Re: new to methotrexate - Joe

[Guest guest]

Hi Joe -

I tried to take Arava, and only was able to last about

six months due to stomach problems, sudden (and I do

mean sudden lol) bouts of diarrhea, and finally

peripheral neuropathy. I am glad that Arava is

working well for you.

Kathe in CA

--- joe gale <joeygalez@...> wrote:

> if you take mtx your will not function for a few

> days. i was on mtx and getting off of it was the

> best thing ive done. replaced mtx with arriva and

> doing a lot better.

>

> Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...> wrote: Hi

> :

>

> I also had to start Mtx after Plaquenil became less

> effective. It took about 2 months before I started

> to

> get benefit from it. I have been on Mtx now for

> about

> 4 years, on the pills at first, then was on Mtx

> injections for a while which worked better, but am

> finding it difficult to obtain injectable mtx right

> now, so am back on the pills. I was up to 20 mg. a

> week, but am now down to 10 mg. weekly along with

> Enbrel. With the Mtx, I am more tired for the day

> or

> two after I take it. Always take it at night, after

> you have eaten, and before bed, and that way you

> should be able to sleep through any nausea you might

> experience. I have never had that problem. Take

> Folic Acid as well, and I also take Milk Thistle to

> help protect my liver. I have had some hair

> thinning,

> and my skin is more fragile, and I am more sensitive

> to the sun, since beginning the Mtx. I have had less

> side effects with that than with other meds.

> Otherwise, it is helping me, so I take the good with

> the bad. Best of luck - and hope it helps -

>

> Kathe in CA

>

> --- sasupbin <sasupbin@...> wrote:

>

> > Hi, I've been following posts on here for a while

> > but this is my

> > first post. I'm 39 and was dx with RA 5 yrs ago.

> > Initially I took

> > only NSAIDS (It took 5 different ones before I

> found

> > Celebrex

> > worked. Then fpr the past three years I was on

> > PLaquenil and did OK.

> > Some flare ups here and there but a week of

> > prednisone would calm it

> > down. A few months ago I started having pain all

> > day every day in

> > my knees,wrists and fingers, My rheumatologist

> gave

> > me the ususal 1

> > week of steroids but did not want me to stay on

> them

> > long term. Two

> > days later the pain was back and just kept getting

> > worse and worse.

> > I called him twice within this week and he said to

> > come in that day

> > because he knows I'm usually not a complainer.

> When

> > I saw him

> > yesterday he said the RA is progressing and he

> wants

> > me to start

> > methotrexate but it would take at least 6 weeks to

> > notice any

> > effect. I begged (and got) prednisone for the

> > meantime because I

> > couldn't function. I work in a Hospital and was

> > looking worse than

> > half of my patients! My question is, What are the

> > things I can

> > expect with methotrexate? He gave me the

> obligatory

> > speech but I

> > was hoping for some people's first hand

> experinces.

> > I took the first

> > dose today, 10 mg.

> >

> > Thanks

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>