New User and a question

merri
merri Member Posts: 190
edited 12. Sep 2011, 21:36 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi,

I was directed here by my RA nurse, hi :smile: . I hope you don't mind me popping in and asking a question straight away. I've recently been diagnosed with RA, 18 months after a car accident which the consultant thinks triggered it. I've been prescribed Methotrexate on top of my other meds (Amitriptyline, Diclofenac, Tramadol and Cocodamol) and have been taking it for 3 weeks. It's making me feel very sick, I was just wondering if anyone else has had this and how long it took to subside?

Thanks for reading :smile:
https://forwhenlifegivesyoulemons.wordpress.com/

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi merri, nausea is a common side-effect of meth, it can fade as the body adjusts but if not you can ask about having an anti-emetic drug. What dose are you taking and has it been increased recently? Keep in close contact with your rhuematology nurse, she is best-placed to advise you. I wish you well and I hope the meth helps. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • merri
    merri Member Posts: 190
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you very much for the reply DD. I've been started on 15mg, with moving to 20mg in another couple of weeks. I'm taking folic acid to try and combat the side effects. I might give her a call in a couple of weeks if it doesn't settle. Thank you :)
    https://forwhenlifegivesyoulemons.wordpress.com/
  • Ankyspond
    Ankyspond Member Posts: 626
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    Welcome nice to meet you. I take Meth as well, normally if you feel sick they will tell you to increase the folic acid so I think a call to the rhumy nurse in the morning would be a good thing to do. Meth can take a long time to work, sometimes up to six months so don't give up on it. Once you have the right meds it should be much better.

    Hope you feel better soon and keep posting the forum is full of support, laughs and rants. xx
    AS Sufferer
    Live, love and enjoy life, live each day as though it's your last!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You are more than welcome, merri. That seems to be a quite a high first dose level to me but I am not a doc! It may take a while for your body to adjust, meth is powerful stuff. I am on injected meth, I have 15ml a week and take the FA two days after. I am fortunate in that I am rarely troubled by side effects, though I do sometimes feel very, very tired the day after. Inflammatory arthritis can also make you feel tired, so make sure you rest at various points during the day, that is important. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Merri,

    I hope that, especially given the diclofenac, you’ve also been prescribed a stomach protector such as Lansoprazole or Omeprazole. If not, no wonder you’re feeling queasy. Your GP can prescribe this: you don’t need to wait until you see the rheumatologist.

    I’ve never had a problem with my methotrexate but I know others find nausea a problem and some take it at night for that reason. I always take it, and every other med, with food. Otherwise I do get stomach problems.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 12. Sep 2011, 03:53
    Hi Merri
    Sorry I cant help, but I just want to add my support, and say welcome to this lovely forum, I do hope you stay with us, :grin:
    Love
    Barbara
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It s a very common side effect with MTX. I was prescribed anti-sickness pills (meto....something or other). I had to ask for them(GP/ Nurse or rheumatologist will do).They seem to work for me most of the time.

    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Merri

    Welcome and what a wonderful RA nurse you have to point you in the right direction, to us. :grin::wink: Do please mention to her that it was a great idea of hers to mention the AC forum. I am sorry that I cannot help you with your questions as I have OA but you will get support and help from us lot though. I do hope that you find a way to minimise or get rid of the nausea through trial and error. It is horrid feeling sick a lot of the time.

    Look after yourself,
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi again Merri

    Just had a thought, if you click on the search button at the top of the page and type in methotrexate nausea quite a few postings will come up which may find of interest.

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi can not help but want to say welcome great to have you with us take care val
    val
  • merri
    merri Member Posts: 190
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Wow, thank you so very much for all of the lovely replies :grin: I've not been prescribed a stomach protector as yet, I'm just taking folic acid.
    https://forwhenlifegivesyoulemons.wordpress.com/
  • janie68
    janie68 Member Posts: 1,186
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Merri

    I had to have anti-emetic tabs in the end, I was that bad, if youre on mtx tabs then you could try splitting the dose, half in the ,orning and half in the afternoon. I also have mine last thing before bed, then I can sleep off the sickness as much as poss. It's a bit trial and error I'm afraid and I even find that some weeks are worse than others still after 4 years.

    Eating ginger may help as well. Hope that it does ease, mtx is not easy due to side effects but it does help the RA.

    Janie
  • Colin1
    Colin1 Member Posts: 1,769
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Meri
    Methotrexate is one of those drugs that work well but has those awful side effects. I think if you talk with your Rheumy nurse you will get it sorted but it all takes time, Yes you should be on one of the tummy protectors, then there are the anti sickness tablets and folic asid. I **** ume your on tablets. If you go on the injections you dont suffer as much with the tummy and feeling ill. again talk to the nurse. I have been on methtrexate for about six years now in the end i just got use to the way it makes you feel.
    Colin
    WHEN GOD GIVES YOU LEMONS MAKE LEMONADE
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,027
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi merri

    welcome to the forums from me too.

    there are anti-emetics too you can ask for to stop you being sick.

    Hope it settles for you very soon

    Love

    Toni xx
  • traluvie
    traluvie Member Posts: 2,579
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Merri,

    Welcome from me..
    I think it can take a while for your body to adjust to certain meds, hence the nauea, but for me i still experience nausea but not as often.. You can speak to GP about it and they may be able to help..
    If you start getting bad guts from diclofenac then you need to mention it to GP so they can prescribe stomach protector, helps alot..xx
    th_tn_TisFORTIGGER.jpgxxTracyxx
  • sennacharib
    sennacharib Member Posts: 76
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I cant really help as im new here too and just having my plaquenil adjusted and possibly starting something new in next couple weeks, but wanted to say im sorry for you feeling so poorly on them. Like the others have said speak to your GP or rheumy nurse as its no fun dealing with side effects hun.

    Let us know how you get on :)

    Hugs love senna xxxx
  • vonski
    vonski Member Posts: 1,292
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Merri and welcome from me too. Can you ring your Rheumy Dr. or nurse and tell them how sick these meds make you feel and ask if you should have anti- emetics to take with them.
    Love
    Vonski
  • tiggernut
    tiggernut Member Posts: 339
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Merri,

    I have 10mg MTX by injection and get no problems. I used to take tablets and get the sickness and diarrhea which is why I changed to injections.
    You could try taking it in the evening before bed so you sleep through the sickness.
    I also take voltarol(Diclofenac) which is known to irritate the tummy so you really do need to get a tummy protector.
    Good luck,
    Anita.
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Welcome to the forum! :wink: Hope you find it helpful and supportive. Ask as many questions as you like and I'm sure you'll be soon answering others problems and finding people with similar problems, which makes it less lonely! :wink: Love Suexx
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Merri,

    Welcome to the forum form me as well.

    I have had on going sickness with eh mtx for quite sometime and know how horrible it can get but anti-emetics do help and so does moving to injections so don't think if it doesn't subside you will have this for ever.

    Hang in there and I do really hope upping the folic acid might help as well. More importantly the mtx works well and they can knock the does back for you. Nice to meet you. Cris x

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