A few questions about MTX

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I finally got my rx for MTX and am supposed to start it tomorrow,

Tuesday. The doc I saw was suposed to give me a brochure about MTX

and have the medication clerk talk to me. Well it turned out they

were out of the pamphlets and the med clerk was out sick and the

assistant that brought out my rx didn't know anything about MTX.

What I am looking to find out is what time of day is best to take it?

I take my birth control pills at night so they won't make me sick. So

that is something I have to consider if bedtime would be better to

take it. I know when my Dad had to take interleukin2 the doc would

give it to him at 5pm, Dad would eat by 6 and go to bed about 8. It

really helped him to do that as he had horrible side effects if he

was awake.

Also, should I eat with the med or an hour before or after I take it?

The doc kind of shrugged when I asked him and said whatever I wanted

to do. I'm kind of thinking if it is something that is hard on the

stomach and can cause ulcers, perhaps I should be eating with it.

Third, is about how long before the side effects, IF I have any,

start after taking it and what are the most common ones? I am taking

folic acid 1mg once daily. Is it better to take it along with the MTX

or at a different time? And about how long do the side effects

usually last? About the only thing the doc could say was if I would

like to keep my weekends side effect free to take it on Monday or

Tuesday. So I chose Tuesday. Who wants to start out Monday sick! LOL.

I would so appreciate any feedback on these questions. I know I don't

have the best doc but right now the county health program is the best

I can do. It took two years to get into their Rheumy dept. I called

around myself recently and wasn't impressed with the waiting lists to

see rheumys outside that system. But I'm not giving up, if I have to

relocate to find a good one.

Thank you in advance,

Dalene