Hello tazesmom-i'm just curious why are you taking folic acid? my doctor haven't told me about that med. I know its a few vitamins we can take to control some of the problems I have to get the list and when I do I will share.

golden,my rhumie told me that metho.destroys red blood cells and folic acid helps to rebuild them,my pharmacist showed me in my info where it says folic acid lessens the effectiveness of metho. but explained that was when used for chemo.any info you can share would be really great ,thank you

Hey there,
I've been on methotrexate since 2008. Started with an oral dose and gradually built up to 20mg/week, which is the max my rheumy will put me on (though I've heard of others on higher doses). At first I had significant side effects of nausea, tired, headaches, etc. on the day I took the methotrexate (once a week dosing). The side effects gradually dissipated. Last summer I saw another rheumatologist and he suggested switching to injectable methotrexate, so I did that and the difference is amazing! Absolutely no side effects whatsoever with the injection, and it's an easy, nearly painless injection, too. The folic acid is taken to prevent other side effects such as hair loss and blood dyscrasias. When I was on the oral methotrexate, I was told to take double my daily dose of folic acid on the day I took the methotrexate to decrease the side effects on that day (such as nausea and headache). If I were you I would ask my doctor about switching to the injectable. It's worth a shot (pun intended, ha ha) and for me it really made a big difference.

thank you Mechiko,I am about 40hrs into my first dose and I feel awful,I felt fine until about the 24hr. mark and stated going down hill,he started me on 10mg,you give me hope that it will get better,its hard to believe something that is making me so sick is going to help me,I will ask about injections,thank you again

Hang in there! It does get better. I remember once when I first started on it going for a jog after taking my weekly dose (I think it was only the 2nd or 3rd week I'd been on it) and I felt like death for the next 2 days! So take it easy while your body adjusts.

Hello tazesmom~
I am currently on the maximum oral dose of methotrexate. I also take Folic acid daily as well as Vitamin D (and numerous other medications for other problems).
When I first started the methotrexate, within 24 hours of taking it I was so nauseated and would throw up all day. I learned that if I took it with food, it didn't make me as sick.
Honestly, methotrexate has not helped me at all!! Next step is IV Benlysta but it is not completely covered by my insurance and I can't afford the copay.
I hope it works for you!! But like mechiko said, take it easy on your body!!

So it's normal for it to make u feel bad when u first start taking it? Because I took one dose of it and ended up in the hospital. My Dr took me off of it and started me on Plaquanil instead.

Thank all of you for your help,so my first week is almost over I felt fine the first 24hrs and then wham it was awful,all I could do was sleep because if I even moved I was so sick,I guess sleep is a good thing because i have such a hard time getting proper rest,I'm dreading taking my next dose because I know whats coming I hope as my body adjusts the side effects will be less,willow my instruction say not to take with food so maybe that is why it hasn't worked well for you.So how long before it starts kicking in?and Mechiko I will ask about injections if I keep getting sick.

best of luck Hellodian,the day I take mine I am fine,my nausea starts about 24hrs after I take it and last 24-36 hrs,I'm on my 3rd.week and it is the same as the first week,awful,but I really think that my energy level is better when the side effects go away,maybe I just want to feel better so badly I'm its all in my head.last week I told my husband I didn't think I could take it again I was so sick but here I sit extremely sick again I just hope I adjust soon,Cindy
P.S.I hope you do well and don't suffer the side effects alot of people don't.

tazesmom, I just looked at my bottle and it does not say take without food. I will investigate further. Problem is that when I first started taking it over a year ago if I took it on an empty stomach I had violent vomiting the entire day after.

Boy willow I can relate,thats what I am doing

Just wanted to give you a little encouragement...I've had lupus for almost tens years now and have tried just about everything. I have been taking plaquenil for about 9 years and would have horrible flares at least once a year. Two years ago my doctor sent me to Mayo clinc in Jacksonville and they ended up putting me on metho. I will admit it was very harsh at least for the first 4-5 months I was soo sick and felt even worst ,but I knew I had no where to go but up. I've been on metho for 2 years now 2.5x4 once weekly and feel the best I have since I was 15. Yes, I'm still tired and yes I still hurt sometimes, but my life is a 180 from a couple of years ago. I have graduated from college and Im working full time...I have my life back! Please hang in there it will get better! I wish you the best of luck and pray that you start feeling better :)

ennightly,thank you so very much I can't tell you how very badly I needed to hear that,I know I have to give this an honest attempt but it is so hard being sick,you have given me the encouragement to give it more time,I quit taking meds 2 years ago when I just had my R.A. diagnosis because of all the side effects and then this last year I got so much worse,got the lupus diagnosis and my kidneys are under attack so I no I must keep trying but sometimes its hard,thank you again,Cindy

I am so glad you are doing well Hellodian and I pray you continue to tolerate it and start feeling better soon,Cindy

My doctor is starting me on Methotrexate on 4/7 if my labs come back ok. He did put me on Folic Acid with it. I'm terrified to start this because of the vomiting. He said I would be nauseous for 6 weeks until my body adjusted to the medication. :(

The brochure I have says that 3-6 weeks to begin feeling improvement and 12 weeks before you feel max benefits from the drug. It does say significant nausea and vomiting associated with the drug but does not say how long this lasts. The pamphlet is from the American College of Rheumatology. Maybe they have a website that you can research on.

Ugh... Lupus is so fun.