Methotrexate Side Effects

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walklands
walklands Non-active member Posts: 6
edited 28. Apr 2010, 04:09 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi - I am new to the forum and have never posted before. I was diagnosed end of 2009 with RA and have been on Methotrexate (15mg) for 14 weeks now as well as prednisolone (2mg) and Naproxen.

I would be really grateful if anyone can advise regarding side effects of Metho. Nausea is happening every week and lasts for 2 days. I am also getting mouth ulcers every week. I feel that the stiffness and aches are returning as the prednisolone is being reduced and I am just not sure whether this is "normal" or whether I am expecting miracles.

Any advice or comments would be really appreciated. Many thanks :)

Comments

  • handsy
    handsy Non-active member Posts: 209
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi and welcome,I have only been on here a short while but the support that you get is second to none. As my GP said people who suffer from chronic illness tend to become a expert in their own illness which is true. MTX effects us all in different ways, works for sum & not for others. I would just say listen to the advice given. In my case all I have had is good sound advice. :D
  • psyart
    psyart Non-active member Posts: 600
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    walklands wrote:
    Hi - I am new to the forum and have never posted before. I was diagnosed end of 2009 with RA and have been on Methotrexate (15mg) for 14 weeks now as well as prednisolone (2mg) and Naproxen.

    I would be really grateful if anyone can advise regarding side effects of Metho. Nausea is happening every week and lasts for 2 days. I am also getting mouth ulcers every week. I feel that the stiffness and aches are returning as the prednisolone is being reduced and I am just not sure whether this is "normal" or whether I am expecting miracles.

    Any advice or comments would be really appreciated. Many thanks :)

    Hi - you can get anti sick ness tablets which you can take a couple days before methx and after aswell. This is how I deal with the nausea. Dont know about the ulcers though - sorry. Unfortunatly it can take a few weeks for the benifits to be felt!!

    Louise xx
    e050.gifo050.gif
  • cthornley
    cthornley Non-active member Posts: 627
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    as somebody has already said you can get anti-sickness tablets it also may be worth changing when you take it - taking it in the evening before bed means you can hopefully sleep through the worst of it, although this may not make much of a difference if its lasting 2days.

    If your getting really bad mouth ulcers it may be worth asking about upping your folic acid dose (this may also help with the nausea) - in the mean time try a medicated mouthwash such as corsidol - the steroids won't be helping with this

    MTX takes a while to build up in your system so you may find it takes a while you may also find you may need to up your dose - talk it over with your rheumy . I've been on mtx 8yrs and it took me a long time to get the balance right

    hope that helps
    Chrissie
  • salamander
    salamander Non-active member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    hi, I was diagnosed in 2009 and have been on Methotrexate about the same length of time as you. I am just beginning to notice more side effects, extreme tiredness (though my rheumy says this might be the arthritis), occasional nausea (usually a couple of days after taking it) and occasional mouth ulcers.
    Some people say to take it at night but I don't have any affects from it on the day of taking it. As someone said, get some anti nausea pills from your gp to combat the nausea.

    I'm also on low dosage steroids - gone down from 7.5mg recently to 2mg and have had pain and stiffness. Cut down the pred very slowly but I'm not feeling great either. I was led to believe that I would be out of trouble once the mtx kicked in but don't think that is happening yet. Am going to try and talk to my rheumy nurse tomorrow and get some answers. Will let you know what she says.
  • walklands
    walklands Non-active member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Many thanks for all your replies. I am seeing my Consultant again in 3 weeks so will discuss all the advice and options you have given me, especially the anti-sickness drugs. Really nice to know that I am not alone and that there is other people out there coping and getting on with their lives whilst dealing with RA. Thanks again. :D
  • kevlar
    kevlar Non-active member Posts: 41
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Welcome walklands to the wealth of knowledge available from the 'old hands' of this forum.

    Interesting replies as always.

    I'll be starting on MTX fairly shortly so any info is welcome.

    Taking it at night sounds like a good tip, and probably something the professionals wouldn't tell you or wouldn't even know about.

    Just goes to show how valuable this forum is !
  • clarelouise1
    clarelouise1 Non-active member Posts: 43
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    walklands wrote:
    Hi - I am new to the forum and have never posted before. I was diagnosed end of 2009 with RA and have been on Methotrexate (15mg) for 14 weeks now as well as prednisolone (2mg) and Naproxen.

    I would be really grateful if anyone can advise regarding side effects of Metho. Nausea is happening every week and lasts for 2 days. I am also getting mouth ulcers every week. I feel that the stiffness and aches are returning as the prednisolone is being reduced and I am just not sure whether this is "normal" or whether I am expecting miracles.

    Any advice or comments would be really appreciated. Many thanks :)

    Hiya I was on methotrexate (15mg) and at first thought it wouldn't help with my RA but by about week 8 I had amazing results although like you, I suffered sickness, mouth ulcers which I didn't think I would ever get used to but it subsided. Unfortunately for me, it caused hair loss so I couldn't continue with it but it was by far the best medication I found so I would say stick with it a bit longer and see if it helps you. :)
  • dopeykit
    dopeykit Non-active member Posts: 107
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Walklands

    Have you tried upping the folic acid at all? I was getting sores around my mouth on MTX until the rheummy got me taking folic acid every day (except MTX day).

    Hope you get some better results with it soon

    Best Wishes,

    Kit
    www.cookingwitharthur.com
    Healthy, tasty recipes for living well with arthritis
  • walklands
    walklands Non-active member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Thanks again for all your advice. Just reassuring to know that what I am experiencing is expected, I was aware of the side effects but didn't really know if the aches and pains coming back were "normal" or something to worry about. Think I was beginning to panic a bit about returning to how I was before I was diagnosed and steriods kicked in - don't ever want to go back there again ! Side effects this week aren't as bad as other weeks, but will definately mention all your advice at my next appointment and get to see my GP for some anti sickness tablets. Take care.
  • salamander
    salamander Non-active member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    hi, I talked to my rheumy nurse yesterday who said quite definitely that the pain and swelling is because my disease isn't under control and I should get back to normal with proper meds. She wants me to go up on mtx and steroids, said no to the latter. Will consider the former after discussion with my GP (rheumy on hols for 6 weeks.)
  • walklands
    walklands Non-active member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    salamander wrote:
    hi, I talked to my rheumy nurse yesterday who said quite definitely that the pain and swelling is because my disease isn't under control and I should get back to normal with proper meds. She wants me to go up on mtx and steroids, said no to the latter. Will consider the former after discussion with my GP (rheumy on hols for 6 weeks.)

    Hi, thanks for letting me know how you got on - not really the sort of news you wanted though. I am going down to 1mg steroids tomorrow so will see how I get on. Can I ask what amount of MTX your nurse has advised you to go on and what are on you now ? I think my rheumy will advise I go up to 20mg next time I see him and at the moment with all the side effects am not really looking forward to it. Hoping that with all the advice I have got from the forum will help with those in the next few weeks.
  • salamander
    salamander Non-active member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi, glad you are getting your steroids down. I am going onto lmg also next week, I think. On 7.5 mg mtx right now but she hasn't given me any more yet as I've had quite a few sore throats and am prone to chest infections as I am asthmatic. So am just waiting to see what happens. Joints felt much better today though felt fluey and had a small temperature. It goes like that all the time for me. Will let you know how I get on. Let me know how you get on with the steroids.
    Sally
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi walklands and welcome to the forum :D

    5yrs ago I was on Mtx 22.5mg in tablet form but had to stop taking it due to the side effects you describe + some hair loss and lowered white cell count.

    Then 2 yrs ago my rheummy wanted to re introduce it in combo with the anti tnf I was on, as anti tnf works better when taken along with Mtx.
    This time though to deal with side effects he decided to change the Mtx from tablet to weekly injection. He reduced the dose to 15mg as Mtx is more effectively absorbed via injection..so less is needed to get the same result!

    I also take Nexium every day and Folic Acid on three consecutive days every week which as other peeps have said helps to deal with mouth ulcers, nausea and hair loss etc.

    This so far has been ok for me....I do feel nauseous but it is much much less and the other side effects have disappeared.

    Mtx is considered to be a very effective drug...so stick with it if you can until you get to the stable regular dose that keeps your arther under control and hopefully the side effects will settle.

    .............and if Mtx tablets still don't suit you can then speak to rheummy about alternative ways of taking it..

    Good luck! and let us know how the rheummy appointment goes!

    Iris x
  • sanmar63
    sanmar63 Non-active member Posts: 117
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    kevlar wrote:
    Welcome walklands to the wealth of knowledge available from the 'old hands' of this forum.

    Interesting replies as always.

    I'll be starting on MTX fairly shortly so any info is welcome.

    Taking it at night sounds like a good tip, and probably something the professionals wouldn't tell you or wouldn't even know about.

    Just goes to show how valuable this forum is !

    Hi everyone,
    I'm due to start on MTX next week too, so i'm trying to absorb everything written on here about it.

