Re: Methotrexate

[Guest guest]

Dear Tracey,

It may be easier to start the Methotrexate gradually if you have never taken it

before. This lessens the chance of side effects as you see how your body reacts

to the drug.

The way this is done is to start with 7.5 mg on the first week and then increase

by 2.5 mg (1 tablet) every week thereafter until you get to 15 mg. 15 mg is a

pretty big dose to just start out on. Run this by your doctor, of course.

My doctor did this with me and we found that I could not tolerate more than 7.5

mg a week. Her plan was to get me up to 15 mg as well, but it didn't work.

Everyone reacts differently to meds.

Side effects from Methotrexate: -fatigue, -some nausea (not bad), - headache

and dehydration the next few days (can be avoided by drinking a lot of water).

These symptoms usually decrease once you have been taking the drug for a while

(a month or two). I hardly get any nausea anymore, just don't have much of an

appetite that day. The fatigue from it is one of the few things that hasn't

gone away. Just plan to take it on a day when you don't have to do much and/ or

can take a nap.

Adverse reactions: In my case the problems started when I went up to 10 mg a

week, I had panic attacks/ anxiety and water retention. These are not listed in

the possible side effects. After 2 weeks at 10 mg I went back down to 7.5 mg

and these problems went away, so the higher dose of MTX was responsible. This

is probably a very rare reaction. In fact , I would be willing to bet that no

one in this group has had this type of problem with MTX. Most patients do well

with it, and it's pretty effective against Still's.

Drinking a lot of water will help for the next few days after you take it. MTX

destroys the intestinal flora, but just eating yogurt the day that you take it

and the next day counters this.

Best wishes,

beth

[Guest guest]

Dear Tracey;

We are all so very different. I did better on 15 mg than 10. I just had to

quit taking it though because I got mouth sores that wouldn't heal. It takes

longer to heal and greater risk of infections because of the medications effect

on the immune system. I took for this past year and it helped me a lot. I also

too Sulfasalazine for a couple of years and the methotrexate for me worked much

better. Good luck with it and let us know how you do.

Good day, Melt

[Guest guest]

Hi Tracey,

For me I didnt' really lose much hair on MTX - maybe it was the folic

acid, not sure. However, my bottom line on hair loss when I began MTX

was is if I feel better, do I care if I may have to deal with hair

loss. My answer, nope, sure don't 'cause I can get a wig to wear out

with my friends but never feeling better was not an option.

I did have other side effects. I took it on Thursday so that on Friday

I might be a little queasy, on Saturday adn Sunday I could sleep all I

want and then be prepared for Monday as much as I could. that

schedule worked for me the best I think.

Let us know how it goes!

Houston

[Guest guest]

Hey tracilyn how good to hear from you. i am on 17 and a half mgs. by injection

of mtx a week and i've been on it for about 7 years. i have always taken folic

acid since i started the mtx, and i haven't had any haie loss. i hope the same

is true for you and i hope the new med will give you relief.

love elly

[Guest guest]

sorry tracey,i got your name confused with tracilyn,but i was answerinf you.love

elly

[Guest guest]

Good Morning All,

I've been on mtx for 10 yrs or so I think, its hard keeping track

sometimes. I've taken anywhere between 7 of the 2.5mgs to 3 of the 2.5mgs per

week.

Somewhere along the line I went to 2 folic acids/day and have been on that

for years now (I have always had a lot of mouth sores from acidy foods and

anemia my whole life) and that helps a lot for me.

The side effects changed for me. I can always tell when I miss the mtx

(either because I run out or I have an infection) cuz I feel really crummy

then. I had the hair loss, nausea, tired symptoms, etc. in the beginning but

that's stopped for years now. The hair grew back (although differently somehow

in texture), and I never get nausea anymore. I do occassionally get a bit more

tired the day after taking it but rarely notice it and with taking it on

Friday, who cares if I take an extra nap on Saturday? Not me, that's for sure.

Hope that helps. Good luck all and feel good.

