methotrexate and anti-biotics

polly123

Hi Guys,

Hope everyone is facing forward and feeling positive.

Can anyone advise the protocol for taking meth with anti-biotics? I have a burst eardrum and infected ear(yuk!), have had a 3-day course finishing today but it hasn't cleared it - if I need a longer course and miss a meth day can I continue the next due date at the same dose or do I need to go back to 7.5mg again and build up to my current 20mg?

Thanks, Polly

stickywicket

I have always resumed at my normal dose.

The eardrum sounds painful. I hope it clears up soon.

mig

Ouch sounds really painful,hope it gets better soon. Mig

polly123

Thanks Sticky that's helpful - when I approached my GP and explained my apprehension about taking them together he advised he'd prescribed "hundreds of times", however when he went to the computer they are contra-indicated. I think I may have to miss a dose, which I don't mind so much if I can resume at 20mg.

Thanks Mig - it is pretty sore, not as much as earlier this week, but worst I'm deaf in one ear and diminished in the other and a large part of my job is listening!!!! So glad it's almost the weekend

Polly

salamander

I was always told to stop the mtx until so many days after the course of antibiotics were finished. Do you have a specialist nurse you can ask?

DebbieT

I was only taken off of mtx for Glandular Fever & after 3 months of back to back chest infections I had pneumonia, I was asked to stop it then too. Other than that I've never been asked to stop mine but I was taking it for my skin as well as PsA, dunno if that made a difference.

I've had multiple burst ear drums, it's actually quite a relief wen it bursts & the pain lessens isn't it? The resulting hearing difficulties are terrible & annoying tho.

Get well soon.

Xx xX

stickywicket

My understanding (and it's very limited :roll: ) is that the meth works by dampening down our over-active immune systems. The antibiotics work by conquering the 'invader'. They really don't want our immune systems dampened down otherwise they have to work harder.

I think the reason we usually start off low with meth is to find out how well we tolerate it before whacking in the higher dose. I've been off it for weeks before ops but then gone straight back onto my regular dose.

polly123

Thanks for your input guys - I do have a specialist nurse but her stock answer appears to "ask your GP", although I could try again.

yes it is a relief to have the infection out, but the deafness is irritating!!

Nice to hear I can probably go straight back to full dose - it's taken me almost a year to get here!!

It's just one thing after another isn't it with arthritis - just when I think i've got the measure of it something else happens. Think i've finally come to terms with the fact that i'm not the woman I was though, so thanks for all your support with acceptance - it really has meant a lot to me.
Polly

dreamdaisy

You are the woman you used to be but now have arthritis. It's both an immense yet tiny change and I know that it's not easy to accept.

I was told by my rheumatology dept to stop the meth etc at the first hint of a sore throat, a cold or another kind of infection. I do (apart from the sulph) and find that I generally feel better in myself with the anti-bios. Once things are improved I resume the meth at my usual dose (15mgs injected). My right ear is beginning to play up (I had a mastoid op on it aged five) so I truly empathise. There's nowt worse than ear pain - I reckon it beats the arthritis hurts hands-down.

I hope you will soon be feeling better. I wish you well. DD

polly123

Hi DD, thankyou for your response. I do understand in the scheme of things it is not the worst that can happen - arthritis that is - but as I guess for a lot of people the effects of living with and coming to terms with arthritis have affected every aspect of my life - my work, my personal relationships, my hobbies, my future and my security. I know I can do this, as I've absorbed and accepted many difficult times over the years - I guess i'm just a little sick of doing so!!!!

Anyway, going to have to stop meth and take a longer course of anti-b's, so fingers crossed I don't deteriorate too badly, and recover quickly!!!

Polly

Susiesoo

Hi Polly...the only time I have needed antibiotics since being on MTX, I had an allergic reaction to it. My GP prescribed a different one. As I understand it, there are certain ones that should not be taken and others that are fine. My GP's computer system wouldn't let her prescribe the contra-indicated ones. I would like to think that there is one big computer system used by the NHS, but I don't know. Somehow I doubt it. I didn't have to stop nor reduce the MTX?

I hope your ear problem soon clears up.

Susie

Susiesoo

Sorry, there shouldn't have been a ? at the end of that.........I didn't have to stop nor reduce the MTX.

Susie

stickywicket

A timely reminder, Susiesoo. Yes, there are some antibios we meth-heads shouldn't have. I never rely on computers or GP's memories. I always remind them I take meth.

polly123

Hi guys,
Really appreciating your support :-)
I went back to my GP and whilst it hasn't got worse it isn't much better, so the plan is to take my meth today, then take a monday-friday dose of anti-biotics next week just to speed recovery a bit.

I'm happy with that

Kindest regards, Polly

dreamdaisy

Hello, hopefully you are at least two days in with the new anti-bios, how are things going now? DD