    Thanks to you all for taking the time to tell of your experience with MTX, and hopefully I'll be able to tell you all how i'm managing with it! :)
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    sanmar63 wrote:
    Hi everyone,
    I'm due to start on MTX next week too, so i'm trying to absorb everything written on here about it.

    Thanks to you all for taking the time to tell of your experience with MTX, and hopefully I'll be able to tell you all how i'm managing with it! :)

    Hey sanmar,

    good luck with starting the Mtx :wink: hope you get a good result from it too. x let us know please how you get on?

    we'll have to start an Mtx club!

    Iris x
  • walklands
    walklands Non-active member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    dorcas wrote:
    Hi walklands and welcome to the forum :D

    5yrs ago I was on Mtx 22.5mg in tablet form but had to stop taking it due to the side effects you describe + some hair loss and lowered white cell count.

    Then 2 yrs ago my rheummy wanted to re introduce it in combo with the anti tnf I was on, as anti tnf works better when taken along with Mtx.
    This time though to deal with side effects he decided to change the Mtx from tablet to weekly injection. He reduced the dose to 15mg as Mtx is more effectively absorbed via injection..so less is needed to get the same result!

    I also take Nexium every day and Folic Acid on three consecutive days every week which as other peeps have said helps to deal with mouth ulcers, nausea and hair loss etc.

    This so far has been ok for me....I do feel nauseous but it is much much less and the other side effects have disappeared.

    Mtx is considered to be a very effective drug...so stick with it if you can until you get to the stable regular dose that keeps your arther under control and hopefully the side effects will settle.

    .............and if Mtx tablets still don't suit you can then speak to rheummy about alternative ways of taking it..

    Good luck! and let us know how the rheummy appointment goes!

    Iris x

    Hi Iris

    Thanks for all your info, but can I bother you with another quick question. Thought of taking those tablets each week are filling me with dread and terrible nausea. I know that is now becoming a psychological problem with putting the tablets in the mouth so I am off to my GP tomorrow to see about having a weekly injection. Do you have to go to a hospital for your jab or can you get it done at the GP surgery ? Many thanks again, Susannah x
  • psyart
    psyart Non-active member Posts: 600
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi - I am on methx injec cause of nausa and I do the injection myself once a week. But you will get support from the hospital and they will show you how to inject it! But have you tried the anti sickness tablets yet? I take mine 3 days before I do the jab and then 2/3 days after, but it is getting better so cutting down on those!

    Hope you get sorted soon.

    Louise
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  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Non-active member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Walklands, you poor thing. It takes time to adjust to all this malarkey.

    I have been on injected meth since - oh hell, I can't remember when. I have never had any side effects, but was told I had to go to the hospital every week for it. I have injected, and currently inject myself with other stuff, and wanted to do the meth too for my own convenience but because my hospital makes it, I have to go there. Once you're on the merry-go-round you never get off!

    Good luck with it all, keep in touch with us. We are there for you 100% I only joined here last week and it is a miraculous place. Dreamdaisy.
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • skezier
    skezier Non-active member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Walkland,

    A welcome from me as well :D

    I have been extremely lucky with mtx...... I do appreciate I have been lucky but as yet have not really had any side effects..... have to the folic acid but hey you can't have everything :wink:

    I know its got some scary side effects but that doesn't mean you will get them (or you Sammy) and its been good for me already..... though we have also upped the dose. You take care and I hope you have as easy time as I have. nice to meet you, and let us know how it goes please. Cris x
  • theresa4
    theresa4 Non-active member Posts: 696
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    HI
    I've been on MTX for years now by injection and have always had problems with it. Ther day I have it I know I will have to rest as it makes me feel woozy ( for want of a better description) sometimes it feels like its stinging throught my body I can feel it go round) I am tired for the best part of the day. Due to this I cam eoff of it as I didnt think it was hel;ping but boy was I wrong. I didint think my problems could get any worse!! I now take it regardless of the day I lose a week as I know when I dont have it I really know about it! I also get horrendous mouth ulcers that rarely go away I had thought it was the diclofenac I weas taking but I can no longer take it and I am still getting them so its probably the MTX thats causing them. I use oraldene mouthwash to try reduce them sometimes it does sometimes it doesnt but I try not to use it every day as I find your body can get used to stuff like that and it stops being effective.

    Hope you get some relief soon with the MTX and weigh up whether the benefits outweigh the side effects. Im also on biologics but they have no effect on me as yet

    Good luck
    Theresa x
    There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those. --Michael Nolan



    Theresa xxx

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