methotrexate

alison67
alison67 Member Posts: 70
edited 24. Mar 2009, 13:05 in Chat to our Helpline Team archive
I am 41 and have just been prescribed Methotrexate for my Psoriatic Arthritis. I am worried as i have read that one of the effects of this drug can be Cancer. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I would really appreciate your advice, i'm scared stiff.

Comments

  • loz23mcg
    loz23mcg Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    alison67 wrote:
    I am 41 and have just been prescribed Methotrexate for my Psoriatic Arthritis. I am worried as i have read that one of the effects of this drug can be Cancer. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I would really appreciate your advice, i'm scared stiff.
    Hi Alison67, can I ask on what site you read this information?
  • alison67
    alison67 Member Posts: 70
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    loz23mcg wrote:
    alison67 wrote:
    I am 41 and have just been prescribed Methotrexate for my Psoriatic Arthritis. I am worried as i have read that one of the effects of this drug can be Cancer. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I would really appreciate your advice, i'm scared stiff.
    Hi Alison67, can I ask on what site you read this information?

    I Googled Methotrexate and got onto a site caled MAYO CLINIC which i believe to be in America. And at the very end of the article it stated that Cancer could possibly be one of the side effects of Methotrexate months or years after stopping the drug. It specifically stated Cancer of the Blood.
  • xxcassx
    xxcassx Member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am due to start on this drug next week, already really worried about it but reading that Mayo Clinic info has really scared me. I dunno what to say anymore - have been mixed up and confused and worried this weekend and feel worse now - tomorrow's a new day, will feel better hopefully. Take care all
  • hawick
    hawick Member Posts: 2
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi there

    Just been reading the posts on Methtrexate and i have to say each person has a different feeling on this particular drug. Yes i'm not fond of taking it, i've been on it for 3 years and sometimes have experienced a couple of side effects but it's given me a better quality of life. My bloods have been fine and i trust my Rheumatologist that for her to reccomend it she must have seen good results in some people. I love the internet but i try not to google health issues are they scare the hell out of me :roll: If youre not sure about it speak to youre Rheumy it's youre decision.

    love fifi
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,782
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi everyone
    Methotrexate is now a tried and tested, standard treatment for auto-immune types of arthritis like Rheumatoid and Psoriatic.
    It is also used in much higher doses as a chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
    It comes with a list of pretty scary looking side effects but a lot of these refer to the chemotherapy dose not to the much smaller dose given to people with arthritis.
    It is very usual for people to have worries about this drug when it is first prescribed for them so talk to your rheumatologist or specialist nurse - they will understand.
    This is something we discuss with people very often on the phone so if anyone wants to talk things through with us, ring us on 0808 800 4050
    Best wishes
    Val[/i][/u]
  • alison67
    alison67 Member Posts: 70
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi all and thanks for your reassuring msgs regarding effects of Methotrexate. i apologise if my first msg created any alarm to anyone, that wasn't my intention. i've been so worried about starting this drug but have now made up my mind and will start treatment tomorrow. :oops:
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,782
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Alison

    I'm glad all our messages were helpful. That's what the Forum is all about.
    Let us know how you get on.

    Best wishes

    Val
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Alison,

    glad you have got over the firts panic of hearing about and contemplating taking Methotrexate.

    I too panicked at first and didn't want to take it. In fact I put off taking it for several years (for a number of reasons unconnected with the drug itself), until we had tried almost everything else and nothing had controlled my arthritis.

    happily the methotrexate injections I now have are keeping arthur at bay most of the time and I am glad that I took the plunge!

