Started Meth yesterday, when do side effects start?

Ria

Well, I took my 4 meth tabs at 8am yesterday and was waiting all day for the dreaded side effects (I know, i'm sad!!). However, i still feel fine. I will be increasing them fortnightly an extra tab until i'm up to 8 per week. Is it cumulative and side effects become obvious the more of the stuff is in your system or perhaps i've got away with it? Surely not cos if the drugs don't get ya the symptoms do!!!

Any thoughts guys???

dreamdaisy

Just because side-effects are listed is no guarantee they will materialise. I had tablet meth for a while with no problems, bu then I developed a rash and was taken off them. I felt fine throughout. I am now on injected meth, there have been one or two occasions when I felt a little sick, or very tired for a few hours, but otherwise nothing. Admittedly I do feel much better in myself when I miss a dose for whatever reason, but hey-ho, that's no wonder. It's strong stuff, even at the paltry doses we take. I hope it has a good effect on the symptoms of your arthritis. DD

Ria

Thank you DD. I keep waiting to feel sick and poorly like i did when on the old Tramadol!! OOOh how lovely if 1) I feel ok and 2) it Works!!!! haha oh I do like to dream.

julie47

Morning Ria

Stop waiting for side effects....hopefully you will not have any.
Just think of how good it is making you feel instead.

I have been on meth for years and years and only once in that time had to stop for a couple of weeks due to the rhummys testing my liver.

Please don't worry.

Juliepf x

Ria

julie47 wrote:

Morning Ria

Stop waiting for side effects....hopefully you will not have any.
Just think of how good it is making you feel instead.

I have been on meth for years and years and only once in that time had to stop for a couple of weeks due to the rhummys testing my liver.

Please don't worry.

Juliepf x

Oh don't....i'm getting all excited now!!!

dreamdaisy

I take it they are 2.5mg tablets? Obviously the more they build up the greater the effect on the arthritis (that's the theory anyway) and sometimes the body does rebel when the dose is upped, but generally our doses are very small and it all comes down to individual tolerances. With injected meth you have a smaller dose as the liquid has more oooomph than the tablets (it isn't being digested for a start!) so I am on 15ml weekly. Only occasionally do I feel side effects. As far as I am concerned if a side effect doesn't hurt or make me feel considerably worse than I usually do then it is manageable. DD

stickywicket

Any potential side-effects have to be listed, Ria, but it's not compulsory to get them. I've been ón this for over 10 years with no problems at all. Take them with food then forget about them. If you start to feel unwell then reassess. All the best.

Ria

Thanks everyone for sharing and caring!

I'm going to remain optimistic and you never know, i might get some mobility back and pain relief and be able to go out and get on with life again?!

tillytop

Oh your first post on this thread did make me chuckle Ria! Not cos what you were saying was funny, but because I was just the same when I started mtx for the second time. Having struggled with it first time round, I took the tabs and then, like you, just sat and waited :roll:. But as the others have said, everyone is different and hopefully you will find that the mtx really helps, without any negative effects. Here's hoping...

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

lindalegs

Hi Ria,

I hope you don't get any side effects, not everyone does. I did and they started straight away, so maybe you're one of the lucky ones

barbara12

Hi Ria
Im not on the meds, but I would say try to stay positive, and distract yourself with something you like doing.
I really do wish you well with it, and keep us updated.

parrotman

Hi Ria,

I was very similar to yourself and now in my 4th week. The first dose I took on an empty stomach and the following day bits I never knew I had ached and pained all over, so much so I just crashed out !

I now take after an evening meal and so far the only thing I've felt is..............soooooooo much better ( hope I'm not speaking too soon 1 ). Take Folic Acid the following day.

The Nurse did highlight any feeling of breathlessness or bleeding/blood spots anywhere to tell her.

Wish you well and hope it's ok for you.

Regards John

DebraKelly

I started Meth last year.

I first started to feel sick the next day after taking it. However I didn't take it with food.

Please take it with food and your folic acid tablet as well.

The sickness lasted a few weeks and then stopped after that.
The only other side affect I had was my urine turning Orange! :eek:

The best thing to take if your are feeling sick is a mint.

Works everytime for me.

Ria

parrotman wrote:

Hi Ria,

I was very similar to yourself and now in my 4th week. The first dose I took on an empty stomach and the following day bits I never knew I had ached and pained all over, so much so I just crashed out !

I now take after an evening meal and so far the only thing I've felt is..............soooooooo much better ( hope I'm not speaking too soon 1 ). Take Folic Acid the following day.

The Nurse did highlight any feeling of breathlessness or bleeding/blood spots anywhere to tell her.

Wish you well and hope it's ok for you.

Regards John

Hi John,

Your post has given me real inspiration and i'm hoping I start to feel well soon.

I was told to take the meth on a monday morning with breakfast and my folic acid on a friday, but you take yours the next day don't you?

stickywicket

Folic acid seems to depend heavily on your consultant. I've always taken mine the day after the meth plus 3 days after that but some just seem to take it once a week and I know one lady who takes it every day. As long as things are OK for you I wouldn't worry about it.

parrotman

Hi Ria,

Thank you for your kind words.

I was'nt told when and how to take them other than meth one day and folic acid the following day.

After my first ( unsuccessful ) dose I decided to take mtx after the evening meal thinking that if I did experience any side effects ie nausea, I'd be able to sleep it off but have'nt felt anything untoward.

I'm on 3 x 2.5mg mtx and 1 x 5mg folic acid per week. Low dose but visiting nurse early August for update and review.

Obviously we're all different and respond/react in different ways and it may or may not take time until the correct medication and/or dosage is achieved.

The first week there was no real noticeable improvement but following that it has been very positive and getting my life motivation back together.

I daresay none of us ( and I'm no exception ) wish to become pill poppers but in the absence of a cure if it improves our quality of life then so be it. What works for one may not necessarily work for the other though.

Not easy at times Ria but never give up and stay positive.

I wish you well and really hope you reap benefits.

Regards John

leaflet

I think each rheumatology nurse has her own suggestions about taking the Meth. I started mine in May and was told to take it at bed-time which I do. However I do feel quite nauseous the next day but one and now take Folic Acid 3 times a week, but I haven't been told to take either of them with food. I think I'll try that.

Backs of my knees are playing up today - have been told I have Baker's cysts behind both knees so guess it is something to do with that.

Nice to speak to other people through this forum, I'm going to enjoy it.

prefabkid47

Hi Ria
Apologies for delay in replying to your thread.I have been on methotrexate (12.5 mg weekly) for about 6-7 years and fortunately to date have had no side effects,not everyone does and has given excellent RA control.
Ron

Ria

Thank you one and all for your replies. You read so many negative things about the mtx it's great to hear some very positive experiences.

I was told to take with food and to be honest, anything I take on an empty stomach tends to make me feel a bit yucky. So try with breakfast or halfway through a meal; i'm sure it helps!!

So, Monday i'll take my second dose and i'm so hoping to soon feel some sort of benefit!!

Enjoy the weekend :roll: