Re: Methotrexate - folic acid ratios

[Guest guest]

Hi. Lori and welcome to the list. When was taking his MTX, he took

12.5 mgs a week and 1 mg of folic acid a day. You might be right, she

might not be getting enough to counter act the side effects. But I would

be careful as there can be problems with too much of any drug, vitamin,

supplement, etc. I would check and see what could happen if someone has

too much folic acid before you up that. Or perhaps check with the dr to

see.

I did read your original post but have not had time to respond. You have

found a very valuable resource here with this list. FYI - RA and JRA (or

JIA as many drs are now calling it) are different diseases. Good luck,

Michele (19, spondy)

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Lori Maynard

Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 10:49 AM

Subject: Methotrexate - folic acid ratios

For some of you who have kids on Methotrexate, might I ask how much they

are

taking and how much folic acid they are taking? My has been taking

25

mg MTX per week for 6 months along with 1 mg per day of folic acid. She

is

having a lot of side effects including big time fatigue, nausea,

dizziness,

stomach cramping, and hair loss. With my doctor's tentative blessing I

am

cutting her dose of MTX in half starting today, but I'm wondering if

perhaps

she hasn't been taking enough folic acid to compensate for the high dose

of

MTX.

Thanks for your help.

Lori in NJ

Wife to , Mom to (13), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle (5)

and

Josiah (3)

[Guest guest]

Lori ,

I was just going through old post and saw yours . My daughter is 12

(in three days) and she had taken Methotrexate shots for almost a

year . She was started on 10mg and eventually backed down to 4 mg.

She was also taking 1mg Folic acid daily along with Sulfasalazine and

Mobic. My daughter had many of the same side affects that you

daughter experienced,the hair loss being the most troubling. Belle

went into a medical remission in late July and was taken off the

Methotrexate & Folic ~ she stayed on the others. Her hair has started

to sort of grow in , it is very thin and she has a large bald spot on

the back of her head. She at this point is no longer in remission but

her wonderful DR has been working her very closely and is trying to

keep her healthy but off the " biggies " for as long as possible. It's

a precarious line we walk between keeping the Arthritis under control

and not over medicating. I hope starts feeling better soon , I

know his is hard .

Teri ( Belle 12 psoriatic )

>

> For some of you who have kids on Methotrexate, might I ask how much

they are

> taking and how much folic acid they are taking? My has been

taking 25

> mg MTX per week for 6 months along with 1 mg per day of folic

acid. She is

> having a lot of side effects including big time fatigue, nausea,

dizziness,

> stomach cramping, and hair loss. With my doctor's tentative

blessing I am

> cutting her dose of MTX in half starting today, but I'm wondering

if perhaps

> she hasn't been taking enough folic acid to compensate for the high

dose of

> MTX.

>

>

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

>

>

> Lori in NJ

>

> Wife to , Mom to (13), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle

(5) and

> Josiah (3)

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori! My son has been on MTX (25mg) since his diagnoses in March. His

rheumy is very much against taking a folic acid supplement, saying that it could

reduced the effectiveness of MTX by up to 30%. I haven't ever given him the

supplements b/c of this, though he takes a mutlivitamin every day except the day

he receives his MTX and he also takes a calcium supplement (tums) daily. He

also gets Enbrel inj. twice a week. He hasn't had any side effects with the

meds except for decrease in appetite, no nausea, just not as hungry at mealtimes

as he used to be before he began taking any meds.

Zack, 10, poly

Lori Maynard <lorimaynard@...> wrote:

For some of you who have kids on Methotrexate, might I ask how much

they are

taking and how much folic acid they are taking? My has been taking 25

mg MTX per week for 6 months along with 1 mg per day of folic acid. She is

having a lot of side effects including big time fatigue, nausea, dizziness,

stomach cramping, and hair loss. With my doctor's tentative blessing I am

cutting her dose of MTX in half starting today, but I'm wondering if perhaps

she hasn't been taking enough folic acid to compensate for the high dose of

MTX.

Thanks for your help.

Lori in NJ

Wife to , Mom to (13), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle (5) and

Josiah (3)

[Guest guest]

Kaylee takes 5mgs a week of mtx and we use a vitamin with folic acid that so far

as been sufficient instead of doing folic acid supplement. The rheumy said as

long as that is working it is fine to do that and she does okay with it.

Methotrexate - folic acid ratios

For some of you who have kids on Methotrexate, might I ask how much they

are

taking and how much folic acid they are taking? My has been taking

25

mg MTX per week for 6 months along with 1 mg per day of folic acid. She

is

having a lot of side effects including big time fatigue, nausea,

dizziness,

stomach cramping, and hair loss. With my doctor's tentative blessing I

am

cutting her dose of MTX in half starting today, but I'm wondering if

perhaps

she hasn't been taking enough folic acid to compensate for the high dose

of

MTX.

Thanks for your help.

Lori in NJ

Wife to , Mom to (13), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle (5)

and

Josiah (3)

[Guest guest]

--HI Lori.

