Re: MTX and eye infections

[Guest guest]

I would suggest injectable MTX. It does not have to go through the

digestive system. Cassy

>

> Hi everyone ...

>

> I started MTX back in May(oral) and have gradually been increasing

the

> dosage. Since I have been up to 12.5 mg./week, I have had 3

separate eye

> infections. When I lay off the MTX for a week, it gets better.

My primary care

> physician treated this like a conjunctivitis and it seems to

clear it up too. I

> have seen an opthomologist who says my eyes are healthy (sans

infection when I

> saw him).

>

> I am pretty sure the MTX is the culprit. I am wondering if

anyone else

> experienced this? Would the MTX injections (versus oral) affect

me differently

> and might not make this happen? I wonder what would happen if I

cut back the

> oral MTX to, say, 10 mg/week, when I did not seem to have the eye

issue? I

> could supplement with a low dose plaquenil, which has worked well

for me in

> the past, but tends to lower my white blood cell count when I

take a larger

> dose.

>

> I see my rheumy every 4 weeks and am scheduled to go back on the

26th. I'd

> like to offer up some ideas that I get here from you RA gurus. :-

) My

> feeling is that the MTX is working a little, but I have not seen

any dramatic

> improvement, as some of you have, and I have been on it since

May. Maybe it's

> just time to move on to a biologic?

>

> Confused and Dazed in Atlanta,

> Beth

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would suggest injectable MTX. It does not have to go through the

digestive system. Cassy

>

> Hi everyone ...

>

> I started MTX back in May(oral) and have gradually been increasing

the

> dosage. Since I have been up to 12.5 mg./week, I have had 3

separate eye

> infections. When I lay off the MTX for a week, it gets better.

My primary care

> physician treated this like a conjunctivitis and it seems to

clear it up too. I

> have seen an opthomologist who says my eyes are healthy (sans

infection when I

> saw him).

>

> I am pretty sure the MTX is the culprit. I am wondering if

anyone else

> experienced this? Would the MTX injections (versus oral) affect

me differently

> and might not make this happen? I wonder what would happen if I

cut back the

> oral MTX to, say, 10 mg/week, when I did not seem to have the eye

issue? I

> could supplement with a low dose plaquenil, which has worked well

for me in

> the past, but tends to lower my white blood cell count when I

take a larger

> dose.

>

> I see my rheumy every 4 weeks and am scheduled to go back on the

26th. I'd

> like to offer up some ideas that I get here from you RA gurus. :-

) My

> feeling is that the MTX is working a little, but I have not seen

any dramatic

> improvement, as some of you have, and I have been on it since

May. Maybe it's

> just time to move on to a biologic?

>

> Confused and Dazed in Atlanta,

> Beth

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth. Conjunctivitis and serious visual changes of unknown

etiology are listed side effects of mtx.

http://www.drugs.com/PDR/Methotrexate_Sodium_Tablets.html

Im not sure injections would make a difference. For people having GI

distress, taking it by injection would make a difference, but for

ocular problems I'm not sure if it would matter. It may be worth a

try since injection form can be more effective. Moving on to a

biological may be a good option but most are more effective in

combination with mtx.. I take 7.5 mg of mtx with Enbrel. My rheumy

told me that a low dose of mtx is all that may be needed. I haven't

been on it long enough to say.

Since the lower dose of mtx doesn't affect your eye, maybe adding a

biological to a low dose of mtx is something your doctor will consider.

a

On Oct 16, 2005, at 10:51 AM, GoAwayRA@... wrote:

> Hi everyone ...

>

> I started MTX back in May(oral) and have gradually been increasing the

> dosage. Since I have been up to 12.5 mg./week, I have had 3

> separate eye

> infections. When I lay off the MTX for a week, it gets better. My

> primary care

> physician treated this like a conjunctivitis and it seems to clear

> it up too. I

> have seen an opthomologist who says my eyes are healthy (sans

> infection when I

> saw him).

>

> I am pretty sure the MTX is the culprit. I am wondering if anyone

> else

> experienced this? Would the MTX injections (versus oral) affect

> me differently

> and might not make this happen? I wonder what would happen if I

> cut back the

> oral MTX to, say, 10 mg/week, when I did not seem to have the eye

> issue? I

> could supplement with a low dose plaquenil, which has worked well

> for me in

> the past, but tends to lower my white blood cell count when I take

> a larger

> dose.

>

> I see my rheumy every 4 weeks and am scheduled to go back on the

> 26th. I'd

> like to offer up some ideas that I get here from you RA

> gurus. :-) My

> feeling is that the MTX is working a little, but I have not seen

> any dramatic

> improvement, as some of you have, and I have been on it since

> May. Maybe it's

> just time to move on to a biologic?

>

> Confused and Dazed in Atlanta,

> Beth

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth. Conjunctivitis and serious visual changes of unknown

etiology are listed side effects of mtx.

http://www.drugs.com/PDR/Methotrexate_Sodium_Tablets.html

Im not sure injections would make a difference. For people having GI

distress, taking it by injection would make a difference, but for

ocular problems I'm not sure if it would matter. It may be worth a

try since injection form can be more effective. Moving on to a

biological may be a good option but most are more effective in

combination with mtx.. I take 7.5 mg of mtx with Enbrel. My rheumy

told me that a low dose of mtx is all that may be needed. I haven't

been on it long enough to say.

Since the lower dose of mtx doesn't affect your eye, maybe adding a

biological to a low dose of mtx is something your doctor will consider.

a

On Oct 16, 2005, at 10:51 AM, GoAwayRA@... wrote:

> Hi everyone ...

