Just started Meth

henrysally1

Hi I have been diagnosed with RA about 8 years ago and have taken sulphasalazine, as my RA has become more aggresive i have now been given Methatrexate, I have put off taking this as I was afraid of the side affects but have now given in and took my first dose yesterday, just wondering if anyone can advise on this ie how they are on this drug is it really as bad as the side effects make out, what can I expect.

tjt6768

just wanted to say hello, not on the same meds do can't advise, I know there are many who are though and I'm sure someone will be along at some point soon...

Be well...

henrysally1

Thank you for that.

dreamdaisy

Many moons ago I was on tablet meth and I developed a rash, so was taken off that. I am now on the injected form and I can honestly say that I very, very rarely have any side effects (maybe a few hours of mild nausea, on three occasions during the past two and a half to three years (I think that's how long I have been on it) and a glug of cola usually sorts that out). Meth gets a very bad press - it can be a very effective drug, with little or no side effects and I hope it proves to be so for you. I wish you well. DD

henrysally1

Thanks for the info DD I have read about the side effects and this has as you rightly say given bad press, I see from your profile you like beer are you still able to drink with this drug?

madwestie

Hello, I have been on Methorexate for 3 years now for the first 18 months i was on tablets i had no side effects to speak of only a very slight loss if hair which was cured but upping the folic acid to 3 times a week I am now on 25mg of injected Methorexate and have absolutly no side effects at all.
I think we mostly hear from people having problems as they want help to resolve them. Those who are ok on it don't have anything much to report about it.
I hope you get on ok with it.
I have had the occasional drink but mostly i don't (although mostly i didn't before) I do occasionally like a nice cider which i have as a treat. I think it is beacuse the Metho put more strain on you liver and so does the alcohol.

dreamdaisy

Am I still able to drink? Oh yes indeed, that is the only thing with this damned business that has worked in my favour. (I would stress, however, that this has been determined over a good few years of finding out, with some extended periods of HUGE SULKING when forced to stop.)

I think this is important: you must be meticulous in having your bloods done (mine were fortnightly for years) and perhaps entertain the notion of being 'dry' for the first couple of months (yes, sorry, that long). I think the current thinking is that you can safely consume a small amount of alcohol whilst on meth but I think abstinence at first is no bad thing, just to give your liver a chance and for you to see how you are getting on with it. If all is well then gradually re-introduce alcohol if required.

I am going out at 4.30. I may be home by about 10.00, in between various pints will be quaffed and a curry consumed. I am about to start my fifteenth year of this arthritis rubbish, I am on many more meds than you, and my mood is such today that I give not one damn about any of it! DD

barbara12

Hi
Sorry I have no advice, but I just want to say welcome, and I hope it all goes well for you.
Please let us know how you get on with it.
Barbara x

need me bed

I Started Meth back in August, and i don't like it at all but gp wont let me off them until i see THE MAN in April. It made me sooo tired the first 4 weeks i was on it, that i had to take the full month off work...much to my Employers annoyance .... They make me feel really sickie the first couple of days after but like in everything else we're all different. I take Sulfasalazine and Plaquenil too and I just don't think the combination is good for me but I have to wait and see what THE MAN says....

Hope you get some relief from them,

Gentle Hugs

NMB xxx

tillytop

Hello and welcome from me too.

I know that starting new meds can be scary, so well done for plucking up the courage to take your first mtx dose.

I am on my second "go" at mtx and, although I struggled hugely with nausea the first time round, this time (many years later) I have had hardly any nausea at all. I have a theory that the first time round the probs were due to the combination of other meds I was taking but that is just a theory. The mtx certainly helps my RA although, at the current dose (17.5 mg weekly) it does not seem to be sufficient on its own and I am still needing to rely on steroids as well.

I really do hope that it works for you and that you don't have any unwanted side effects. Good luck!

Tillyxxx

ironic

Hi Henrysally,
I have been taking the tablets for about 4 months now and started to feel a difference after about 14 weeks. I take them in the evening with a couple of glasses of water. I have had a few yucky bouts but not every week. I have just started taking an anti-sickness capsule so fingers crossed this will make a difference.
A lot of people get on with them really well so I hope you are one of them.
Let us know how it goes.
Lv, Ix

stickywicket

Hi Henrysally,

Been taking methotrexate for so many years I've lost count and no problems at all. As for alcohol - I like a glass of wine with my evening meal, a glass of something longer in hot weather and never miss the odd single malt when visiting my son. However, my liver function tests have always been well within what's required; best to get yours established first.

