Just started Methotrexate help and advice needed..scared

barbara01

Hi

I'm new to the forum, have had RA for 21 years but only just started MTX on Sunday...took 7.5mg even though was told to take 10....just felt scared...like I was poisoning my body.......feel ok a little bit fuzzy and a bit tired, but very scared to increase dose...any advice, help would be apreciated, how long before you see results? What can I expect? Would love to hear from anyone who understands how I feel.

Thanks!!!

debsmartin

Hi

I know exactly how you feel, I too was very nervous taking my first dose of methotrexate but 18 months on I am still taking it I now take 20mg once a week and have just added 1 tablet of leflunomide because my doctor thinks this will help even more with the pain.

I too have worry about taking mtx but I knew I couldn't carry on with the pain I was getting so desperation made me take mine, I also appreciate for every good result you hear about there will be somebody with a horror story but I decided to see how my body reacted and yes I suppose I do feel abit yukky on the wednesday when I take my tablet overall the pain relief I get far out ways that, must admit it did take about 3 months to work for me so was glad that I had my steroid injection to help till they kicked in.

Hope that it all goes ok for you but you will be monitored very closely so don't feel too worried.

Take care

Debs

gickygawky

bmgreenlandaolcouk wrote:

Hi

I'm new to the forum, have had RA for 21 years but only just started MTX on Sunday...took 7.5mg even though was told to take 10....just felt scared...like I was poisoning my body.......feel ok a little bit fuzzy and a bit tired, but very scared to increase dose...any advice, help would be apreciated, how long before you see results? What can I expect? Would love to hear from anyone who understands how I feel.

Thanks!!!

Hi there,

I am new to the forum too and took my first dose of MTX last week. It made me feel pretty unwell however this week other then being a bit more fatigued than usual the side effects have been a lot better. I know it's scary so try and keep positive and remember how brave you are to be dealing with all this.Let me know how you are getting on with it all if you have the time, and good luck wit this course of treatment.

A x

jaspercat

Hi, I have been on MXT for some years now, but I can remember feeling sick and scared when I first took them, but I had too so got on with it, they can make you feel tired and nauseous at first, but you can ask your gp for anti-sickness tablets but everyone is different. They can take up to 12 weeks to work but if you feel that you can't get on with them, then you should speak to your Rheumy nurse.

Hope this helps love Jaspercatxx

julie16

Hi,

I started on methotrexate in December last year. Like you I was very scared especially when I had to see the nurse beforehand so she could tell me about all the possible side effects! I felt pretty dreadful to start with and changed over to injections after a few months as the nausea didn't improve. I now inject 17.5mg once a week and can honestly say that I don't feel any nausea etc at all.

It's a bit daunting a first but it's certainly improved my arthritis.

Julie

lindalegs

HI BMG Welcome to you and Gicky also

I started on Mtx 18 months ago, got up to 12.5mg before the vomitting and headaches got a bit too much so my Rheumy dropped my dose to 10mg and here I remain. I started to feel benefit in less than a month of being on it and I think that one reason why my Rheumy happily dropped my dose.

The average time to start to feel benefits, I think, is between 2-3 months.

I now feel great, I get the old bad few days where I get scared it's stopping working but then I'm back to feeling well again.

Try not to be scared - if you get nausea problems your GP will prescribe antimetics but also be reassure side effects very often settle down and disappear completely.

I very happily take my weekly poison now - I look forward to it :shock: and would be very upset if I had to stop taking it.

Luv Legs

gickygawky

Although I didn't start this thread it is really helpful to hear all of your experiences, thank you!!

It makes a big difference to see there are other people like me out there! :shock:

A x

mistywillow

Hi
It is scarey taking strong drugs!! I felt like you when I first started mxt a few years ago, but I was in so much pain i would have taken absolutely ANYTHING!! I am on 10 mgs, if I try to lower the dose, everything just goes crazy again, so It does keep things under control, and the side effects are not as bad now as they were at first, just a little bit grots the day after I take it. Much more preferable to the pain though.
Hope it works well for you.
Gillx

lovehearts

Hi, I've been taking MXT for over 10 years now, take 20mg weekly. Yes I didn't want to go on it and kept putting it off due to everything that I'd heard about the drug and all the side effects. It has helped over the years but at the moment have been taken off all NSAID's which to me is worse as I'm so flared up and really need some sort of anti-inflammatory. I haven't suffered bad side effects with MXT apart from my stomach feeling a bit yukky and out of sorts now and again.

Kim xx

barbara01

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my post it is so reassuring to hear some positive posts about mtx,nearly everything else I have read has been a horror story .two days now since I took first dose and guess I feel ok, kept thinking my heart was beating too fast yesterday but could just of been anxiety,does it get easier with time, it is so nice to be in touch with people who understand. Big thankyou to everyone...

lindalegs

bmgreenlandaolcouk wrote:

.........guess I feel ok, kept thinking my heart was beating too fast yesterday but could just of been anxiety,does it get easier with time, .......

I think it will get easier with time for you - I think as you're so nervous at the moment you're looking for side effects and therefore any twitch or twinge and you want to blame the Mtx. Once you've relaxed when taking it you'll be fine.

Luv Legs

ritwren

Very big welcome to the boards. I hope you visit often even if you're not posting as there is so much good advice and information on here.
I'm working my way up to my 15mg of methotrexate at the moment too. I was worried about taking it but never had any second thoughts and just went ahead as soon as they offered it to me.I was in hospital at the time and in awful pain. I put up with feeling a bit queezy for a few days every week until this week when I've gotten anti sickness tablets from my GP. It's made a big difference.Even if you do have side effects don't think you have to put up with them. There are things which can help.
I hope you find peace. Good luck.
rita

alison67

bmgreenlandaolcouk wrote:

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my post it is so reassuring to hear some positive posts about mtx,nearly everything else I have read has been a horror story .two days now since I took first dose and guess I feel ok, kept thinking my heart was beating too fast yesterday but could just of been anxiety,does it get easier with time, it is so nice to be in touch with people who understand. Big thankyou to everyone...

Hi,
i've meen on mtx for just over a year, i first went on it a few years back but took myself off due to stuff i'd read about it I suffer terribly fron anxiety and still worry from time to time, but when you weigh up the pros and cons it's better to be able to actually 'live' life rather than be in constant pain. Also, not taking anything can be more detrimental as the inflammation gets out of control. I've learnt to come on here for support, especially in my 'very down' days as everyone on here will help. so as long as the drugs work for you, take them! As my g.p once said to me 'if you look up the side effects of paracetamol, you may never take them again'. Take care. Alison.x