps with nausea and fatique. We are mtx junkies!

Do you have fewer side effects on MTX if injectible?

I am on 15mg and going crazy from them, my face is burning, my head is fuzzy, I have blurry vision and fatigue and a sore tum, as I sit at my desk and try to work. I called my RA and he as reduced the dose to 12.5 and added something else, Metamide I think it is, script in the mail.

I started 3.5 months ago on 10 and he had to put me up to 15 and then my troubles started, I am going crazy!!

Wendy

Hi I was told that if you once open the mtx bottle then it has to be refrig. So I don't know who is right I took my first shot today. They showed me how and I did it myself. They only showed me once and that is today,now I am on my own. I just pretended I was a nurse and did it. It wasn'r bad at all.

Wendy,

I don't know if it works that way for everybody or not but I definitely have less side effects with the injectible MTX

jamie

I started with the oral mtx and even at 5mg could not tolerate it stomach wise. My first injection was 7.5mg. It is a low dose but my GP switched me while rheumy out of town and stuck with starting protocol. I had no stomach issues with 7.5mg but was tired the next day. Rheumy back in town and he upped me to 15mg which I will do after turkey on Thursday. So I will let you know how that goes!

Sounds good, I dont refridgerate my tablets though and they seem ok, jolly potent by the way I am feeling now

Well done Angel57, you did good considering you are scared of needles, really well.

Good luck grammaskittles on 15, I am going down to 12.5 on Sunday, I am not doing this again, its dreadful, I feel half dead.

Now and then, if you read this, sorry I havnt replied to your email, I will do, its been chaos since I got back from the USA. :)

Wendy

Wendy, is the injectable form of mtx available in New Zealand? And by the way...how cool you live in New Zealand! Mine and my dad's name is on the Millenium Wall in New Zealand. When I see your posts it makes me think of him and feel all warm and fuzzy.

I skipped the pills and went right to the injections as I have chronic diarrhea and stomach upset as it is. I don't seem to get any more tummy upset than usual from the injections. Just room spins, dizziness and tiredness the night of and the next day and some hair thinning.

I was given a box with 5 small vials of solution. I pull up what I need in the syringe from the room temperature vial and throw the vial away as its not sterile once its used. Apparently there is a larger vial that can be re-used but there is a manufacturing problem and not available in my area right now.

I dont know grammaskittles if we get the injectable here, but surely we do! Lovely that you have been here and it makes you warm and fuzzy. I was born in South Africa but am a citizen here now and have lived here for 10 years, so its home.