Make sure your dentist knows you're on it. Hope it goes well.

ratface

Hi Henrysally,

Hope you find Mtx. suits you.

I was diagnosed with RA almost 20 years ago.

I have been on tablet Mtx. since about 1995'ish. Only a small dose, 7.5mg a week. On this dose my only problem was that I got an ulcer in my mouth - I spoke to my rheumy nurse about this and she advised me to double my vit. C tablet for a couple of days - this worked. Since then I have made sure that my intake of fruit containing vit. C has been higher.

They tried me on a higher dose (after a few years) but my body couldn't tolerate it, so Mtx. was put back down to 7.5mg a week. My problem with the higher dose was that my posterior was subject to a crop of boils! (Apparently my bloods showed that my liver wasn't liking the larger dose of Mtx. either - they returned to normal once I was back on the lower dose).

In conjunction with Mtx. (which I take on a Friday night) I have also been taking 1 5mg folic acid tablet on a Monday and Wednesday evening.

When I started taking Mtx. my rheumy consultant told me that I could have 2 glasses of wine a week. At my first appointment with him after starting Mtx. I told him that 2 glasses of wine wasn't enough when you went to a wedding etc! (1 glass as you walked in, 1 glass with your meal -where's the glass to toast the happy couple?) His amused reply was: 'OK, the odd 1 more when it's a special occasion'. Took him at his word and I must say I found it easy to work round this.

Hope Mtx. works for you

Love Rat Face xxxx

skezier

Hi Henrysally,

Sorry you have had to find the site but its a good place just the same.

Been on mtx around a year and now on 25 as a last ditch resort. I have duff eyes so haven't read the side effect thing and be honest i stopped reading them ever since they put me on some drugs years ago that listed death as a side effect

the way I look at it is the side effects might happen... and might not but the condition is already there ad is happening....

There are a few things i have noticed on both the mtx and the sulfa, hair thinning and sickness with a permanent cold that i cant throw off but small price to pay if it works really........

The gp's can give you stuff to counter balance some of the effects if you get them and I hope you will find they are fine for you and work. Oh i am boring and don't drink anyway so can't help with that one. Nice to meet you. Cris x

lindalegs

Hi Henrysally,

Welcome to the forum from me too

I've been on 10mg Mtx tablets for over two year now. Any side effects did settle down fairly quickly - though to be honest I seem to be prone to waking headaches which I put down to Mtx - these soon go with Paracetamol. I have benefited greatly from taking it and noticed an improvement in my RA within a few weeks. If you get nausea you can get anti-sickness tablets from your GP.

My Rheumy told me I could still have alcohol but, at first, it's best not to have any one day before Mtx and two days after so I still take mine on a Tuesday so I can social drink at the weekends should I wish.

Regular bloods are essential, as others have said, I only have to have bloods every three months now as my body has settled with the drug.

Any other questions or worries please feel free to ask us all.

nicnic

Hi

Iv been taking meth for 5 years no side effects at first maybe few wee things nothing to worry about. Have few drinks every few weeks as long as you get your bloods done few drinks has been ok for me.. Helped me for 3 years last rew weeks took bad turn though all swollen had cut down on the metho though so hopefully once up it agin it will be fine.

Good luck

williamlargs

Been on meth since last July without any probs. Now on 20mg. Took about 3 months before it kicked in but now delighted to say I have been able to cut out the anti inflams and pain killers. Like you I was on sulph for years then drug free for a few before I was put on to meth.

As far as alcohol is concerened I am a self confessed party animal. I have cut it down quite a bit though especially in the early days. My monthly bloods were all fine and like Linda Legs I have now been reduced to 3 monthly blood tests which suggests my system is handling the meth OK. I try to keep well within the maximum weekly unit consumption but can't deny I break the rules on occasion :eek:

Be carefull to start with is the best advise I can give. Good thing about regular bloods is that they should spot if there is a prob pretty quickly. There are plenty of people out there who could probably have liver problems and don't know it!!!

Regards

henrysally1

Hi All i have now been taking my meds for a couple of weeks and not to bad other than headaches initially, thank you all for the information and support during this period x