Carole from Hollywood FL

In a message dated 8/9/2006 12:57:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

traceycolbert@... writes:

My meds included methylprednisolone (4mg)and sulfasalazine(2000mg) daily.

However, because the fever and intense pain have returned my doctor changed

my meds yesterday. He threw out the sulfasalazine and added methotrexate 2.5

mg tabs in which I have to take 5 tablets every week (on the same day) and

folic acid 1 mg tabs twice a day. I'm also on ibuprofen 800 mg tabs and

tramadol for pain management.

My main concern is the hair loss. I wear my hair short and can't afford any

to FALL out. Doc said, the hair will not fall out with the folic acid.

Can anyone tell me if this medicine makes you feel worse? I read all the

possible side effects so, I decided to start the meds on the weekend. By doing

so, I figured I would have the weekend to recuperate. Any suggestions?

Tracey

[Guest guest]

I used to take my 10 MTX on Friday evening because I was off work on

Sat when I felt " crappy " . Then I decided, why ruin my weekend (any

more than the dragon already allows) and started taking it on

Thursday evening. I get tired early, go to bed and sleep through

some of the symptoms. Then I feel somewhat bummed at work on Friday

with the rest of the fallout. My co-workers have gotten used to it

and tolerate me. ( an understanding group - " what's up, did your

doc up your prednisone again? " )

Then I feel as good as possible on Sat to meet the requirements on

my " Honey Do " list.

At this point in my life God had already decreed that a full head of

hair was not to be in my long term plans, so there is not much to

lose, if it were to fall out anyway.

>

>

> Good Morning All,

> I've been on mtx for 10 yrs or so I think, its hard keeping

track

> sometimes. I've taken anywhere between 7 of the 2.5mgs to 3 of

the 2.5mgs per week.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the response. I am only on my 3rd week and only started at 10 MG the first 2 weeks and then went to 20 MG the 3rd. I'm doing the injectable as the pills never worked for me even at the higher doses. So far no side effects so I'm just taking the folic acid along with it. I go back to the dr next week and we will probably double it again. Hopefully the benefits kick in soon!!

METHOTREXATE> > Has anyone in the group had any experience with Methotrexate? Along> with severe persistent asthma I have psoriatic arthritis and it was> actually prescribed for the arthritis but I had also discussed with my> pulmonologist the option of trying it as well. Just wondering if> anyone had any experience on the asthma front with it good or bad.> Thanks> Dawn> I will take my 6th week of methotrexate this Fri for severe persistent asthma. I researched it carefully, and found that studies were showing some success of

methotrexate being a steroid sparing medication. I've been on huge doses of prednisone for weeks, at times being on 100mg. I haven't been off prednisone in two years, and most of the time it has been very high doses. Prednisone has caused 25lbs of weight gain, osteoporosis, and steroid induced diabetes. Needless to say, I was ready to try just about anything. My pulmonologist agreed to let me try methotrexate to try and come off the prednisone. The goal is to get up to 200mg and we are going slowly. I spent 2wks at 50mg, 2wks at 75mg, and this week will my 2nd week at 100mg. I take the medication on Fri evening, and I take phenergan (for nausea) most of the day Sat. and sleep a lot. Sun I just have periods of nausea, and Mon and Tues as well as the weekend I'm pretty tired. Weds, Thurs, and Fri are pretty good days. I have to have blood work every two weeks to check kidney and liver function as methotrexate can affect these organs, and so far my labs

are good. The good news is I've been able to come down to 70mg of prednisone. I will have more labs next week, and if they continue to stay okay, the methotrexate dose will go up again and the pulmonologist will lower the prednisone dose again. Long story short, the methotrexate is working for me, the weekends aren't too much fun, but I won't have to be on methotrexate forever, and the benefits of getting off prednisone are outweighing the side effects of staying on prednisone. The other thing you have to be careful of with methotrexate is that it is a chemo therapy drug, and will compromise your immune system.____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You!http://www.reallive moms.com? ocid=TXT_ TAGHM & loc= us

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