This will be my sixth week taking 10mg of mtx, it has not helped the pain much as a matter of fact I am expericing pain in areas that I have not had. I do not go to the rd until 5/29. I was wondering if I can up my dose today without talking to my rd, they are closed today. I guess my question is has anyone increased their oral dosage without talking to the doctor first? The weather here in Oklahoma today is cold with some light snow flakes. I have been hurting for about 3 days. I take celebrex and Tramadol.
It really is not a good idea to up your dose without talking to your dr. It is still pretty early to start getting good results from mtx - another 6 weeks.
Are you taking the tramadol 3 times a day? I find it makes a big difference to take the pain killer on a regular schedule rather than 'when needed', it works about 2 times better. I'm allowed to take 100mg 3 times a day, but I find 50mg 3 times a day on a regular schedule works better than chasing pain with 100mg. My dr told me it would be much better - this time he was right.
Spring is just so much fun with the changes in weather. I'm sorry you are hurting.
Realistically if you are only on 10mg/week you should be able to increase by one increment without any trouble. That said, I would still recommend running it by your RD before you do it. For anyone with kidney or liver problems, it could be dangerous to increase these types of meds.
What I would suggest is to ask the doctor about increasing this time, and what his recommendations are for the future if you feel you need to go up again.
Keep in mind that it can take up to 4 months before you start seeing results from the MTX.
Hope this helps.
thanks for the info I will take as usual, can I take the tramadol today since I am taking my mtx, if not I will get thru the day and start tomorrow.
yes you can take the tramadol daily. The only restirictions with it is to watch your overall tylenol intake. But taking the tramadol on a regular schedule should improve your overall pain symptoms. i am also taking mtx. .4cc. i think thats 10mg???? have had 3 shots now, and also feeling worse than before i started taking it! I also am having joint pain in places i didnt have it before i started. although the pain in my back and hip,whitch were the worst is alot better. But i feel like crap! like i have the flu, and have been hit by a truck. Tomorrow is my 4th dose,i am hoping for some improvement. As far as upping your dose, i would call your RD. first. I aslo take tramadol,and prednisone.After 15 years of taking MTX, I would go up and down from 10 -5mgs, but never above the high amount. I know it is tempting, though. You need that 'liver' check monthly and maybe the dr will up it for you or add another try (I take prednisone & Remicade)....goood luck and I hope you STOP HURTING, that's the worst thing for your whole body (and mind).
sarah (only got rid of pain a month ago, I would wake in the morning screaming 'get the oxycodone!!" I couldn't even hold the glass of water to my mouth or put the pills in". Pain is terrible and I wonder if you left a message of the answering machine if you would get a response?? Dr. respond to PAIN!!with all sorts of meds, gabapentin, vicodin, oxycodone which they didn't want me to take but I had a good supply after surgery--so I took them, it's such a crapshoot and such crap!
sarah
At 10 mg per week MTX did nothing for me either. It wasn't until I got to about 20 mg that it kicked in so be patient. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor first. I was just in Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago, though I live in California now. My parents and my sister's family live near Tulsa. I grew up and went to high school in Broken Arrow. My wife grew up in Norman.
Alan