Re: Methotrexate

[Guest guest]

hi

Ive just purchased some liquid vit d3 from purebio ( www.purebio.co.uk ) .they

do it in capsule form also.

regards ,annette

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

have a Pt who was supposed to go on MTX (but was then given Plaquenil), so

no direct experience, except for the info i had collected re the drug:

MTX inhibits folic acid metabolism, causing immunosuppression and

cytotoxicity, plus has anti-inflammatory effects due to other mechanisms.

(can send you details off-list) Anyway, some of the side effects frequently

experienced with MTX (such as mouthulcers, nausea, symptoms of indigestion,

hairloss) can be prevented by folic acid supplementation, 1- 5mg per day

(supplement together with B12 ), but she should discuss the dose with her

rheumatologist. Regular toxicity monitoring is important. I'd give herbs to

protect liver, kidneys and lung function, but would double check first how

exactly it's excreted.

Hope this helps

Sabine

methotrexate

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I have worked with a patient coming off methotrexate (for RA) - which took

about 6 months I think, at which point the herbs took over and the patient has

been doing fine ever since. My reasoning for herb choice was simple: no licorice

until the adrenals are working back properly and no immune modulating herbs

until methotrexate is finished. I used Kerry Bone approach matched to the

patients circumstances. I used borage as adrenal support to begin with, lots of

anti-inflammatories and lots of nervines, plus propolis as a wide spectrum

treatment for a primary lesion, I also treated gut and changed the patients

diet.

Hope it helps

Medical Herbalist wrote:

Hello All!

I have an enquiry from a chap with RA who is on Methotrexate, I have

treated RA before but only patients who have chosen to come to me first

before 'going down the Methotrexate route'

Obviously my Herbal Medicine approach is going to be different this

time, I wonder if anybody has experience of working with RA alongside

Methotrexate, if so I would appreciate any advice.

Also, does anyone have a good source of the Vitamin D3 please?

many thanks

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thank you, that is interesting.

You found propolis ok to use alongside the Methotrexate?

how did you give it, tincture?

Thanks Sabine also for your reply :-)

many thanks

anna newton wrote:

>

> Hi ,

> I have worked with a patient coming off methotrexate (for RA) - which

> took about 6 months I think, at which point the herbs took over and

> the patient has been doing fine ever since. My reasoning for herb

> choice was simple: no licorice until the adrenals are working back

> properly and no immune modulating herbs until methotrexate is

> finished. I used Kerry Bone approach matched to the patients

> circumstances. I used borage as adrenal support to begin with, lots of

> anti-inflammatories and lots of nervines, plus propolis as a wide

> spectrum treatment for a primary lesion, I also treated gut and

> changed the patients diet.

> Hope it helps

>

>

>

>

> Medical Herbalist <andrea@...

> <mailto:andrea%40sussexherbalist.co.uk>> wrote:

> Hello All!

>

> I have an enquiry from a chap with RA who is on Methotrexate, I have

> treated RA before but only patients who have chosen to come to me first

> before 'going down the Methotrexate route'

> Obviously my Herbal Medicine approach is going to be different this

> time, I wonder if anybody has experience of working with RA alongside

> Methotrexate, if so I would appreciate any advice.

> Also, does anyone have a good source of the Vitamin D3 please?

>

> many thanks

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

?? I took methotrexate last year and it didn't really kick in for about 5-6

weeks for me...nut in 2 weeks, I noiced my hair was thinning out..

I felt a little nausea after the 3rd day but no vomiting or anything real

bad..Everyone is different though so be positive and it WILL

help you out..

Diane..42

just curious to know if anyone can tell me how long it took Methotrexate to

begin working for you and when it did work, how did you feel?

Thanks for your input,

[Guest guest]

Hi there! Methotrexate is one of those great mess that you love to hate! I have

been on it for several years now & it really helps significantly controll my

disease (which is very active). In the beginig it took about 2 months to " kick

in " , but I did start to loose some hair & feel nausiated. After a month or so

the hair loss stopped & I started taking it right before bed so I sleep off the

worst of the side effects. Currently I take 1 cc by injection 1x a week & it

significantly helps the inflamation. The day after I take it I usually am very

tired and stay in bed watching movies, by day two I'm okay. It can be a very

helpful drug, just remember it probably won't be a quick fix for your symptoms,

but long term works well.

Lori

Sent from my iPhone

On May 18, 2009, at 3:20 PM, " christinebroadhead@... "

wrote:

Hi everyone,

My rheumatologist just started me on Methotrexate (2.5mg X 5 tablets) once a

week in lieu of steroids. I'm hesitant to give up my beloved steroids but I'm in

the midst of an awful flare right now and will try anything. I'm just curious to

know if anyone can tell me how long it took Methotrexate to begin working for

you and when it did work, how did you feel?

