Methotrexate dosage question

[Guest guest]

It's been a long time since I posted.

My 15 yr. old son was taking 20 mg injections of Methotrexate, but the

doctor decided to double it to 40 mg. That means 2 shots, because 1

almost fills the syringes. She says that's still in the rheumatic

dosage, but that's higher than what I can find when I Google it. I'm

also concerned that it should be raised gradually, and everything I've

read supports increasing gradually as well as suggests that 40 mg. is

higher than the normal low dose. What is everyone else taking?

Gael

[Editor's Note: Gael, the " typical " maximum dose is 25 mg/week. However, a few

people are able to do well on somewhat higher doses. The main concern with the

higher dosage is your son's liver. Is his liver being monitored via monthly

blood tests? Does your doctor show you those results each month and are you

both satisfied that there are no adverse changes occurring? Did you discuss

with your doctor (presumably a board certified rheumatologist) why she felt that

it was absolutely essential that your son be on the higher dose? If not, you

need to take full ownership of your son's disease and not acquiesce to a single

thing without having a full and thorough discussion with your rheumatologist as

well as supplementing that with extensive research. In addition to the internet,

many state colleges with pre-med programs will let you have full access to their

medical libraries, including all online medical specialty research. Make full

use of that. Only let your son take something IF and only IF you are fully

confident in the rheumy's recommendation. Anyhoo, that's my two cents. Kathy

F.]