My son, has been on 25mg of MTX for about 2 1/2 years. He

is 9 and weighs 49 lbs. He is also on 3mg of folic acid, mainly

because of a huge issue with mouth sores.At 3 mg the mouth sores

stopped. We have never had the hair thinning/falling out issue.

We just got off Prednisone after 2 1/2 years. He also is on remicade

(every 4 weeks), relefan, prilosec.

hugs Helen and (9,systemic)

- In , " Lori Maynard " <lorimaynard@...>

wrote:

>

> For some of you who have kids on Methotrexate, might I ask how

much they are

> taking and how much folic acid they are taking? My has been

taking 25

> mg MTX per week for 6 months along with 1 mg per day of folic

acid. She is

> having a lot of side effects including big time fatigue, nausea,

dizziness,

> stomach cramping, and hair loss. With my doctor's tentative

blessing I am

> cutting her dose of MTX in half starting today, but I'm wondering

if perhaps

> she hasn't been taking enough folic acid to compensate for the

high dose of

> MTX.

>

>

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

>

>

> Lori in NJ

>

> Wife to , Mom to (13), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle

(5) and

> Josiah (3)

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

-,

its my understanding that the MTX is out of the system after 24

hours administering it. Thats why they do the 24 hour blood test

when you 1st start taking it.

By only giving the folic acid on the none MTX days you are not

affecting the effectivness of the MTX.

I could be way off base here, but this has been my understanding,

someone, please correct me if I am off base here.

hugs Helen and (9,systemic)

-- In , Terry <jasina2005@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Lori! My son has been on MTX (25mg) since his diagnoses in

March. His rheumy is very much against taking a folic acid

supplement, saying that it could reduced the effectiveness of MTX by

up to 30%. I haven't ever given him the supplements b/c of this,

though he takes a mutlivitamin every day except the day he receives

his MTX and he also takes a calcium supplement (tums) daily. He

also gets Enbrel inj. twice a week. He hasn't had any side effects

with the meds except for decrease in appetite, no nausea, just not

as hungry at mealtimes as he used to be before he began taking any

meds.

>

> Zack, 10, poly

>

> Lori Maynard <lorimaynard@...> wrote:

> For some of you who have kids on Methotrexate, might I

ask how much they are

> taking and how much folic acid they are taking? My has been

taking 25

> mg MTX per week for 6 months along with 1 mg per day of folic

acid. She is

> having a lot of side effects including big time fatigue, nausea,

dizziness,

> stomach cramping, and hair loss. With my doctor's tentative

blessing I am

> cutting her dose of MTX in half starting today, but I'm wondering

if perhaps

> she hasn't been taking enough folic acid to compensate for the

high dose of

> MTX.

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

> Lori in NJ

>

> Wife to , Mom to (13), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle

(5) and

> Josiah (3)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Helen,

I believe you are correct, but we take Folic Acid on Methotrexate days

to relive the symptoms of Methotrexate.

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of hburger64

Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 4:04 PM

Subject: Re: Methotrexate - folic acid ratios

-,

its my understanding that the MTX is out of the system after 24

hours administering it. Thats why they do the 24 hour blood test

when you 1st start taking it.

By only giving the folic acid on the none MTX days you are not

affecting the effectivness of the MTX.

I could be way off base here, but this has been my understanding,

someone, please correct me if I am off base here.

hugs Helen and (9,systemic)

-- In <mailto: %40> ,

Terry <jasina2005@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Lori! My son has been on MTX (25mg) since his diagnoses in

March. His rheumy is very much against taking a folic acid

supplement, saying that it could reduced the effectiveness of MTX by

up to 30%. I haven't ever given him the supplements b/c of this,

though he takes a mutlivitamin every day except the day he receives

his MTX and he also takes a calcium supplement (tums) daily. He

also gets Enbrel inj. twice a week. He hasn't had any side effects

with the meds except for decrease in appetite, no nausea, just not

as hungry at mealtimes as he used to be before he began taking any

meds.

>

> Zack, 10, poly

>

> Lori Maynard <lorimaynard@...> wrote:

> For some of you who have kids on Methotrexate, might I

ask how much they are

> taking and how much folic acid they are taking? My has been

taking 25

> mg MTX per week for 6 months along with 1 mg per day of folic

acid. She is

> having a lot of side effects including big time fatigue, nausea,

dizziness,

> stomach cramping, and hair loss. With my doctor's tentative

blessing I am

> cutting her dose of MTX in half starting today, but I'm wondering

if perhaps

> she hasn't been taking enough folic acid to compensate for the

high dose of

> MTX.

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

> Lori in NJ

>

> Wife to , Mom to (13), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle

(5) and

> Josiah (3)

>

>

[Guest guest]

My son takes 2 mg / day -- everyday. This has helped some with the nausea, but

he still

needs to take phenegren to stop the vomiting. He has never had any hair fall

out. The

nurse told us that the mtx is only in your system for 24 hours. However, I know

he has had

severe vomiting up to 36 hours after the injection.

