When Do You Take Your Folic Acid?

breane

Hi, I've been on 7.5mg of MTX for about 14 weeks and I take 10mg of Folic Acid the day after the MTX.However,due to hair loss I had a word with the rheumy nurse,she had a word with a consultant and she rang me back today to tell me to double up the dose of F.Acid to 20mg once a week and to start taking it the day BEFORE the MTX. I don't know what difference it will make to hair loss by taking it the day before the MTX.Do any of you take your F.Acid the day before MTX? Breane.

agslegs

I'm on 10mg of methotreaxate and I have been taking it on and off for about 13 weeks. I take 10 mg of folic acid in two doses 3 days and 5 days after taking the mtx. I did have some hair loss in the beginning but that seems to have calmed down now.

robertls

I take my Folic Acid 2 days AFTER my MTX..........

ROb x

tillytop

Sorry Breane, can't help - when I took Mtx I wasn't given folic acid as far as I remember. But really hope that taking the extra dose helps with the hair loss tho'. Love Tilly x

rachelj

I could be wrong, but it sort of makes to take it before, from what i remember reading the MTX stops your body being able to use the folic acid as well as it should to create new cells. So MTX patients take an extra dose to give the required levels. I guess the lower the level of MTX in your system the more of any folic acid supplements you can absorb and use.

Oh its all ever so very confusing, don't forget to top up on your veg too, I think its broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and my favourite asparagus that have high levels of folic acid :-)

Hope you find a suitable window that does the trick!

Rach

dreamdaisy

I've never been given folic acid. DD

julie47

I take only 5mg once a week .

Don't know if it does me any good

Julie pf x

skezier

Hi Breane,

Originally I was told to take it the day after once a week but cus of the hair loss and the throwing up I now take it 4x a week, two days before and two days after...... I think it honestly is just down to individual rumo's preferences actually...... Its all different with us all eh?

Oh the hair loss thing, my gp and rumo said not much they can do to help unless the mtx is is reduced and instead cus of all the inflammation I am upping it again. Kinda hope it will stabilize soon.... Hope your ok and getting some benefits? Cris x

williamlargs

Wasn't given it by rheumy but asked for it after reading about it on here. Take 5mg two days after meths.

No idea if it does any good or not :roll:

tarasmygirl

I'm on 15mg Metho and take 5mg folic acid 3 days after taking Metho. Don't know if it has helped as when I went up from 7.5 to 15mg Metho I was very nauseous and got (more) tablets to help - was also told to try splitting dose of metho over the day rather than in 1 go. Either this has helped or my body is getting used to metho as I wasn't quite as bad this week
Cath

page35

Hi
Yes i take my folic acid the day before the metho
i take my metho on sun and mon (split dose cos of side effects including hair loss) then i take the folic acid 5mg on weds, thur,fri and sat.
it has helped me
as cris said it depends on you rheumy and how it affects you.
good luck

nanarose

I have been told to take 5mg of Folic Acid 24 hours after my mtx - I'm just upping it to 15mg this week.

It still bemuses me to see the vast range of dosages that Rheumatologists seem to deliver.

I would have thought that by now, as mtx isn't a new drug, they would have settled on a certain dosage, unless patient circumstances warrant otherwise.

Oh well, keep popping the pills everyone, whatever you are taking!

robertls

Bumped this up for Tillytop

Rob x