Really down - Methotrexate and catching viruses

Cara123
Cara123 Member Posts: 31
edited 23. Oct 2024, 09:02 in Living with arthritis

Hi all,

I am on Methotrexate and always seem to catch viruses and when I get them, I just can't seem to shake them off easily and I feel really unwell. This is getting to me. I know that Methotrexate affects the immune system but it's beginning to get me down.

I wondered if anyone else is feeling the same?

Comments

  • Nnp
    Nnp Member Posts: 5

    Hi,

    I've been on it for about ten months, and it wasn't that bad. However, I have now been ill for about three weeks (except 3 days where I felt okay) and really struggling too.

    I also had the flu jab after the GP said it was okay despite not being well and to keep taking the methotrexate. From what I am now reading online, I personally think they were wrong.

    Did you have the flu jab by any chance? Perhaps this is the culprit.

    I'm currently weighing up whether I want to live with the RA pain or be ill all the time - still to be decided.

    I hope you feel better soon

  • PJoanne
    PJoanne Moderator Posts: 285

    Hello @Cara123

    How you are feeling is understandable and it is good to acknowledge how you feel. Does your Rheumy nurse have any advice about boosting your immune system with diet/exercise/supplements? I wonder if it would be a good idea to pop into your local chemist/health food store to get advice about how you can support your immune system.

    I've added a link to some advice from the VA website, and I can really recommend calling the helpline as well. The details are that the end of the post.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2023/january/how-to-look-after-your-mental-health-when-you-have-arthritis/

    Best Joanne

    Need more help - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

  • Cara123
    Cara123 Member Posts: 31
    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/727599#Comment_727599

    Hi,

    thank you for your reply. It makes me feel better that it's not just me. No, I haven't had the flu jab, yet, but I feel the same as you with regards to the weighing up of costs/benefits. Apart from the side effects that I am having, it's these viruses that I just seem to catch all the time and which are making me feel so ill.

  • deejenay
    deejenay Member Posts: 1

    Hi,

    I was on Methotrxate for only a short while and had shingles twice and then pleurisy so l have stopped taking it . I’m currently not on anything and in an awful lot of pain and find the only thing that really helps me is steroid tablets which they don’t like to give you too often . I’m going to try the healthy route if l can and do an anti inflammatory diet cutting out all the things l love with sugar and see if that helps .

  • Poppyjane
    Poppyjane Moderator Posts: 916

    Welcome @deejenay to the online community

    Thank you for sharing your experience of methotrexate and your problems with viruses. Numbers of our members have tried various diets and complementary supplements and there are lots of discussions on this if you would like to follow them. Go to the magnifying glass symbol , top right and write in diet into search.

    I attach some information which you might find useful. We are generally advised to follow a mediterranean diet and many find this helpful. However if you want to investigate further these links will give you more ideas.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/complementary-and-alternative-treatments/types-of-complementary-treatments/diet-and-nutritional-supplements/

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2022/january/5-vegan-diet-tips-for-people-with-arthritis/

    There are many of us who struggle to give up the foods we enjoy so don't feel you are on your own. Maybe try the exclusion diet of giving up just one thing and monitoring that for a while. It is as much a mental exercise as a physical one. Do let us know how you get on .

    Best wishes

    Poppyjane

    If it would be helpful to talk to someone ring the Helpline 0800 5200 520

    Monday - Friday 9.00a.m. - 6.00p.m.

  • iwannerbeme
    iwannerbeme Member Posts: 40

    I am really sorry to hear you are feeling so down and unwell. Thats pretty rubbish!

    I am about to start methotrexate on Monday. So I dont know how it will affect me. I did catch something in September (without any drugs in my system) and it took me a month to shake it. I have also heard from friends without R.A who have had similar issues this year, but of course if your immune system is down for whatever reason its easy to catch things. I opted not to take the flu jab after doing some reading up I did however take the shingrix jab and the pneumonia one. I had to wait 2 weeks before starting methorexate as the vaccine is more effective without methotrexate. I will have to have a shingles booster in 8 weeks and have been advised not to take methotrexate a week before and 2 afterwards. Time will tell if they are effective. If you havent had shingrix jab or the pneumonia it might be worth speaking to your GP or consultant about.

    Hope you feel better soon

  • gemz10
    gemz10 Member Posts: 42

    Hi there,

    I haven't read all the responses to your post so sorry if I am repeating anyone else. However, I felt like this about two years ago. Always getting sick, not awful but just never well and just getting one thing after another.

    In my rheumatology appointment I explained the situation and she reduced my methotrexate by 5mg and took me off hydroxychloroquine as she felt it wasn't doing anything. It seems to have tipped the balance a bit. Still get a winter cough and as soon as I'm a bit tired a sniffle and swollen glands but on the whole my joints are relatively ok and I'm sick a bit less.

    Except maybe the last 6months or so I feel my joints have been worse but I've moved house and been really busy so I doubt that's helped. I have my next rheumatology appointment in Nov so will see what they say. But what I'm saying in a long way is that speak to your team and if you can't get an appointment speak to your rheumatology nurse as there are always options to add tablets, change or reduce medication etc.

    I wish you well and hope you get some sort of relief soon

  • TiredWarrior
    TiredWarrior Member Posts: 27
    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/727646#Comment_727646
    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/63441/really-down-methotrexate-and-catching-viruses

    Hi Cara,

    I have been on and off MTX for nearly 20 years. Recently been on it for 3 years (I am also on biologics and steroids)

    I’m on MTX injections and so can’t lower my dose but miss it for a week and that helps me recover faster.

    I also get my vaccinations every year for flu and Covid. I have had shingrix and pneumovacc in the past.
    I also mask everywhere- FFP3 mask even when I do hydrotherapy (with permission from the lifeguard)

    I eat at least 7-8 portions of fresh fruit daily and take Vitamin D supplements

    Our immune system is attacking our joints so suppressing the immune system is the treatment but obviously then we struggle to fight common infections

    Prevention via masks, ventilation and vaccination is really what helps

Categories