> > For some of you who have kids on Methotrexate, might I

> ask how much they are

> > taking and how much folic acid they are taking? My has been

> taking 25

> > mg MTX per week for 6 months along with 1 mg per day of folic

> acid. She is

> > having a lot of side effects including big time fatigue, nausea,

> dizziness,

> > stomach cramping, and hair loss. With my doctor's tentative

> blessing I am

> > cutting her dose of MTX in half starting today, but I'm wondering

> if perhaps

> > she hasn't been taking enough folic acid to compensate for the

> high dose of

> > MTX.

> >

> > Thanks for your help.

> >

> > Lori in NJ

> >

> > Wife to , Mom to (13), (11), Hannah (8), Noelle

> (5) and

> > Josiah (3)

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

LorI:

the disease makes tired. The MTX makes her even more tired and

suseptible to illness. The cramping, nausea, hair loss is all part of the MTX.

Is

she taking pills? Our doctors at CHOP Philadelphia recommend injectable only.

They seem to think it has less side affects and is more effective. MTX

apparently works on folic acid in your body. Folic acid is a bvitamin that

affects cell division. They give you folic acid supplements to counter the side

affects. It works for my son who is 14 and had onset at almost age 10. He was

on injectable @ .8 ml / once week and was slowly tapered down to see how he did

with each lower dosage for 3 years. He got cold sores all the time and then

they gave him folic acid after about a year. Hasn't had any since. He was

off the MTX for one year, last year. This summer, just before school started

again, he required treatment again. He is on 1ml/once week. i think the larger

dose is based on his increased body mass. he is 5'10 " now, but very skinny.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

takes 25 mg per week of MTX by injection. Up until yesterday she was

taking 1 mg per day of folic acid, but I asked my doctor if we could

increase this instead of lowering the dose of MTX, to see if it would help

with the side effects. He actually said I could increase it to 5 mg per day

to see if there is a change. So we've done that. We'll see what happens.

Lori

Re: Re: Methotrexate - folic acid ratios

LorI:

the disease makes tired. The MTX makes her even more tired and

suseptible to illness. The cramping, nausea, hair loss is all part of the

MTX. Is

she taking pills? Our doctors at CHOP Philadelphia recommend injectable

only.

They seem to think it has less side affects and is more effective. MTX

apparently works on folic acid in your body. Folic acid is a bvitamin that

affects cell division. They give you folic acid supplements to counter the

side

affects. It works for my son who is 14 and had onset at almost age 10. He

was

on injectable @ .8 ml / once week and was slowly tapered down to see how he

did

with each lower dosage for 3 years. He got cold sores all the time and then

they gave him folic acid after about a year. Hasn't had any since. He was

off the MTX for one year, last year. This summer, just before school

started

again, he required treatment again. He is on 1ml/once week. i think the

larger

dose is based on his increased body mass. he is 5'10 " now, but very skinny.

[Guest guest]

Lori,

I don't know if you were at the conference in Atlanta, but after talking to

many other parents there, I decided to switch my daughter, Emma Kate from

Methotrexate pills to injection and to increase her folic acid to 2mg. She was

having side effects so severe that I felt her quality of life was seriously

diminished. After a long conversation with Dr. Rita Jerath (ped rheumy in

Augusta, GA) and many other parents at AJAO I felt it was worth a shot.

I have to say that she is doing better now, the side effects have diminished

somewhat...not gone entirely, but less nausea, dizziness, stomach pain, fatigue.

Remember that folic acid is out of your system in 24 hours...you pee it out,

actually. So you can't overdose on it. But several of the parents I met at AJAO

said their children take 2 mg daily, and that injections of Methotrexate are

usually better tolerated than pills. Just a thought to run by your rheumy.

beth

---------------------------------

All-new - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.

[Guest guest]

Sarabeth,

I think you are correct in your switching your daughter. My daughter is

on pills, and we have done some psychological things to eliminate the

side effects. First of all she is up to 3 mg. So, ask your doctor if

you can increase that level, also we give our daughter her pills at

night so she can try to sleep off some of the side effects. She still

has them, but not nearly as severe. (Really Allie has not had the

nauseous stomach, just the fatigue and hair loss issues) We also give

it to her on an evening where the following day isn't typically as

hectic, and she wouldn't always have activities.

Use what information you want, and dispose of the rest. Good luck to

you and your daughter.

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Calhoun

Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 11:47 AM

Subject: Re: Methotrexate - folic acid ratios

Lori,

I don't know if you were at the conference in Atlanta, but after talking

to many other parents there, I decided to switch my daughter, Emma Kate

from Methotrexate pills to injection and to increase her folic acid to

2mg. She was having side effects so severe that I felt her quality of

life was seriously diminished. After a long conversation with Dr. Rita

Jerath (ped rheumy in Augusta, GA) and many other parents at AJAO I felt

it was worth a shot.

I have to say that she is doing better now, the side effects have

diminished somewhat...not gone entirely, but less nausea, dizziness,

stomach pain, fatigue. Remember that folic acid is out of your system in

24 hours...you pee it out, actually. So you can't overdose on it. But

several of the parents I met at AJAO said their children take 2 mg

daily, and that injections of Methotrexate are usually better tolerated

than pills. Just a thought to run by your rheumy.

beth

---------------------------------

All-new - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done

faster.