    best of luck from another alison!
  • alison67
    alison67 Member Posts: 70
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi everyone and thank you so much for msgs about this drug, you've all made me feel so much better. Took my first dose yesterday, only 7.5mg to start so hope to start feeling better soon. Thanks again, it means a lot. :lol:
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,782
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Alison,
    Good luck with your new treatment. It's a big step, just remember that there's a whole community of people here who are wishing you all the best and who appreciate what all this means.
    Guy
  • alison67
    alison67 Member Posts: 70
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi everyone and thanks again for all your msgs. I took my first dose of Methotrexate on Wednesday and have just taken my Folic Acid. This forum is such a great tool in helping to relieve worries and just basically coming here for a chat is great. Does anyone know why some people take Folic Acid everyday whilst others, like myself, only take 5mg once a week? Feeling a lot better about the whole thing now and, again, thanks all.xxxxx
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,782
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    alison67 wrote:
    Hi everyone and thanks again for all your msgs. I took my first dose of Methotrexate on Wednesday and have just taken my Folic Acid. This forum is such a great tool in helping to relieve worries and just basically coming here for a chat is great. Does anyone know why some people take Folic Acid everyday whilst others, like myself, only take 5mg once a week? Feeling a lot better about the whole thing now and, again, thanks all.xxxxx

    Dear Alison

    Thank you for your message to the forum. There are no recommendations about when folic acid is taken and it is very much about the preference of the individual doctor or rheumatologist that is prescribing it so you could speak to your healthcare team about this. The most important thing is that you are taking the folic acid that you are prescribed. It is good to see that you are feeling better and I hope this information helps.

    Best Wishes
    Dawn
  • alison67
    alison67 Member Posts: 70
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi everyone, lil ol worrier me again. would just like to ask, does anyone experience sweats whilst taking mtx? i'm having them intermittently, got rheumy appt. tomorrow but just thought i'd enquire on here too. x
  • mmarshall
    mmarshall Member Posts: 69
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Alsion

    I also take MTX and only 1 dose of folic acid, doc said that is all I need just now.
    I also have night sweats like yourself and I have read other posts here and other poeple have complained of the night sweats so it looks like the MTX causes them.

    Mary
  • methogirl
    methogirl Member Posts: 25
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    alison67 wrote:
    Hi everyone, lil ol worrier me again. would just like to ask, does anyone experience sweats whilst taking mtx? i'm having them intermittently, got rheumy appt. tomorrow but just thought i'd enquire on here too. x

    Hi Alison67

    I am 44 years old with Psoriatic arthtitis. I have been on MTX for 10 years. First my mouth now I self Inject weekly. Yes I do suffer with sweats. Good luck
  • alison67
    alison67 Member Posts: 70
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks again to you all for your replies. I've now had my dose increased to 10mg weekly. Have had a sickly headache but other than that tolerating quite well. I increase to 12.5mg this week so i'll keep posting on here and getting advice as it so helps as i'm still a little anxious, take care all.x
  • gabbleratchet
    gabbleratchet Member Posts: 2
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    alison67 wrote:
    I am 41 and have just been prescribed Methotrexate for my Psoriatic Arthritis. I am worried as i have read that one of the effects of this drug can be Cancer. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I would really appreciate your advice, i'm scared stiff.

    I've been taking MTX now for about two years, by injection weekly at a dose of 25mg. So far as I'm aware there is no link to cancer other it's use to treat cancer as a part of chemo treatment. :)

    I was forced to voluntarily stop taking the MTX in tablet for about nine months ago - feeling nauseous all of the time, hence the subcutaneous injection weekly. Other than that I've been fine(ish). I do know though, that when I came off the MTX and didn't have any for three weeks, I was absolutley crippled and my psoriasis went crazy. :shock:

    It's looks like the Rheumy is going to try me with infusion treatment in May though, as I'm still having major flare-ups. To give you some idea, I count that I've about three good weeks this year. :(
  • mylo
    mylo Member Posts: 53
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Alison, I had lots of night sweats when I first started with RA and in the first few months of taking MTX. I don't know whether I've made this up, but I think one of the rheumy nurses said it could be my body getting rid of the inflammation. I'd be interested in what the rheumy told you at your appointment. Hope you're getting on well with the MTX, and starting to feel better.
    Jane x

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