Hi guys, I am suffering again and don't quite know what to do.
I am on two doses of 7.5mg of MTX a week and have been for approx 4 weeks, prior to that I had been building up since March from 5mg. I have also been taking 80mg per week of folic acid as I have had to stop MTX a number of times before due to side effects. My tummy has slowly been playing up again with terrible cramps, sometimes constipation and sometimes diarrheoa, and now it is nightly and becoming too much.
I also started oxycontin 3 days ago and was wondering if this could be contributing to the problem, I have been suffering from nausea and awful tummy pains etc especially today and yesterday, what to do? I was on Endone prior to Oxycontin but aren't they the same thing just one is slow release? I am at my wits end as I cannot tolerate any other Dmards and don't want to go on Rituximab. Any advice would be kindly appreciated. Thanks again Janie.
Hi Jane,
Sorry to hear you are having tummy issues. Before RA, if I ever had to take narcotics, I would always get severely constipated. Actually, now that I think about it, on and off, (depending on what was going in my life at the time - stress/diet-wise) I have always battled some sort of bloating/digestive/bowel issues anyway...
However, when I started having to take painkillers (vicodin originally and percocet now for the last 3/4 months) around the clock this past year with the onset of RA, I also started taking fiber tablets (Fiber Choice plus Calcium)and eating this Dannon Activia Yogurt Bifidus Regularis Yogurt (light, fat free) daily. Oh and also Prilosec daily (when I forget that I do get indigestion/heartburn which I think is from the 20 mg MTX).
Just wanted to share this with you as I have been absolutely amazed that with all the meds (see signature) I have been taking (and the major inactivity I have been forced into the last several months) I have been more regular and comfortable than I have ever been in my life since I have been adhering to this daily regimen with that yogurt and the fiber pills.
Hope this might help you too!
Regards,
Melly
I had some similar problems with MTX and was able to successfully transition to Humira. I feel much better and no more nausea and diarrea. Have you tried any of the biologics...they work very well for a lot of people with little or no side effects?
Alan
Narcotics will cause constipation. I have to be on Miralax and fiber supplement to help control that. Can you switch from taking the mtx orally to injecting it? My tummy problems went away when I made the switch. My only bothersome side effect from the mtx injection is being very tired the next day.