>

> I started MTX back in May(oral) and have gradually been increasing the

> dosage. Since I have been up to 12.5 mg./week, I have had 3

> separate eye

> infections. When I lay off the MTX for a week, it gets better. My

> primary care

> physician treated this like a conjunctivitis and it seems to clear

> it up too. I

> have seen an opthomologist who says my eyes are healthy (sans

> infection when I

> saw him).

>

> I am pretty sure the MTX is the culprit. I am wondering if anyone

> else

> experienced this? Would the MTX injections (versus oral) affect

> me differently

> and might not make this happen? I wonder what would happen if I

> cut back the

> oral MTX to, say, 10 mg/week, when I did not seem to have the eye

> issue? I

> could supplement with a low dose plaquenil, which has worked well

> for me in

> the past, but tends to lower my white blood cell count when I take

> a larger

> dose.

>

> I see my rheumy every 4 weeks and am scheduled to go back on the

> 26th. I'd

> like to offer up some ideas that I get here from you RA

> gurus. :-) My

> feeling is that the MTX is working a little, but I have not seen

> any dramatic

> improvement, as some of you have, and I have been on it since

> May. Maybe it's

> just time to move on to a biologic?

>

> Confused and Dazed in Atlanta,

> Beth

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

my eyes wont stop watering, have to use eye drops got off mtx and went to

ariva.

a <a54@...> wrote:Hi Beth. Conjunctivitis and serious visual

changes of unknown

etiology are listed side effects of mtx.

http://www.drugs.com/PDR/Methotrexate_Sodium_Tablets.html

Im not sure injections would make a difference. For people having GI

distress, taking it by injection would make a difference, but for

ocular problems I'm not sure if it would matter. It may be worth a

try since injection form can be more effective. Moving on to a

biological may be a good option but most are more effective in

combination with mtx.. I take 7.5 mg of mtx with Enbrel. My rheumy

told me that a low dose of mtx is all that may be needed. I haven't

been on it long enough to say.

Since the lower dose of mtx doesn't affect your eye, maybe adding a

biological to a low dose of mtx is something your doctor will consider.

a

On Oct 16, 2005, at 10:51 AM, GoAwayRA@... wrote:

> Hi everyone ...

>

> I started MTX back in May(oral) and have gradually been increasing the

> dosage. Since I have been up to 12.5 mg./week, I have had 3

> separate eye

> infections. When I lay off the MTX for a week, it gets better. My

> primary care

> physician treated this like a conjunctivitis and it seems to clear

> it up too. I

> have seen an opthomologist who says my eyes are healthy (sans

> infection when I

> saw him).

>

> I am pretty sure the MTX is the culprit. I am wondering if anyone

> else

> experienced this? Would the MTX injections (versus oral) affect

> me differently

> and might not make this happen? I wonder what would happen if I

> cut back the

> oral MTX to, say, 10 mg/week, when I did not seem to have the eye

> issue? I

> could supplement with a low dose plaquenil, which has worked well

> for me in

> the past, but tends to lower my white blood cell count when I take

> a larger

> dose.

>

> I see my rheumy every 4 weeks and am scheduled to go back on the

> 26th. I'd

> like to offer up some ideas that I get here from you RA

> gurus. :-) My

> feeling is that the MTX is working a little, but I have not seen

> any dramatic

> improvement, as some of you have, and I have been on it since

> May. Maybe it's

> just time to move on to a biologic?

>

> Confused and Dazed in Atlanta,

> Beth

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

my eyes wont stop watering, have to use eye drops got off mtx and went to

ariva.

a <a54@...> wrote:Hi Beth. Conjunctivitis and serious visual

changes of unknown

etiology are listed side effects of mtx.

http://www.drugs.com/PDR/Methotrexate_Sodium_Tablets.html

Im not sure injections would make a difference. For people having GI

distress, taking it by injection would make a difference, but for

ocular problems I'm not sure if it would matter. It may be worth a

try since injection form can be more effective. Moving on to a

biological may be a good option but most are more effective in

combination with mtx.. I take 7.5 mg of mtx with Enbrel. My rheumy

told me that a low dose of mtx is all that may be needed. I haven't

been on it long enough to say.

Since the lower dose of mtx doesn't affect your eye, maybe adding a

biological to a low dose of mtx is something your doctor will consider.

a

On Oct 16, 2005, at 10:51 AM, GoAwayRA@... wrote:

> Hi everyone ...

>

> I started MTX back in May(oral) and have gradually been increasing the

> dosage. Since I have been up to 12.5 mg./week, I have had 3

> separate eye

> infections. When I lay off the MTX for a week, it gets better. My

> primary care

> physician treated this like a conjunctivitis and it seems to clear

> it up too. I

> have seen an opthomologist who says my eyes are healthy (sans

> infection when I

> saw him).

>

> I am pretty sure the MTX is the culprit. I am wondering if anyone

> else

> experienced this? Would the MTX injections (versus oral) affect

> me differently

> and might not make this happen? I wonder what would happen if I

> cut back the

> oral MTX to, say, 10 mg/week, when I did not seem to have the eye

> issue? I

> could supplement with a low dose plaquenil, which has worked well

> for me in

> the past, but tends to lower my white blood cell count when I take

> a larger

> dose.

>

> I see my rheumy every 4 weeks and am scheduled to go back on the

> 26th. I'd

> like to offer up some ideas that I get here from you RA

> gurus. :-) My

> feeling is that the MTX is working a little, but I have not seen

> any dramatic

> improvement, as some of you have, and I have been on it since

> May. Maybe it's

> just time to move on to a biologic?

>

> Confused and Dazed in Atlanta,

> Beth

>

>

>