Re:Switching from oral to injectables

[Guest guest]

In our case it was that 15 mg wasn't cutting it. They said that over 15 mg there are more GI side effects and that it is less well absorbed. The subcutaneous is better absorbed with less side effects. Once you hit the 20 mg mark, the down side of injectable ( ie, having to get a shot), is outweighed by the benefits of fewer GI complaints (nausea, etc) compared to oral.

As far as Teddy is concerned, he got over the "shot issue" really quickly, being 11 at the time. He was supremely motivated, because the doc said she'd have him playing baseball in the spring, and he knew that this was the only way that would happen. We have one of those flattened glass marbles in his "thursday" compartment as a reminder in his med box, so it's not forgotten. Usually he is the one who reminds me that it's a mtx day. BTW, don't worry about your own ability to give it, you'll be highly motivated too, because you want off the prednisone asap. Once Teddy went on 20 mg, the tapering off prednisone was pretty easy. hh

[Guest guest]

I too am thinking of asking the Rhem. to switch to the injections, Tyler is on

10mg of Mtx.(he is really skinny) and it is upsetting his stomach so that it is

causing nausea and diarrhea and he weight keeps changing about 6-8 pounds a

week. He will lose 6 pounds one week and then I will give him Boost(protein

drink) and it will go back up, then the next week he'll lose again and back and

forth.(On the same scale). He has been on Mtx for six weeks now and I have

noticed no change.

Missy and Tyler(spondy 10)

Re:Switching from oral to injectables

>

> In our case it was that 15 mg wasn't cutting it. They said that

> over 15

> mg there are more GI side effects and that it is less well

> absorbed. The

> subcutaneous is better absorbed with less side effects. Once you hit

> the 20 mg mark, the down side of injectable ( ie, having to get a

> shot),is outweighed by the benefits of fewer GI complaints

> (nausea, etc)

> compared to oral.

>

> As far as Teddy is concerned, he got over the " shot issue " really

> quickly, being 11 at the time. He was supremely motivated,

> because the

> doc said she'd have him playing baseball in the spring, and he

> knew that

> this was the only way that would happen. We have one of those

> flattenedglass marbles in his " thursday " compartment as a reminder

> in his med box,

> so it's not forgotten. Usually he is the one who reminds me that

> it's a

> mtx day. BTW, don't worry about your own ability to give it,

> you'll be

> highly motivated too, because you want off the prednisone

> asap.

> Once Teddy went on 20 mg, the tapering off prednisone was pretty

> easy.hh

[Guest guest]

Hi Missy,

started out on 7.5mg oral right before his 3rd b-day.Four months later and a dose of 15mg still nothing.I called and told the rheumy I wanted to switch to injections so they got us in that week.The injection made a big differance almost immediately. had been doing so great for so long that last July we got to switch to injectable in juice then just a couple months ago switched to pills and immediately developed severe Gastritis so had to go back to the shots.The shots realy are the way to go.The pills are so hard on the stomache and you never know how much the body is actualy absorbing.

Good luck and I hope Tyler responds better to injections then oral.

Hugs

Becki and 5 systemic

[Guest guest]

Missy -

Caroline is currently on both Prenisone and MTX. She has gained

about 2 or 3 pounds from being on the combination, but I think that

it is mostly the Pred. She has the worst bowel movements and stomach

aches. We have been on Zantac for about two weeks now with no

luck... We too are thinking about the injectables. Keep us posted on

what you decide.

Alia and Caroline, age 2, poly/uveitis

> I too am thinking of asking the Rhem. to switch to the injections,

Tyler is on 10mg of Mtx.(he is really skinny) and it is upsetting

his stomach so that it is causing nausea and diarrhea and he weight

keeps changing about 6-8 pounds a week. He will lose 6 pounds one

week and then I will give him Boost(protein drink) and it will go

back up, then the next week he'll lose again and back and forth.(On

the same scale). He has been on Mtx for six weeks now and I have

noticed no change.

> Missy and Tyler(spondy 10)

>

> Re:Switching from oral to injectables

>

> >

> > In our case it was that 15 mg wasn't cutting it. They said that

> > over 15

> > mg there are more GI side effects and that it is less well

> > absorbed. The

> > subcutaneous is better absorbed with less side effects. Once

you hit

> > the 20 mg mark, the down side of injectable ( ie, having to get

a

> > shot),is outweighed by the benefits of fewer GI complaints

> > (nausea, etc)

> > compared to oral.

> >

> > As far as Teddy is concerned, he got over the " shot issue "

really

> > quickly, being 11 at the time. He was supremely motivated,

> > because the

> > doc said she'd have him playing baseball in the spring, and he

> > knew that

> > this was the only way that would happen. We have one of those

> > flattenedglass marbles in his " thursday " compartment as a

reminder

> > in his med box,

> > so it's not forgotten. Usually he is the one who reminds me

that

> > it's a

> > mtx day. BTW, don't worry about your own ability to give it,

> > you'll be

> > highly motivated too, because you want off the prednisone

> > asap.

> > Once Teddy went on 20 mg, the tapering off prednisone was

pretty

> > easy.hh