folic acid | Arthritis Information

 

When I was first prescibed folic acid with the Methotrexate, I filled the prescription and used the whole thing.  Towards the end I was taking it ever so often and when I ran out, I didn't buy anymore.  Supposedly it was to help if you got a sore mouth, and I never did did get sores in my mouth.  Maybe there was more than it would be doing in my system.

Would folic acid have helped my liver count?  I sort of forgot all about it...not good, I know.    Mary

Hi Mary, it is important to take that Folic Acid, as MTX can produce Folic Acid Deficiency - as in the copy and paste article below, from About.com Arthritis.  There are many other articles on the net about it  -  try a google -  Methotrexate & Folic Acid.

The folic acid can help prevent side effects, hair loss, mouth ulcers, nausea & liver damage.

I recommend you to have another think about dropping your folic acid.

I am on 5mg Folic Acid per day (except for the day I take the MTX 17.5mg per week)


Why is it necessary to take folic acid with methotrexate? is a chemotherapy drug that prevents cell reproduction by interfering with folic acid activation. MTX is also used in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Although very effective, its use potentially may produce serious side effects including nausea, mouth ulcers, blood problems, liver cirrhosis, and hair loss. Prolonged treatment with MTX may also lead to folic acid deficiency. To reduce the risk of these side effects, without fear of interfering with its efficacy, a maximum daily dose of 5mg of folic acid is recommended for those patients taking MTX on a regular weekly basis.

Hope all goes well for you

Thank you for that information on folic acid and the site.  I had read there before,but had not seen this.  I think it has been about a month that I haven't taken it.

I go to the rheumatologist tomorrow, so I'll see what she plans to do since I have had high liver count with the Methotrexate. 

When I was getting low on the folic acid, I thought it was like the Piolec prescribed with the prednisone.  Just something you might need, so I thought I would see what happened if I didn't take it for a couple days.  Nothing happened, so I would take it every other day or so.   Probably not the best thing to do.  :-(   again, thankyou, Mary

Ok Mary,  I wish you the best for your Rh visit tomorrow.  Post us how you got on.
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