Guest guest Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 I'm new to the forum. My daughter was just diagnosed a couple weeks ago. She's two and started showing symptoms around halloween. First it was just her ankle and now her knee on the opposite leg is swollen and painful as well. They had her on Prednisone to no benefit really and now she is on Naproxen. That really isn't making a big difference either. The Dr. wants to put her on Methotrexate in 2 months if her symptoms aren't better. Does anyone know about this drug? I'm concerned about the side effects for such a little girl, if there are any. Thanks for you advice, I need it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2008 Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 To answer your questions on a pharmacutical side of the methotrexate (MTX). MTX is most commonly used as a chemotheraputic. Don't let that alarm you. With cancer MTX is used in high doses along with radiation too. With children on mtx, it is used in very very small doses, triturating up to a dose the child can handle and the child gets results from. My son Christian (6 in 10 days) was diagnosed after a very long (2 year) ordeal at age 4, was first givin the prednisone and the Naprosyn (which took about 2 months to go into effect in his body). After the 2 months of the Naprosyn, the rhuemy put him on MTX, I freaked out know that this is used for cancer patients. We ended up using the mtx after the steriod and naporsyn did not help him get his quality of life back. We gave it to him orally mixed in orange juice. He started showing signs of improvement within 2 weeks of the mtx. He did have side effects however they were small, his appetite went away and he didn't gain any weight for a long time, he ended up losing weight, the rhuemy than added Zantac to his medication regim and folic acid as well. Which they both helped. He reached the max on the mtx and is know on a once weekly shot of Enbrel and that is it unless he is having a flair and then we give him mobic. Christian looked pale while on the mtx, and he couldn't be out in the sun unless he had on sun screen and still he could only be out for short periods. Your rhuemy knows what is best. The first form of treatment for JRA is naporsyn (NSAIDS), then steriod to help with the inflammation, if both do not seem to bring the quality of life back to the child mtx is used. Your daughter will need to get blood drawn every once in a while to test that her liver is metobolizing the mtx properly too. If you need any thing else, post it and I will help the best I can. and Christian (age 6 almost, poly) > > I'm new to the forum. My daughter was just diagnosed a couple weeks > ago. She's two and started showing symptoms around halloween. First > it was just her ankle and now her knee on the opposite leg is swollen > and painful as well. They had her on Prednisone to no benefit really > and now she is on Naproxen. That really isn't making a big difference > either. The Dr. wants to put her on Methotrexate in 2 months if her > symptoms aren't better. Does anyone know about this drug? I'm > concerned about the side effects for such a little girl, if there are > any. Thanks for you advice, I need it! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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