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Post by beachbum on Oct 16, 2015 14:12:41 GMT
My rheumatologist says my hands are "a mess" (yeah, I could have told her that), so she put me on methotrexate. Anyone taken it? How did it work for you? How long before you saw a difference? Did you have any side effects? I can't take NSAIDs, I take 200mg Tramadol daily, it takes the edge off the pain but it's not doing enough.  |
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Post by Judie in Oz on Oct 16, 2015 14:48:29 GMT
I take methotrexate for arthritis once a week (I have psoriatic arthritis.). A friend who takes it advised me to use it on Fridays because there may be some excessive tiredness to start with. She was right. I don't get that side-effect any more, but still take it Fridays. You need to take folic acid while you're on the methotrexate, just don't take any the day you choose to take the methotrexate. Because it's an immunosuppressant, you may find that you pick up viruses more often, so take good care of yourself. It has helped my arthritis quite a lot.
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by basketdiva on Oct 16, 2015 15:00:20 GMT
I've been on it for 5 years now. I was also prescribed folic acid to take daily. Once in a while I get a mouth sore that lasts only a couple of days.Some times, I getan upset stomach the next day but very rarely. One RA doctor said I could never drink again, while another said one or two a week wouldn't hurt. Talk to your doctor about this. It did slow down the progress but it was necessary for me to start Humira. Humira has helped so much that I have reduced the methotrxate. To be honest I'm not sure how much is the effect of the Humira or a change in lifestyle ( moved away forom and high humidity area and away from a stressful situation and now back among all our friends) Here's an article with loots of helpful info www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/medication/drug-types/disease-modifying-drugs/methotrexate-side-effects.php |
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Post by beachbum on Oct 16, 2015 15:17:24 GMT
My dr. also gave me folic acid. It doesn't matter what day of the week I take it, I'm retired - one day is the same as the others! Humidity doesn't bother me, I live in a high humidity area (SW Florida), it's the change in barometric pressure that kills me. My dr. didn't say anything about no alcohol, she knows I drink socially - I go back to see her in a month, so that's one thing I'll ask her about. the NSAIDs did a number on my liver enzymes in the past (levels that should have been in the 50s were up around 700), so I stay away from them. Thanks basketdiva, for the article. |
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brandy327
Drama Llama
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Post by brandy327 on Oct 16, 2015 15:21:04 GMT
I was on it for a while for my psoriatic arthritis and despite upping the dosage until it got to the max allowed, it never worked for me. AND it took forever to get to the max dosage (over 2 years) because the doc would up it and and then wait for 3 months to see if it was helping. I was told (as long as my memory serves me right) that it took a bit to build in your system. Anyway, it didn't work for me at all and after 2 years of trial and error, I ended up on Enbrel. Best decision ever. My pain and stiffness was under control within a couple of weeks and I only get little flares here and there when the whether is wonky or if I overdo it physically.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 16, 2015 15:22:47 GMT
My Mom and BFF both took it for RA. BFF took it for a while (I want to say a year or more) and Mom just a little while as her bloodwork wasn't good with it. BFF got dizzy from it but everything makes her sick so I don't know what good it did her. It worked for my Mom quite well, though.
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