Thanks for your input,

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone!

My name is miriah and I am a first year medical student. I was diagnosed with

stills in November and I have been on a lot of different medications since then.

Right now I'm on methotrexate and prednisone and will be starting humira when my

insurance approves it.

This has probably been the hardest few months of my life but the administrators

at my school are aware of my situation as are my classmates. Both are very

supportive. I'm glad that I found you all because until now I was unaware of

anyone else who had the disease. And I have a completely different perspective

on treatment as a future doctor.

Miriah

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

Re: Methotrexate

Hi there! Methotrexate is one of those great mess that you love to hate! I have

been on it for several years now & it really helps significantly controll my

disease (which is very active). In the beginig it took about 2 months to " kick

in " , but I did start to loose some hair & feel nausiated. After a month or so

the hair loss stopped & I started taking it right before bed so I sleep off the

worst of the side effects. Currently I take 1 cc by injection 1x a week & it

significantly helps the inflamation. The day after I take it I usually am very

tired and stay in bed watching movies, by day two I'm okay. It can be a very

helpful drug, just remember it probably won't be a quick fix for your symptoms,

but long term works well.

Lori

Sent from my iPhone

On May 18, 2009, at 3:20 PM, " christinebroadhead@... "

wrote:

Hi everyone,

My rheumatologist just started me on Methotrexate (2.5mg X 5 tablets) once a

week in lieu of steroids. I'm hesitant to give up my beloved steroids but I'm in

the midst of an awful flare right now and will try anything. I'm just curious to

know if anyone can tell me how long it took Methotrexate to begin working for

you and when it did work, how did you feel?

Thanks for your input,

[Guest guest]

Hi .

I am currently on 2.5 mg of methotrexate as well.  I don't know if it is really

helping because I was not in a flare when I started it the second time.  I was

on prednisone and we are trying to wean off the pred.  As far as side effects

goes, I haven't noticed anything. 

--

..

[Guest guest]

miriah 

 welcome and glad ya found us . I am also glad that your classmates and teachers

are suporive of you as that dose help. I can share this with ya for most the on

set seams to be the worse. now that is not to say it is that way for every one

just most. again welcome and if you want to ask any thing go ahead thats what

were here for.

hugs

 

the  redneck

Marty G.

 To learn about Stills Disease  http://www.stillsdisease.org/stills_info

For conservitive minded people  http://www.americac2c.orgThe problem is not that

people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.

Reagan 

 I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government

from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

Jefferson

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

 

  I also only am on MTX any more and no stariods at all. I take 9 pills 2.5 mg

each once a week . I have almost never felt sick from it at all I do get tiered

two days after takeing it but thats it . my doc also said to take dramamean if i

felt ill from it but I never had to. I have been on it for years now and it did

take about 5 to 7 weeks to kick in good. did loose some hair , okay so it is

male bladness but i like to blame the MTX so leave me alone okay LOL. I do

notice I heal a bit more slowly then before but that is about the only negitive

thing for my self that i noticed.

hugs

the  redneck

Marty G.

 To learn about Stills Disease  http://www.stillsdisease.org/stills_info

For conservitive minded people  http://www.americac2c.orgThe problem is not that

people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.

Reagan 

 I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government

from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

Jefferson

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hello Miriah

I am sorry that you have been suffering these last few months. It seems

that the combination of medication that you are waiting to take will help

you and I hope you feel better soon. Perhaps as a would be doctor suffering

from Stills, you might be able to influence some of the other students to

take an interest in patients with this disease as a lot of doctors do not

seem to know enough about this illness.

I do hope your insurance company will approve of you taking Humira very

soon.

Best wishes

Joan U.K.

[Guest guest]

Hi h,

Welcome, my name is R., I have been practicing emergency medicine for

about 20yrs, I was officially diagnosed in Jan. 2008, and I have quit practicing

for about 1yr now.

You are young and will probably tolerate the very grueling hours of med school,

just try to get as much rest as you can when possible.l It will be a challenge

but don't push to far, you have worked way to hard to get where you are, one

thing is listen to what your body is telling you. That was my biggest downfall

was I kept pushing myself, I am more than likely quite a bit older than you are,

but sounds like you got yours caught early. My other piece of advice is to truly

become a patient when you need to be and don't be the Doctor when it comes to

your illness, another hard lesson I learned.

