Methotrexate?

SuzanneF

Just been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Taking methotrexate. Anyone advise good or bad?

Chris_R

Hi SuzanneF

Welcome to the forum its good to see you posting.

You say you have just been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and taking methotrexate,i expect you are still getting use to the diagnosis and finding out about your arthritis and the drugs you take to help you.

We are all very friendly and understand how you feel, the most popular forums are Living with Arthritis, Chit Chat and vals café.

please choose a forum or forums and enjoy chatting to others

All the best Christine

Crookesey

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/52616/methotrexate

I couldn’t settle to the oral version, dizziness, skin rashes and sores, my right forearm is permanently scared. However my rheumatology consultant suggested ‘pen injections’, I have had no problems with them and they have reduced swelling.

Good luck to you.

lkn

Hello Suzanne
I'm taking methotrexate too. I started on sulphazine I think that's the name but was allergic got put on methotrexate 17mg my liver couldn't cope had to come off it. Back on lower doze 12.5mg seemed ok. I was told to increase it to 20mg every 2 weeks but I cant my liver count on taking 15mg was 222 alt. So I'm off it again until my bloods show the liver is ok. Think 12.5 will be as high as I can go on this one. Hope your ok on your doze. Everyone is different. I'll have to wait and see what's next for me. But 2 weeks without it and the pain is kicking in again. Same thing happened last time.

Lynda

Crookesey

Lynda, are you taking Methotrexate orally or by some form of injection? I’m no expert but am guessing that you, like me, are allergic to the oral version, why not see what your rheumatologist thinks?

frogmorton

Increase steadily as prescribed. Rest the day after as much as possible. Many recommend carbs for any queasiness - one even fish and chips!

Take care and let us know how you get on

SuzanneF

Thanks..really appreciate your input. Only my second week of taking methotrexate, blood test next week to check liver.

lkn

Hi crooksey.

I'm taking oral tablets just now. I'll need to catch up with rheumatology at some point to discuss further. I work full time so hard to get time to organise anything else. I'm getting bloods via my local doctors I haven't seen rumey nurse since last November. Covid has stalled everything. I've been on 12.5ml for about 7 months now with no real problems. Last time when I was put on 17ml straight away I used to feel sick mostly the day after. Then this time when I reached 15ml. So 12.5 seemed ok for me. I took the increase very slowly way slower than what they told me to take. But 5 weeks after increasing the doze it's gone wrong again. I'm sure it will all get sorted. Just wish it didn't hurt so much. What are you taking.

Crookesey

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/670855#Comment_670855

I’m Metoject PEN injecting 15mg of Methotrexate once a week and 5mg of Folic Acid orally two days later, I haven’t had a problem with this.

KazandNoo

Hi SuzanneF and lkn

I have psoriatic arthritis and the oral methotrexate side effects were too severe for me so you're definitely not alone with this. I haven't tried the Metoject pen as yet,may be my next option when I see the rheumatologist next (whenever that may be)

I'm interested to try it after reading Crookesey's comments above.

I'm on low dose prednisolone at the moment which isn't taking all the pain away.

Please let us know how you get on.

Crookesey

The one thing that we all should appreciate is that the rheumatology medics need to know exactly how we feel about our respective medications, if we don’t tell them how are they supposed to know? How many times have I heard medical staff say “how are you today” to patients? only to be answered in a positive manner, were British, that’s what we do. I’m not a moaner, but these guys need to know how their work is progressing or not, whichever the case may be.

I told my consultant that I would not take oral Methotrexate any more as it had bad side effects on me, some being visibly evident. He offered me the Metoject PEN straight away and I haven’t had a problem with it.

Saffey

20 years of RA..and 10 years OA...On Enbrel Entenarcept Injections once a week.

methotrexate for 15 years Tablets and Alternatively injections pen...

NHS changed the companies they use to produce these and each time I had a different outcome. 1. Not much relief from RA, and had skin rash,and headaches..sickness.

Injections made me very sick and Very bad headaches.

oh and now blood tests every 3 months not every month..😢

altho the NHS also change supplier of Enbrel to Benpali..which I Also had to revert back to Enbrel...Oh my.

wish they would leave things that work for us..Rant...over.

also changed from folic Acid everyday , to calcium once a week..oh hum

🙋‍♀️🌹