Anyone with a vomit phobia on Methotrexate

Cara123

Hello everyone,

I wondered if anyone with a vomit phobia is on Methotrexate and how you are coping? Has the doctor given you anything to help and were they understanding?

Thank you.

Loggiemod

Hello @Cara123 not sure about a phobia, but doctors seem to give folic acid to try avoid some side-effects - see below

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2022/march/common-questions-about-taking-methotrexate/

It might be worth raising it with your GP/Consultant

stickywicket

Hi,

I don't have a vomit phobia but, as said, we are given folic acid to mitigate against any side effects. Diferent people are prescribed different amounts. I've always taken two per week. Some take it every day except their meth day. But be guided by your docs. It does help but I believe it also can weaken the positive effects of the meth.

I doubt anyone can get through life without throwing up occasionally so, if fear of that is a real problem for you, why not get treatment for it?

Meth is a really useful med and can prevent some of the nastier (albeit rare) damage that RA can do to our internal organs. It is very successful for most people.

dorcas

Hi! I've not been on here for a long time, but ventured in this morning.

Methotrexate can be given by injection which my consultant prescribed as I'd terrible nausea with the tablet form. It worked for me, so may be worth you asking your rheumatologist.

Hope this helps

Iris

Cassienova

Hi there,

I've been taking Methotrexate for a while now. Injections are far better for sickness and I highly recommend having folic acid as soon as you can the next day. I find if I wait past lunch to take it, I get sick. Sometimes other meds can intervene and cause sickness so it might be worth timing them.

frogmorton

Hi @Cara123

tricky business this. I take it you haven't yet tried MTX? Nowhere near all of us do feel sick and even less are actually sick.

I have lots of experience with vomiting though, my daughter was in a teenage cancer trust ward with leukaemia at 16 and so many of the young people were ill with chemo.

My own daughter had MTX as one of her chemo meds via IV and in much higher doses than us. I don't think it was one that made her sick, others did though, and she was given a variety of antisickness meds to try during her 2.5 years of treatment.

It is very interesting some of the kids just had to sit down ready to have their chemo and would be ill. It can be an association thing, an anxiety thing, anticipatory nausea almost.

For me getting enough rest is key to feeling ok. Some of us take our MTX at night so we have slept of some of any side effects. I remember one person swore by fish and chips to settle her stomach.

I just have to say most of us are really fine.

Best of luck and do let us know how you get on

Toni

PS fabulous to see you @dorcas !

Arthuritis

@Cara123 Hi Cara,

As many have said here, not everyone gets nausea on MTX, I certainly didn’t up to 15mg/ week but after 17.5mg up to the UK max of 25mg I had to take it on Saturday nights as the next day was a write off. Like you I have a fear of vomiting, and as @Cassienova mentioned other drugs taken at the same time such as penicillin based antibiotics and PPIs can block the removal of MTX by the kidneys thereby enhancing its effects. Folic acid tabs and coffee reduce the nausea but unfortunately the benefits also get reduced. The reason is how MTX works by interfering with rapidly multiplying cells, such as in the bone marrow, and unfortunately as a side effect, also in the skin and stomach. The interference with the stomach makes you nauseous. If your dose is low, it may never come to that, or you may be one of the lucky few who does not suffer ill effects. Even if it does, take it at night and sleep it off as I did, Saturday night and Sunday write off! @stickywicket & @frogmorton have loads of really useful tips & experience that you can rely on, and know that you are not alone. @Trish9556 can help with educating any errant consultants with her magic Mylar mallet! Right now just thinking about my weekly 25g I used to take makes me somewhat nauseous!

Gadgetgirl

Hi. I switched to taking mine about an hour before bed so I sleep through the nausea. I also take folic acid everyday apart MTX day.