Being in Emergency medicine, I didn't know much about Still's, I have quickly

learned as much as I can. I hope to get back to at least part-time in the

future, I have been asked if I would be interested in doing more research

related medicine, for now that may be what I do so I do not go crazy.

Again, Welcome, sorry you had to find us, but there is a lot of knowledge here

with our fellow members and I have learned a great deal from them, they also are

great support, you can vent, scream, whine, whatever you feel like we are always

here.

Another thing I have taken away from being in a support group like ours is it

truly helps, I have encouraged alot of my patients to find support groups that

deal with their particular diseases.

Take care, if you have any questions let me know, you can privately email also

if you would like, jmreed0410@...

R

________________________________

To: Stillsdisease

Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 7:36:32 PM

Subject: Re: Methotrexate

Hi everyone!

My name is miriah and I am a first year medical student. I was diagnosed with

stills in November and I have been on a lot of different medications since then.

-----Original Message-----

From: Lori Fry <mustanglori96@ yahoo.com>

[Guest guest]

Hi -

Welcome to a great group of folks! I haven't been here long - just diagnosed in

December 2008. I read daily, but post seldom.

As for Methotrexate, my doctor started me on 20 mg/week (8 tablets - 2.5 mg)

back in January. This was in addition to prednisone (I started on 40 mg/day and

tapered down - got off the pred for 3 weeks and then went back up to 40 mg/day

and have worked back down to 7.5 mg/day).

I am currently taking 25 mg/week (10 tablets - 2.5 mg each)methotrexate along

with 2mg Folic Acid daily. I have had almost no side effects (some loss of hair

and fatigue). I do have monthly blood draws to watch liver enzymes and blood

counts, but that isn't bad at all. The combination of methotrexate and

prednisone has done wonders to keep my dragon tamed. There have been times when

I have wondered if the methotrexate is doing anything, but I think that it just

takes a while to work. I am hoping to wean off of prednisone eventually (I have

had almost no side effects from that either).

Again, welcome. Best of luck to you!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

That all sounds quite normal!! I remember sleeping for ages when i first

started. I used to take it on a sunday because I knew I'd be wipeed for the

whole day and that was the one where I had the least to do. Maybe plan the day

you take the MTX around your diary in that sense....see what day is the 'best'

to take it on. It's a pain but worth doing as it did work for me after a month

or so maybe. I wouldn't be without it now. Ask your doc for an anti-emetic

(sickness tablet) that you can take with your MTX and another tip I found useful

was to take it at night then you sleep through the worst of it.

As you know, I had to change to the injections because I got sick of having a

whole day wiped out to the tablets so remember that that's an option we have

here in the Uk if after a month or so you find you're still sleeping too much.

The injections have been great for me. I don't have many side effects at all

(and I'm naughty...I don't often take my folic acid. I've had my levels checked

and they're fine luckily for me....I don't advocate not taking your folic acid

though as it's a good thing for side effects).

Anyway, hang on in there. I reckon the fact you haven't been sick is a good sign

that you're going to be fine with the side effects once you get used to the MTX.

Remenmber we often get awful tiredness with the stills anyway and, with this

awful cold UK weather, it may well be 'six of one and half dozen of the other'

with the disease and the meds!

Take care...keep us posted on how you're doing. So glad you're getting sorted.

Just for interest, I've just been put in touch with a girl with Stills who is a

student at Bradford Uni. My friend and old housemate is her tutor so she put me

in touc yesterday. You're very close so I'll put you in touch if you'd like? Let

me know.

Love

Kate x

Methotrexate

Hi All

Well first dose was taken on Monday, It knocked me for 6, I slept all day when i

did wake in the evening I felt so sick, Lucky for me I wasn't and slept all

night as well.

Tues was the first day I haven't slept through the day, maybe because i'd slept

so much the day before, I still had waves of sickness but nothing like the day

before.

Today I have not slept but i am a little tired and joints are a little sore and

aching, I am felling almost human again no waves of sickness today, I have also

dropped to 15mg steroids.

I really don't think the horried wet cold weather is helping. Does any one know

how long it takes until the MTX kicks in and starts to make me feel human again?

Thanks to Marty,Steve,Joan,Allie,Elly,Larry and Liz and to everyone else who has

advised me though this flare.

Rach xx

P.S Elly I have not forgotten about the Tree I just need to get on top of this

and then i will be back with a passion xxx

=

[Guest guest]

Hi Ken

I am taking MTX in tablet form, I went and got some Multivitamins from you

advising them before lol, I have been taking them every day since last Tuesday.

I take Folic Acid on a Friday but I am going to get some more to take though out

the week.

I hope that I start to feel human soon this has been a long flare for me and I'm

brassed off with feeling like cack, but I can see the light at the end of the

tunnel and will not give up hope.

Rach xx

>

>

>

> Subject: Methotrexate

> To: Stillsdisease

> Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 9:32 AM

>

>

>  

>

>

>

> Hi All

> Well first dose was taken on Monday, It knocked me for 6, I slept all day when

i did wake in the evening I felt so sick, Lucky for me I wasn't and slept all

night as well.

> Tues was the first day I haven't slept through the day, maybe because i'd

slept so much the day before, I still had waves of sickness but nothing like the

day before.

> Today I have not slept but i am a little tired and joints are a little sore

and aching, I am felling almost human again no waves of sickness today, I have

also dropped to 15mg steroids.

> I really don't think the horried wet cold weather is helping. Does any one

know how long it takes until the MTX kicks in and starts to make me feel human

again?

> Thanks to Marty,Steve, Joan,Allie, Elly,Larry and Liz and to everyone else who

has advised me though this flare.

> Rach xx

> P.S Elly I have not forgotten about the Tree I just need to get on top of this

and then i will be back with a passion xxx

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

Bradford isn't that far from me either. I live in Burnley which is East

Lancashire.

I've yet to actually meet anybody who has Stills. It's certainly a rare

illness isn't it.

Steve

From: Stillsdisease [mailto:Stillsdisease ]

On Behalf Of Weekskate1979@...

Sent: 04 November 2009 15:55

To: Stillsdisease

Subject: Re: Methotrexate

Hi ,

That all sounds quite normal!! I remember sleeping for ages when i first

started. I used to take it on a sunday because I knew I'd be wipeed for the

whole day and that was the one where I had the least to do. Maybe plan the

day you take the MTX around your diary in that sense....see what day is the

'best' to take it on. It's a pain but worth doing as it did work for me

after a month or so maybe. I wouldn't be without it now. Ask your doc for an

anti-emetic (sickness tablet) that you can take with your MTX and another

tip I found useful was to take it at night then you sleep through the worst

of it.

As you know, I had to change to the injections because I got sick of having

a whole day wiped out to the tablets so remember that that's an option we

have here in the Uk if after a month or so you find you're still sleeping

too much. The injections have been great for me. I don't have many side

effects at all (and I'm naughty...I don't often take my folic acid. I've had

my levels checked and they're fine luckily for me....I don't advocate not

taking your folic acid though as it's a good thing for side effects).

Anyway, hang on in there. I reckon the fact you haven't been sick is a good

sign that you're going to be fine with the side effects once you get used to

the MTX. Remenmber we often get awful tiredness with the stills anyway and,

with this awful cold UK weather, it may well be 'six of one and half dozen

of the other' with the disease and the meds!

Take care...keep us posted on how you're doing. So glad you're getting

sorted. Just for interest, I've just been put in touch with a girl with

Stills who is a student at Bradford Uni. My friend and old housemate is her

tutor so she put me in touc yesterday. You're very close so I'll put you in

touch if you'd like? Let me know.

Love

Kate x

Methotrexate

Hi All

Well first dose was taken on Monday, It knocked me for 6, I slept all day

when i did wake in the evening I felt so sick, Lucky for me I wasn't and

slept all night as well.

Tues was the first day I haven't slept through the day, maybe because i'd

slept so much the day before, I still had waves of sickness but nothing like

the day before.

Today I have not slept but i am a little tired and joints are a little sore

and aching, I am felling almost human again no waves of sickness today, I

have also dropped to 15mg steroids.

I really don't think the horried wet cold weather is helping. Does any one

know how long it takes until the MTX kicks in and starts to make me feel

human again?

Thanks to Marty,Steve,Joan,Allie,Elly,Larry and Liz and to everyone else who

has advised me though this flare.

Rach xx

P.S Elly I have not forgotten about the Tree I just need to get on top of

this and then i will be back with a passion xxx

=

[Guest guest]

Hi, ....I know that with Hadleigh, my daughter, her Pred taper must be

much slower. She is down 1 mg every 2 weeks - but it's working so far! One

thing with your folic acid - in the US, the dosage is 1 mg each day rather than

once a week like the Methotrexate. Maybe that might help with your symptoms.

I know that most complain about the damp weather in the UK, but my best friend

just returned from visiting her Mum in North Yorkshire and she raved about how

great the cooler weather was! (It is too hot for the two of us here in CA)

Take good care,

Re: Methotrexate

Hi

Good Afternoon to you lol it's great the time difference,

My joints are bad at the moment and is is the first day of reduction on the

Prendnisone that i take in water I....